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of diverting young homeless people to a third-sector organisation, which was found to be unlawful and was subsequently withdrawn.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.
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.'