Dean Underwood > Cornerstone Barristers > London, England > Barrister Profile

Cornerstone Barristers
2-3 GRAY'S INN SQUARE
LONDON
WC1R 5JH
England

Work Department

Public and administrative law; local government; social housing; property.

Career

Dean specialises in housing, administrative and public law, local government and property. 

 

His practice covers council tax; homelessness; housing allocation, licensing, management and regulation; human rights; leasehold disputes; service charges; welfare benefits. He has expertise in local government and in the regulation and licensing of private sector accommodation under the Housing Act 2004. He advises and represents local authorities and property owners nationwide as well as individuals.

Dean appears regularly in the higher courts. Recent cases include:  R (Mohamed) v Waltham Forest LBC [2020] EWHC 1083 (Admin); Marshall v Waltham Forest LBC [2020] UKUT 35 (LC); Adesotu v Lewisham LBC [2019] EWCA Civ 1405; Ahern v Southern Housing Group Ltd [2017] EWCA Civ 1934; Poplar HARCA v (1) Begum (2) Rohim [2017] UKHC 2040 (QB); Meredith v Kings Lynn & West Norfolk BC [2017] UKUT 2 (LC); Evesham & Pershore HA v Werrett [2015] EWHC 1060 (QB); Sims v Dacorum BC [2014] UKSC 63 and [2013] EWCA Civ 12.

Dean was Chair of the Social Housing Law Association from 2015 to 2018.

Called 2002; Middle Temple.

Languages

French; German.

Memberships

Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA); Property Bar Association (PBA); Social Housing Law Association (SHLA).

Education

St Julian’s School, Newport; Oxford University (1997 2(1) modern languages); University of Wales, Cardiff (2001 First Class law; 2002 BVC Outstanding).

Leisure

Playing and coaching rugby; gardening; spending time with family.

Lawyer Rankings

London Bar > Social housing

(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 1

Dean UnderwoodCornerstone BarristersA specialist in his area, with exceptional knowledge and understanding of housing law. He always prepares meticulously and proactively finds solutions.’

The ‘very good housing setCornerstone Barristers is highly regarded for its expertise at handling the full range of housing law matters; ‘the wealth of barristers with knowledge on housing law is phenomenal‘. Ranjit Bhose KC regularly represents social landlords, housing associations and local housing authorities in a broad spectrum of work, and Kelvin Rutledge KC has an excellent track record in handling homelessness cases and housing allocation matters. Dean Underwood ‘knows housing law through and through‘ and is ‘calm on his feet‘, and Andrew Lane is ‘a smiling assassin‘ – ‘his advocacy style is very effective‘. In March 2023 Kuljit Bhogal KC was appointed to silk.

London Bar > Property litigation

(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 4

Dean UnderwoodCornerstone Barristers