Bethan Gladwyn > Hugh James > Cardiff, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile

Hugh James
Two Central Square
CARDIFF
CF10 1FS
United Kingdom

Work Department

Dispute Resolution | Social housing 

Position

Bethan is head of the housing management team as a result of her capability and specialist knowledge in her field of law, having exclusively practised in the area of social housing and anti-social behaviour since qualification in 2003.

A specialist in social housing law and practice, anti-social behaviour and landlord and tenant (residential), Bethan assisted in setting up Wales’s first anti-social behaviour unit at Hugh James. Bethan is recognised as an experienced advocate by clients and peers alike.

Bethan has over 15 years’ experience advising local authorities and registered social landlords on all issues of housing management and tenancy enforcement, particularly in relation to measures to combat nuisance and anti-social behaviour.

She regularly handles cases involving complex Equality Act defences as well as public law and human rights challenges and advises clients on matters ranging from succession to disrepair. During the final stages of debate, Bethan was approached by Community Housing Cymru to provide advice in relation to the Renting Homes (Wales) Bill 2014 which formed the basis of later legislation.

Bethan is renowned within the sector as an accomplished trainer and regularly provides training to social housing providers. She is often invited to speak at events hosted by the Chartered Institute of Housing, Community Housing Cymru and the Welsh Government. Bethan and her team are well known in the sector for acting for some of the largest and well-regarded housing associations in Wales such as Hafod, Merthyr Valleys Homes, Newport City Homes, Trivallis as well as a growing client base of registered providers in England.

Lawyer Rankings

Wales > Real estate > Social housing

(Next Generation Partners)

Bethan GladwynHugh James

Drawing upon an ‘excellent understanding of the Welsh landscape, the funding regime and the regulatory environment’, Hugh James is a very popular choice among domestic housing associations to provide advice across the panoply of their legal requirements, from core management and real estate matters, as well as across other complementary areas of law including employment and corporate. The firm has also been at the forefront of the Renting Homes Act, taking a key role in ensuring RSLs were equipped and fully aware of the huge changes in Welsh landlord and tenant law ahead of the implementation date. Bethan Gladwyn  has been pivotal to the training provided with the regard to the legislation and is also noted for her ‘clear and concise advice’ as it relates to anti-social behaviour issues. As well as her strategic advice to Wales-based RSLs, including on large-scale regeneration schemes, Caroline O’Flaherty has been central to the firm picking up an increasing volume of mandates for English clients in the sector. The team is headed by Richard Macphail , who excels at development work in the sector.