‘They are an excellent firm, with Giles Peaker showing the way as someone who is absolutely at the top of his game.’

One of the best firms out there for social housing work. They have a depth of knowledge that is difficult to find elsewhere. They have a strong team and excellent partners providing experience in all types of social housing litigation.’

‘Giles Peaker is one of the leading housing lawyers in the field. He has unrivalled knowledge when it comes to housing law. He is a joy to work with because he knows so much. Sara Stephens is great to work with. She is clever and practical when it comes to advising clients. She provides excellent client care and I would recommend her to friends or colleagues. Andrew Brookes is another partner who has a wealth of knowledge and experience in housing litigation. He is excellent when it comes to negotiating settlements in disrepair cases.’

‘What makes the practice stand out from the rest is the client-centred service and the ability to access industry-leading experts. They demonstrated the ability to review every last detail of evidence provided as part of the public inquiry to deliver outputs that exceeded the brief. Where required, they could also bring external inputs to add additional weight to their production, demonstrating great collaboration.’

‘The team genuinely cared about getting to the best possible outcome. In particular, Andrew Brookes has shown exceptional care, knowledge and commitment and truly is a credit to the firm. He can provide both challenging perspectives and throw his weight to support our views. He is incredibly authentic and knowledgeable, making him a pleasure to work with. Someone I genuinely trust.’

‘Individual partners I would single out include Andrew Brookes, Timothy Waitt, Giles Peaker and Sara Stephens. Their instructions, questions and communications with me, as a regularly appointed expert witness on housing disrepair matters, are clear and concise.’

‘Anthony Gold has a breadth of expertise in the housing team but the fact that they retain a commitment to representing social housing tenants, private tenants and housing need issues generally is hugely to their credit.’

‘Sara Stephens always impressive with her dedication and exceptional ability. Giles Peaker is an outstanding lawyer with a fierce intellect. He retains the capacity to be genuinely and refreshingly interested in all aspects of housing law, and housing law in its wider policy context.’

‘Good range of expertise across the welfare field (community care, housing, benefits, general human rights).’

‘Christian Hansen – extensive housing experience, bright and committed.’

‘They are amazingly broad – from working for the Grenfell survivors through to Rent Act 1977 work and via all manner of public law housing work (e.g. allocations judicial review work) there is nothing they can’t do.’

‘Paul Ridge and Christian Hansen are excellent. They’ve seen it all.’

‘Bindmans are a great team with a really strong social housing practice which complements an exceptional, broader, public law practice. They use this expertise to great effect for vulnerable clients in other areas, like Court of Protection and community care law. This means collaboration is always creative and clients are at a good tactical advantage.’

‘Christian Hansen: really efficient in managing huge case loads and never misses anything. Christian is fearless in fighting for his client and gets great results, adopting a creative approach, blending his public law specialisms effectively. Incredibly user-friendly.’

‘Go to firm with lots of experience.’

‘Relatable, professional, reliable and knowledgable.’

‘A large team with numerous excellent member and quality across the board. A professional operation with good client care and knowledgable solicitors. A pleasure to work with.’

‘The Social Housing Team at Hodge Jones &Allen have in the last few years grown and developed as one of the strongest firms in Social Housing. They are involved in many of the major Social Housing cases that come before the higher courts and are represented on the Grenfell Inquiry, they now combine tenants rights with a contract to take on discrimination cases in housing. As leaders in the field, they provide great training to their junior solicitors and paralegals who always have an impressive knowledge of all aspects of housing.’

‘As a team they operate in a very organised and efficient way, there is never any question of slippage in terms of directions or making sure if bringing claims that they are on the front foot. Sophie Bell has a great aptitude for representing vulnerable clients.’

‘Hodge Jones & Allen is an industry leader in social housing law. The firm provides an exceptional service for all of its clients in disrepair, possession and homelessness. The firm has a reputation for providing an exceptional level of service and advancement of the law in very high profile cases in the Court of Appeal and Supreme court.’

‘Jayesh Kunwardia – an exceptional lawyer and head of the team. He is imaginative and exceptionally committed to the rights of tenants and homeless persons. Dan Fitzpatrick – a gifted lawyer with a fierce commitment to tenants rights. Sophie Bell – a very talented lawyer who is extremely diligent and takes on difficult cases with difficult clients and handles them both with aplomb and achieves outstanding results. Farzana Chowdhury – a quiet but exceptional lawyer who achieves exceptional results with quiet determination and exceptionally hard work.’

‘The social housing team at Hodge Jones & Allen are committed and energetic practitioners. They take on a wide range of cases and provide a valued service for legally-aided clients. They have a particular focus on discrimination and represent many vulnerable clients in this important area.’

‘Sophie Bell is very well-regarded with a consistently high standard of work.’

‘A strong housing team with a wealth of experience across the board.’

‘The social housing team shows strength in depth. From TOLATA-related equitable defences to possession claims to Equality Act 2010 discrimination and right to rent (immigration) defences. There is nothing I have not seen the team tackle with care, diligence and an appropriate understanding of the benefit counsel can bring to the table.’

‘Manjinder Kaur Atwal is an exceptional housing solicitor. Her knowledge is broad and her responses to questions are swift and equally incisive. The team has good case handling skills.’

‘Bernadette Chikwe runs a large team and is very much in control. If she is uncertain or wants to discuss matters, she does so openly and is responsive to advice given. She is very much focused on getting the best result for her clients. She runs a diverse team and works with a very diverse client group.’

‘The team are very experienced and knowledgable about all aspects of social housing. They regularly deal with clients who are vulnerable and/or have disabilities, including those for whom English is not their first language.’

‘Dianne Cowie has a vast amount of experience in social housing and excellent judgment but retains a very affable and approachable manner. She always has the client’s best interests in mind and gives sound and sensible advice.’

‘Headed up by some excellent leaders (e.g Dianne Cowie). Responsive to client’s needs and take a robust but realistic approach to litigation.’

‘The Duncan Lewis team are very competent and strong advisers. I am always impressed by their tenacity and ability to run complicated points successfully. They take diversity very seriously and this is demonstrated in their team. I would advise any person seeking housing advice to speak with Duncan Lewis.’

‘Our solicitor believed we had a good case. All clients hope to have a solicitor who believes in the justice of their case and has the skills and experience to win it – we had such a solicitor with the professional self-confidence to secure the Legal Aid funds and recruit outstanding barristers capable of winning. In all the circumstances we do not believe a competitor could have fielded a more accomplished legal team and our family will be forever grateful to Duncan Lewis.’

‘As a legal aid practice their instructions are always full and precise. If a short deadline comes up on an urgent case, solicitors are active in collaborating to ensure it can be met. There’s a real sense of team ethic. It’s clear that internal communication and case recording are strong because if a solicitor handling a case is away the person covering is fully up to speed, has the necessary documents available to them and nothing falls through the cracks.’

‘It is clear the firm put the interests of the client first at all times. The associates have a thorough knowledge of the area of law, communicate effectively and are incredibly easy to work with. Will Ford recently took over a case from a departing colleague and was immediately on top of all the issues in a fact-heavy case; he is always available to speak to and in a case against a hard-to-manage litigant in person he was excellent.’

‘From the very first moment, I was aware and grateful to have been put in touch with Osbornes. From helping to receive legal aid which was vital, the expertise, advice, leaving no stone unturned right from the first minute until the very last, I would most certainly recommend every single time.’

‘The lawyer that was helping me with my case was William Ford was simply amazing – if a partner shows all these qualities, this must, I’m sure, filter down to the rest of the employees due to the example set.’

‘Osbornes is one of the firms that I consistently recommend. Excellent service, and thorough and knowledgable lawyers.’

‘Will Ford stands out as an exceptional and highly regarded lawyer in the field.’

‘Osbornes’ team have grown in size and stature under the excellent leadership of Will Ford. They are a firm that likes a challenge and are prepared to do the groundwork to develop cases, even if it means much preparation without remuneration. They are now recognised as firm that is prepared to take on test cases and will not shirk from meeting tight deadlines to ensure that their clients arguments are heard.’

‘Osbornes  are very approachable; in a time where many firms are unwilling to take on cases that do not look promising, they are prepared to look at difficult situations and find a way to assist their clients. Will Ford is a test case lawyer whose practice spans Social Housing and Welfare issues, his breadth of knowledge in both fields in invaluable to those working in his team.’

‘Excellent firm committed and caring and a valued part of the local community.’

‘Edwards Duthie Shamash’s housing team are of a very good standard. The firm has expertise across a range of adjacent areas (including community care, mental health and Court of Protection) which means that they are well-placed to assist vulnerable clients with complex cases, raising a range of issues.’

‘James Harrison is experienced, calm and a very safe pair of hands to handle difficult cases.’

‘Edwards Duthie Shamash is a leading firm in social housing law and provides an exemplary service to all of its clients in defending possession claims, homelessness and challenges to allocation of social housing and disrepair. The firm provides services from the duty scheme to high profile and difficult claims in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.’

‘James Harrison is a gifted lawyer and exceptional leader of the Housing team.’

‘EDS’ social housing team has incredible experience and expertise built up over many years operating in east and north London. This includes participating in duty schemes at several courts across the area. It has well-developed links with local advice agencies. As a result it picks up cases across the spectrum of social housing law. The firm is always focussed on achieving the best and most practical outcome for its clients.’

‘A strong social housing team with an established track record of assisting those in housing need.’

‘Providing high quality social housing law representation to tenants across the north and east London areas. Highly approachable and effective team who use technology very effectively to collaborate and deliver a seamless service.’

‘I primarily dealt with Sarah Mossop: extremely knowledgeable and professional. Sarah was very efficient and worked extremely hard to get the best outcome. I felt she was prepared to try any approach, from conference meetings to reading recent case law and seeking advice from an expert barrister on one particular aspect of the case which clearly gave an advantage in further negotiations.’

‘We found Michael McCrone and Sarah Mossop had expert knowledge specific to our case and fully understood the issues and complexities it entailed, whilst being able to fully explain the legal implications to us as clients, throughout the duration of the case, at all stages.’

‘Simeon Wilmore is not only experienced; he is also a very creative and engaged social housing lawyer. That means he can not only handle complex cases of great importance to his clients, but also unusual cases, where a fresh or different perspective on the law is required in order to achieve a result for the tenant.’

‘The team are extremely committed, and have substantial experience in the social housing space. They show excellent client care skills – at times in very difficult situations.’

‘Claire Wiles – seriously competent and commercially sensible. Simeon Wilmore – always willing to go the extra mile for clients – similarly knowledgeable and practical.’

‘This is not a “stack ’em high” type of practice. They work really hard and tirelessly for their clients, developing individual and proportionate solutions, as well as fighting exceptionally hard for their interests. An outstanding firm, with outstanding individuals’

‘Claire Wiles is one of the top housing solicitors in England. Thorough, clever, and absolutely passionate about her clients.’

‘The team work tirelessly for their clients, going above and beyond many legal aid solicitors. They approach their cases with care and achieve fantastic results for their clients.’

‘A uniquely young and determined housing team with excellent knowledge and client focus.’

‘Caroline Brosnan and Jodie Green are two of the best lawyers I have worked with.’

‘Excellent team. One of the things that makes this team stand out is in the access that the team has to expertise in property law, including complex trust arrangements or proprietary estoppels. Therefore, when social housing cases raise those issues, there is the expertise in house to deal with them.’

‘Caroline Brosnan is well known in social housing, and is not only committed to her work and to her clients, but is adept at negotiating and good to work with.’

‘They are able to advise in some of the more complex cases which may involve leasehold disputes. The team is led by Caroline Brosnan who has huge experience in this field and has a reputation for leaving no stone unturned in her cases, her attention to the detail of the case is second to none, and being a Executive member of the Housing Law Practitioner Association she is always up to date with new issues arising in this sector.’

‘Matilda Rubens was exceptionally professional handling our case. She is a knowledgeable and experienced solicitor one can fully trust.’

‘The practice demonstrates a high role of working standards with friendly staff members to communicate with. You are treated with respect on all occasions and kept up to date through out your casework.’

‘Jodie Green was excellent and the worked she had done gave us a positive outcome and we are always satisfied with her communication.’