Michael Owen > Capsticks LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Capsticks LLP Offices
1 ST GEORGE'S ROAD
LONDON
SW19 4DR
England
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Michael Owen
Work Department
Social Housing.
Position
Experience
Michael is head of the Housing Management Team at Capsticks. In addition to leading the team, Michael works with Registered Providers and Councils nationally on all aspects of Housing Management. He also previously advised private landlords and tenants.
Expertise
Michael advises social landlords on all aspects of housing management from drafting and interpreting tenancy agreements, policies and other documentation to advising on complex succession disputes, disrepair matters and high-profile anti-social behaviour cases. He represents clients on Public Law, Equality Act and Human Rights Act challenges and advises on complaints handling. He has also represented clients at coroner’s inquests and frequently oversees multi-agency approaches to resolve matters including through alternative dispute resolution.
Michael undertakes training nationally for clients and sector leaders such as the Chartered Institute of Housing, Resolve, National Housing Federation, Housemark, Lime Legal and Capita. He is also a regular contributor to housing media.
Notable projects
- Regularly speaks at and chairs national housing conferences
- Legal advisor to the CIH knowledge hub
- Asked by the Home Office to help stress test the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
- Represented Registered Providers on many leading cases
Career
Qualified as a solicitor in 1995 with The Andrew Isaacs Practice, a legal aid firm acting mainly for tenants and homeless applicants. Became a partner 9 months after qualification. Then developed a private and social landlord client base on joining Dutton Gregory as a partner in 2003 before joining Coffin Mews’ long established social housing team in 2009. Joined Capsticks in 2014 as a partner to help develop a new social housing niche alongside the nationally renowned health brand. The housing team is proud of its previous number 1 rankings.
Memberships
SHLA and CIH
Education
Vaynor and Penderyn Comprehensive; Bournemouth University; BA (Hons) Law.
Lawyer Rankings
North West > Real estate > Social housing
Capsticks LLP regularly acts for registered providers and local authorities, advising on housing and leasehold management, disrepair claims, anti-social behaviour and more. The firm also provides in house surveyor reports. The practice is led by Paul Lloyd, who has great experience in the housing field, and estate regeneration specialist Jennifer Hankinson. At associate level, Natalie Hurst is highly recommended, being described by clients as ‘organised, efficient, open, hard-working‘ and ‘analytical‘. National head of housing management Michael Owen supports the team.
South East > Real estate > Social housing
(Leading individuals)Covering all elements of housing management and development, the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Winchester-based team at Capsticks LLP specialises heavily in complex section 106 agreement schemes and leasehold litigation. Leading on the housing management side, Michael Owen delivers an ‘excellent quality of service’ to landlords on succession disputes and anti-social behaviour cases. Spencer Vella Sultana heads up the regeneration offering, with expertise in the preparation of new bids on proposed schemes and ventures. Suzanne Smith is an expert in handling residential and commercial planning applications, and legal director Mike Regan has over 25 years’ experience advising across real estate issues. Principal associate Sarah Christy is knowledgeable on obtaining civil injunctions. Charlotte Rawson rounds out the list of recommended team members.
London > Real estate > Social housing: local authorities and registered providers
The housing and regeneration practice at Capsticks LLP boasts a well-established team and an increasing number of registered providers that it supports on bespoke private developments. Practice head Chimi Shakohoxha specialises in property development, joint ventures, regeneration, and mixed-use developments for private and public sector housing, and he is supported by James Howard, who advises a wide range of registered providers on land and development acquisitions and stock rationalisation. With its background as a healthcare firm, the practice is uniquely positioned to advise on the collaboration between NHS healthcare trusts and housing associations; in 2022, the team noted an increased interest from both developers and investors in supported living. The practice’s fast-growing housing management group, spearheaded by Michael Owen, saw a growing number of disrepair matters. The group is involved in other recent sector developments, such as sustainability-linked funding and stock transfer to for-profit registered providers, led by Susie Rogers, head of the treasury and portfolio team. Sarah Waite left the firm in January 2023.