Doughty Street Chambers

Dominic Preston is a public law lawyer specialising in housing, community care and Court of Protection work.

His housing practice is centred on homelessness, allocations and disputes concerning residential premises, whether rented or leasehold and it necessarily strays into immigration law, community care and child care law, EU law, discrimination law, and human rights law.  His Court of Protection work specialises in the cross-over between mental capacity and housing, with a particular expertise in hoarder cases and the related deprivation of liberty issues that arise.  His community care work centres on obtaining accommodation and assistance under the Care Act 2014.  He appears regularly in the lower courts, the High Court and the appellate courts.

Year of Call: 1995; Inner Temple.

Dominic is recognised as a leading junior in social housing by  Chambers and Partners which recommends him as “a highly impressive advocate with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law", "very intelligent and creative and he really fights the client's corner." (2021), "a fearless fighter, not afraid of tackling a contentious case." (2015), " always accessible, appropriate and effective" (2014), "thorough, thoughtful and reliable," a "really good opponent to have" (2013), known “for his technical ability and excellent judgment, as well as his straightforward and easy manner” (2012) and “… his sharp mind and impressive workload were both highlighted by peers ...” (2011).

He has previously been on the executive of the Housing Law Practitioner’s Association and team leader of Doughty Street’s Housing and Social Welfare Team.

Publications of note: author of the Harassment and Anti-social Behaviour title of Atkin’s Court Forms (2nd Ed.), Vol. 21 (2010 issue); co-author of the Housing title of Atkin’s Court Forms (2nd Ed.), Vol. 21 (2010 issue).

Housing Law Practitioners Association; Administrative Bar Law Association.

BA Hons, Medieval and modern history; diploma at law (CPE); Bar Vocational Course).

Sailing, coaching rugby.