Set Profile > 2ND FLOOR > Birmingham, England

Social housing Tier 1

4-5 Gray's Inn Square's members are sought out in the most complex and impactful cases shaping the social housing sphere. Their expertise spans the entire ambit of housing law issues, including homelessness and allocation schemes, disrepair and dilapidations, housing benefit and welfare reform, and fraud. The set has been playing a key role in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, with members representing the bereaved, survivors and residents. On a related note, they also provide regulatory advice to other local authorities, particularly in relation to the use of cladding in residential buildings. One of the many highly regarded practitioners at the chambers is Christopher Baker, who is representing Agudas Israel Housing Association in R (Z) v Hackney LBC and Agudas Israel Housing Association; a case where it was alleged that the housing association was unlawfully discriminating in favour of Orthodox Jewish people. Also of note, Jonathan Manning acted for the respondent local authority at the Supreme Court in Samuels v Birmingham City Council.

Leading Juniors

Christopher Baker - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘Very calm, thorough in preparation, very knowledgeable and approachable.’

Ranked: Tier 1

Jonathan Manning - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘A very strong advocate, always effective and thinking of the next step in court proceedings.’

Ranked: Tier 1

Toby Vanhegan - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘Strengths and qualities: excellent working knowledge of all aspects of housing law; very sharp mind; ability to determine and focus on the key issue(s) in a case.’

Ranked: Tier 1

Ian Peacock - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘Very clear and thorough advice in which I have complete confidence, highly knowledgeable. Always willing to deal with very urgent matters and to provide urgent advice. Always thoroughly prepared for hearings, even at short notice.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Andrew Dymond - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘Very approachable and easy to work with. He understands the local authority viewpoint.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Annette Cafferkey - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘She is methodical and very thorough. She is very capable with bulkier instructions containing a large volume of information and is very practical in advice.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Stephanie Lovegrove - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘Stephanie is my go-to barrister. She has the expertise, tactics, reliability, flexibility and a clear understanding of clients' needs. She is a pleasure to work with and a highly competent advocate. Very approachable.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Anneli Robins - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘Extremely thorough and detailed, thinks outside the box, likes to consider new angles. Excellent on her feet and paperwork and excellent pleadings. Great with clients. An all around excellent barrister.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Local government (including rating law) Tier 2

Joint head of a set that handles a range of matters concerning local government powers and governance, 4-5 Gray's Inn Square's Timothy Straker QC conducted an investigation for Devon County Council into a former council leader who was accused of sexual assaults taking place over a decade ago. Elsewhere, Jonathan Manning advised Birmingham City Council on obtaining a Local Government Act injunction against "boy racers", resisting an attempt to set it aside on the basis that a public space protection order should have been issued instead.

Leading Silks

Timothy Straker QC - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘ Strengths - knowledge, intellect, clear advice, personable.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Leading Juniors

Jonathan Manning - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘Jonathan is able to put a client, explain complex matters which are easily understood and has excellent advocacy skills. A superb tactician who is liked and trusted by instructing solicitors and clients alike. Always helpful, and undoubtedly the leading expert in his field. A first-class legal mind.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Vivienne Sedgley - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘Vivienne is a standout junior. I have been impressed by her confidence and capability.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Christopher Baker - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘Very knowledgeable. A very personal, calm approach. Very clear written advice.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Mediators Tier 2

Colin Manning - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square Colin Manning co-heads 4-5 Gray's Inn Square's mediation group. An accredited mediator since 1997, mediation clients also benefit from Manning's 49 years' experience as a commercial litigator. Manning conducts a broad range of commercial mediations, which are frequently complex and of high value; and he has conducted several hundred mediations including multi-party disputes. His practice also covers significant contractual, professional negligence, partnership, company law and shareholders disputes, along with construction, property, trusts and probate, and international trade matters.

Hall of Fame

Colin Manning - Chambers of Timothy Straker QC and Satinder Hunjan QC

Ranked: Tier 1

Richard Price OBE QC - Chambers of Timothy Straker QC and Satinder Hunjan QC

Ranked: Tier 1

Property litigation

Leading Juniors

Christopher Baker - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘Chris has an excellent eye for detail and strong grasp of the key issues.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Planning

Administrative and public law (including elections) Tier 4

4-5 Gray's Inn Square 'has true and unparalleled expertise in the very niche area' of election law, with a number of members active in key cases. Timothy Straker QC was involved in a number of matters concerning the election expense issues of various pro-Brexit groups co-operating prior to the referendum: in one, he successfully represented Darren Grimes in a judicial review of the Electoral Commission's decision to issue with him a £20,000 fine for election expenses matters concerning that referendum, and Vote Leave in a separate appeal brought by the Good Law Project concerning the categorisation of donations to other organisations as election expenses. Richard Price OBE QC and Vivienne Sedgley have both advised the Conservative Party on a number of matters.

Set overviews: England and Wales

A multidisciplinary set with offices in London and Birmingham, 4-5 Gray's Inn Square is particularly strong in social housing and local government work. In recent news, Nikesh Pandit, formerly an associate solicitor in the regulatory team at Jones Day, as joined the set, while Charles Foster arrived from Serjeants’ Inn as his new chambers expands its healthcare regulatory team. Also of note, Ian Peacock has been appointed a Recorder on the South Eastern Family Circuit and Nikki Carr was appointed a judge of the First-tier Tribunal, Property Chamber. In the clerks' room, Emily Martin has taken over as the new senior clerk.