Duncan Lewis Solicitors handles the full range of social housing matters, including disrepair claims, neighbourhood disputes, unlawful evictions, and homelessness. The team in Harrow is co-led by Manjinder Kaur Atwal, Dianne Cowie, and Bernadette Chikwe. Atwal regularly handles landlord and tenant disputes, nuisance claims, and injunctions. Cowie is recommended for matters relating to vulnerable individuals, including cases that relate to anti-social behaviour, while Chikwe is well-versed in handling possession proceedings. Daljit Singh and Karina Petkova are key members of the team; Singh routinely handles both small claims and multi-track cases within the courts, and Petkova is also noted for her in-depth knowledge of housing litigation and social welfare law.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team at Duncan Lewis are exceptional at what they do. The firm demonstrates their investment in ongoing professional development and client care.’

  • ‘Manjinder Kaur Atwal is dedicated to ensuring her team provide an excellent service daily; she does not fail at that. The team operates as a cohesive unit where individuals from different legal disciplines work together seamlessly. This collaborative approach ensures that clients benefit from a diverse range of perspectives and a comprehensive approach to problem-solving.’

  • ‘The whole team is simply excellent. They are a pleasure to work with and they go the extra mile for their clients. Their housing team in particular is second to none are very knowledgeable, especially when it comes to housing cases that intersect with Equality Act and discrimination law.’

  • ‘The team is led by Manjinder Atwal. She is a formidable solicitor. She is dedicated to each and every one of her clients.’

  • 'Manjinder Atwal is a quintessential example of tenacity and determination in the legal profession. Renowned for her fearless approach to litigation, she has made a name for herself by championing novel and intriguing arguments that many would hesitate to pursue.'

  • 'Duncan Lewis Solicitors is absolutely amazing! They provided an exceptional service. They went above and beyond to help me with my legal matters. The team was very professional, knowledgeable, and truly cared about my case.'

  • ‘The social housing team at Duncan Lewis is well-rounded. They are able to cover the range of issues such as possession claims, homelessness appeals, and judicial reviews. They are hard-working and eager to pursue constructive solutions for their clients.’

  • ‘Dianne Cowie is incredibly knowledgeable and versatile. She never misses a beat, and nothing throws her.’

Work highlights

  • Represented multiple clients in possession proceedings, and successfully prevented them from being evicted.
  • Acted for a tenant in relation to a disrepair claim.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Manjinder Kaur Atwal, Dianne Cowie, Bernadette Chikwe

Other key lawyers

Karina Petkova, Daljit Singh, Daniel Bacon, Vincent Davis