The Bar - Regional Bar • Northern Circuit
1

Social housing

logo

Garden Court North Chambers

More informationMore information

A significant proportion of the work undertaken at Garden Court North Chambers in the social housing space is for people who are eligible for legal aid, and its members have substantial expertise in cases surrounding homelessness, possession claims, disrepair, and unlawful evictions. The set is home to James Stark, for whom homelessness and human rights issues form core areas of expertise. Sonia Birdee is frequently instructed to represent tenants and homeless applicants across all levels of court, with a strong focus on the Equality Act 2010. Joseph Markus is another notable name regarding the representation of vulnerable clients, and he acted for the claimant in R (Shakeel) v Manchester City Council, judicial review proceedings surrounding the defendant’s policy of diverting young homeless people to a third-sector organisation, which was found to be unlawful and was subsequently withdrawn. Elizabeth Mottershaw‘s clients often have vulnerabilities, including mental and physical disabilities, drug or alcohol dependency, or lack of capacity.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Nicola Carroll is always very helpful and willing to check availability, even when it appears they may have none. This is greatly appreciated and ensures we have the confidence to instruct them on cases which are urgent.'
  • 'The service is good; the clerks are always friendly and approachable.'
  • 'Garden Court North is an excellent set of chambers. Their commitment to publicly funded work and the level of expertise within their housing and homeless team sets them apart.'
  • 'We routinely instruct counsel at Garden Court North Chambers due to the experience and knowledge within the housing set. This set also has online training resources which are very detailed and helpful.'

Silks

Juniors

Leading Juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
1
James Stark
Garden Court North Chambers
 'James is second-to-none in knowledge of the law and in thinking of things that others have missed. He never gives up, is utterly committed to getting the best possible outcome for the client, and, as an advocate, he is extremely well prepared, clear thinking, and is not to be bullied or cowed out of putting his case.'
1
Joseph Markus
Garden Court North Chambers
 'Joseph is knowledgeable, quick, and very easy to work with. He is clear sighted and a good advocate, and he can be relied upon to get the law correct, even in the most complicated cases.'
1
Tom Royston
Garden Court North Chambers
 'Tom is extremely thorough and good at discussing cases and his thoughts before making any final decision. He is great with clients and has clear advocacy.'
2
Anna Watterson
Garden Court North Chambers
 'Anna is very approachable, clear, and thorough, and she is happy to discuss issues and take new ideas on board. She is knowledgeable and willing to take on a challenge, and she is always helpful in answering questions, whether big or small.'
2
Sonia Birdee
Garden Court North Chambers
 'Sonia is a conscientious and committed practitioner in the field of housing. She is especially knowledgeable in discrimination law, particularly race and disability, as it pertains to the rights of tenants, and she is an articulate advocate, both orally and on paper.'
2
Elizabeth Mottershaw
Garden Court North Chambers
‘Elizabeth is excellent at quickly getting to grips with complex cases, and her knowledge and expertise in housing law is evident. The advice provided is always clear and detailed and provided in a timely manner, and the quality of her written pleadings and her expertise in assisting clients with complex mental health problems and capacity issues has always been impressive.’
Rising stars
Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.
Rosalind Burgin
Garden Court North Chambers
 ‘Rosalind is very thorough with her advice, which is provided in a format that is especially easy for junior members of the housing team to understand and work through. Rosalind is also willing to accept urgent instructions and has a quick turnaround time.’