4-5 Gray's Inn Square > London, England > Set Profile

Chambers of Timothy Straker QC and Satinder Hunjan QC
4-5 Gray's Inn Square
LONDON
WC1R 5AH
England

Email firm Visit website 020 7404 5252 020 7242 7803

London Bar > Social housing Tier 1

The barristers at 4-5 Gray's Inn Square advise on the full range of social housing issues and are 'absolutely brilliant, thrive to set case law and always happy to assist'. The set has recently established a notable reputation for fire safety and cladding issues following significant involvement in the Grenfell inquiry and members of the set, Andrew Dymond among others, representing bereaved and survivors of the disaster. In 2020, Christopher Baker successfully defended Agudas Israel Housing Association before the Supreme Court in R (on the application of Z) v Hackney LBC, a challenge brought by a concerning the allocation properties in Stamford Hill specifically fitted out for the needs of Orthodox Jews. Toby Vanhegan has been involved in a number of cases concerning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on housing and homelessness, such as in Bankole-Jones v Watford BC, concerning the interpretation of priority need. Also noteworthy, Anneli Robins was involved in Croydon LBC v Kalonga, a case concerning the ejection of anti-social tenants on flexible tenancies, which do not generally have forfeiture clauses.

Leading Juniors

Christopher Baker - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘ Chris has a superb knowledge of the residential landlord and tenant law and understands the broader social housing picture and the regulatory environment. His measured approach to advocacy works well in the tribunals and higher courts. ’

Ranked: Tier 1

Jonathan Manning - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘ It is clear from his advocacy style that he is highly knowledgeable in this area of law. ’

Ranked: Tier 1

Toby Vanhegan - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘ Toby is a quick thinker and can see arguable legal points where others may not. ’

Ranked: Tier 1

Andrew Dymond - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘ I think that there are few barristers who would have his combination of knowledge and commitment. ’

Ranked: Tier 2

Ian Peacock - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘ He is very approachable, has extensive knowledge of local government, homelessness appeals and judicial reviews. ’

Ranked: Tier 2

Annette Cafferkey - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square

Ranked: Tier 3

Stephanie Lovegrove - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘ A highly experienced barrister who has an excellent command of all aspects of housing law. ’

Ranked: Tier 3

Anneli Robins –4-5 Gray’s Inn Square 'Tenacious and committed to every instruction - her strengths are her knowledge of the law and of people, and the ability to work well with her clients.'

Ranked: Tier 4

Testimonials

Set

‘4-5 Grays Inn Square remains a leading set for social housing work, in particular with a number of enthusiastic and knowledgeable junior counsel.’

‘The overall knowledge and expertise of this set of chambers is impressive.’

‘The set as a whole offer a variety of skilled and experienced counsel in social housing. Their client base give them a well-rounded approach to strategy in social housing cases. Their training courses are engaging and highly relevant. One of the few sets I would instruct regularly in these matters.’

‘Many members of its housing team are excellent, well-renowned and easy to get on with.’

‘4-5 Gray’s Inn is set of chambers that are absolutely brilliant, thrive to set case law and always happy to assist.’

Clerks

‘The clerks have always been courteous and helpful. Fee notes are provided in good time and any corrections that need to be made on fee notes are always done quickly.’

London Bar > Local government (including rating law) Tier 2

4-5 Gray’s Inn Square is ‘reliable and always well prepared in the areas of housing, public law and administrative law ‘. The set is increasingly active in cases concerning financial, modern slavery, mental health, housing, planning and public space protection matters. Recent work for the team includes the ‘clear and concise advocate‘ Jonathan Manning obtaining an injunction for Birmingham City Council for the purpose of banning the much-publicised protests outside Anderton Park School by parents opposed to the school’s sex and relationships education lessons.

Leading Silks

Timothy Straker QC - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘ His strengths are that he is knowledgeable, intellectual and personable - and the clarity of his advice. ’

Ranked: Tier 2

Leading Juniors

Jonathan Manning - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘ Very good advocate, clear and concise, always to the point. Very good with clients humorous and calm. ’

Ranked: Tier 2

Vivienne Sedgley - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘ She has excellent advocacy skills. ’

Ranked: Tier 2

Christopher Baker –4-5 Gray’s Inn Square ‘Christopher is well versed in his specialist area of practice. He brings a concise and problem solving approach to any matter upon which he is asked to advise. His advice is always focussed and he provides sensible and workable solutions. ’

Ranked: Tier 3

Testimonials

Set

‘4-5 are specialists in housing law and are able to offer counsel with varying degrees of specialism so that there is always someone available to assist.’

‘Very strong set overall. Reliable and always well prepared in the areas of housing, public law and administrative law.’

Clerking

‘The clerks are very friendly and professional, will respond to queries within very short timescales and will always try and accommodate with regards to finding suitable counsel for the task in hand.’

‘The clerks are very helpful and happy to try to help to provide counsel at short notice.’

Dispute resolution > Mediators Tier 2

Colin Manning – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square An accredited mediator since 1997, 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square's Colin Manning is 'good at getting the client's confidence and brokering a settlement'. Manning brings approximately 50 years' experience as a commercial litigator to the mediation of commercial disputes involving contracts, professional negligence, partnership, company, shareholders, construction, property, international trade, and trusts and probate.

Stephen Barker – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square4-5 Gray’s Inn Square's 'calm and authoritative' Stephen Barker, who practises jointly through CEDR Chambers), is 'an appropriate mix of sensitive and commercial, and reads the dynamics of the room extremely well'. Barker's experience includes over 100 successful mediations, with recent experience including multi-party shareholder disputes, insolvency cases and professional negligence mediations.

Patrick Taylor – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square 'A very reliable mediator', Patrick Taylor of 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square 'has gravitas; he is relaxed, focused, builds rapport, and gently guides parties to settlement'. Taylor's practice areas cover private law disputes, commercial agents' claims and multi-party matters, with recent mediations involving property disputes, often with agricultural dimensions.

Hall of Fame

Colin Manning – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

Ranked: Tier 1

London Bar > Administrative and public law (including elections) Tier 4

4-5 Gray's Inn Square 'has an established reputation in public law' and is noted for its 'leading silks in election law', who are 'supported by many excellent juniors'. In one such example, Timothy Straker QC and Vivienne Sedgley successfully defended the London Borough of Newham in a case brought by campaigners submitting a petition seeking a referendum on abolishing the role of elected mayor in 2020. The matter featured issues of coronavirus legislation, which had stopped petitions being brought as part of the one-year freeze on local elections, and a breach of the embargo on the judgment by the campaigners.

Leading Silks

Richard Price QC - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘ Richard is one of, if not the, preeminent barristers in this field. What he doesn't know about elections and election law probably isn't worth knowing. Combined with this is his fantastic sense of humour and his willingness to help and advise whenever necessary. ’

Ranked: Tier 2

Timothy Straker QC - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘ He is the go-to silk for any electoral work. His knowledge and insight is second to none and he fights hard. An absolute star. ’

Ranked: Tier 2

Leading Juniors

Vivienne Sedgley - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘ Vivienne is an outstanding junior in election law, and is constantly up-to-date on all aspects of election law. Assiduous and thorough in research and other work, including drafting of complex legal arguments. ’

Ranked: Tier 2

Testimonials

Set

‘4-5 Gray’s Inn Square has an established reputation in public law, election law, local authority, housing work, professional regulation and mediation. Chambers has silks and juniors across all areas, who provide strength in depth.’

Clerking

‘The service provided by Vicky Thompson, the CEO, Emily Martin, Stephen Somerville (Acting Senior Clerk) and their team is outstanding. They have worked assiduously to keep chambers going during the pandemic in difficult circumstances.’

London Bar > Planning

Leading Silks

Timothy Straker QC - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square

Ranked: Tier 3

London Bar > Property litigation

Leading Juniors

Christopher Baker - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square ‘ Chris has a superb knowledge of the residential landlord and tenant law and unlike many barristers understands the broader social housing picture and the regulatory environment; he is approachable and his written work is first class. His measured approach to advocacy works well in the tribunals and higher courts that I use him for. ’

Ranked: Tier 3

Commercial and Chancery: Our barristers offer specialist advice and advocacy across Commercial and Chancery areas of practice and industry sectors – from contract-commercial disputes, to company law, insolvency, intellectual property and trusts. Chambers offers expertise in the areas of media and IP, commercial debt recovery, employment law, and international commercial practice. Members appear in courts and tribunals in England and Wales and in overseas jurisdictions, acting for both domestic and foreign clients, including individuals, corporations, and public bodies.

Planning and environment: Our planning barristers specialise in the processes of planning applications for the development, construction or change of use of a building or buildings; compulsory purchase orders (CPO); and s106 agreements. Our members are experts in contentious judicial reviews, inquiries and appeals; and non-contentious planning and CPO strategies relating to development projects and urban regeneration schemes. Our members also undertake large infrastructure schemes.

Regulatory and disciplinary: Our regulatory and disciplinary team has the expertise and experience to provide specialist advice and representation in all areas of regulatory and disciplinary law including financial services, public safety, environmental, tax, licensing, the medical professions, lawyers, accountants, architects, police, clergy and sports.

Members of chambers regularly appear for regulators and defendants in front of a wide range of tribunals and other professional bodies and sit as tribunal members.

In the sports arena members have particular expertise in disciplinary proceedings brought by various governing bodies, including doping and misconduct cases, and regulatory matters involving selection, funding, safeguarding, licensing, sponsorship and FA Rule K arbitrations.

Public and administrative: Our barristers cover judicial reviews, statutory appeals, inquiries, disciplinary proceedings and non-contentious advice on the powers of administrative functions of central and local government and other public and regulatory bodies. 4-5 barristers work on a whole spectrum of local government activities, including planning, environmental, education, community care, highways, housing, health, compulsory purchase, public procurement, freedom of information, rating, licensing and elections, issues relating to local government powers, structure and finance.

Housing and property: Our barristers are noted experts in housing, landlord/tenant and residential and commercial property disputes; many are recommended in the legal directories and engage in wider policy work for government, MPs, pressure/trade groups and devolved governments. We cover everything from possession proceedings to leasehold enfranchisement; HMO and other licensing and homelessness; housing procurement to restrictive covenants.

Department	Name	Email	Telephone
Chief Executive	Vicky Thompson	vthompson@4-5.co.uk	0207 404 5252
Senior Clerk	Emily Martin	emartin@4-5.co.uk	0207 670 1555
Members of Chambers	STRAKER QC, Timothy (1977)
Members of Chambers	HUNJAN QC, Satinder (1984)
Members of Chambers	PRICE, Richard OBE QC (1969)
Members of Chambers	SAPSFORD QC, Philip (1974)
Members of Chambers	BRIDGEMAN SC, James (1989)
Members of Chambers	SINGER QC, Andrew (1990)
Members of Chambers	MANNING, Colin (1970)
Members of Chambers	JEFFERIS, Michael (1976)
Members of Chambers	LAMBERT, Jane (1977)
Members of Chambers	DAVEY, Toby (1977)
Members of Chambers	HORSINGTON, Simon (1978)
Members of Chambers	BARRETT, John (1982)
Members of Chambers	RANDLE, Simon (1982)
Members of Chambers	DIAS, Sappho (1982)
Members of Chambers	STEPHENS, Michael (1983)
Members of Chambers	BAKER, Christoper (1984)
Members of Chambers	POWELL, Jonathan (1984)
Members of Chambers	CLARKE, Gerard (1986)
Members of Chambers	ROSE, Jonathan (1986)
Members of Chambers	SHARMA, Kishore (1986)
Members of Chambers	FOSTER, Charles (1988)
Members of Chambers	MANNING, Jonathan (1989)
Members of Chambers	COLVILLE, Iain (1989)
Members of Chambers	OKOYA, William (1989)
Members of Chambers	BARKER, Stephen (1989)
Members of Chambers	PEACOCK, Ian (1990)
Members of Chambers	DYMOND, Andrew (1991)
Members of Chambers	CAFFERKEY, Annette (1994)
Members of Chambers	VANHEGAN, Toby (1996)
Members of Chambers	TAYLOR, Patrick (1996)
Members of Chambers	GREATOREX, Helen (1997)
Members of Chambers	QURESHI, Tanveer (2000)
Members of Chambers	AGNIHOTRI, Naveen (2001)
Members of Chambers	BELOFF, Rupert (2001)
Members of Chambers	LOVEGROVE, Stephanie (2004)
Members of Chambers	MCATEER, Helen (2008)
Members of Chambers	SEAL, Philippa (2008)
Members of Chambers	PANAYI, Christian (2009)
Members of Chambers	LARKIN, Christopher ( 2010)
Members of Chambers	PANDIT, Nikesh (2010)
Members of Chambers	ROBINS, Anneli (2011)
Members of Chambers	SEDGLEY, Vivienne (2011)
Members of Chambers	JONES, Selena ( 2011)
Members of Chambers	ZANG, Clara (2012)
Members of Chambers	DUNCAN, Salma (2012)
Members of Chambers	OMAR, Ayesha (2012)
Members of Chambers	FORD, Olivia (2013)
Members of Chambers	SHEPHARD, Max (2013)
Members of Chambers	IMAM, Rayan (2013)
Members of Chambers	MURRAY, Rea (2015)
Members of Chambers	FRANCIS, Thomas (2015)
Members of Chambers	COLVILE, Raoul (2016)
Members of Chambers	DORFMAN MOHAJER, Rosalee (2015)
Members of Chambers	ELLIOT, Katharine (2016)
Members of Chambers	SIDOSSIS, Alexandra (2016)
Members of Chambers	SARAN, Iulia-Claudia (2016)
Members of Chambers	DHANOA, Amrit (2016)
Members of Chambers	GARDINER, Hannah (2016)
Members of Chambers	HASSANALLY, Salmaan (2017)
Members of Chambers	HITCHENS, Josh (2018)
Members of Chambers	LINES, Katie (2018)
Members of Chambers	HARMS HON JUSTICE, Louis*
Members of Chambers	CARDUCCI, Prof. Dr. G*
Members of Chambers	KENNY QC, Caroline (2010)*
Members of Chambers	STUTZER, Dr Hansjörg*
Members of Chambers	BYRNE, Garrett (1986)*
Members of Chambers	BARAV, Ami (1993)*
Members of Chambers	PETER, Natasha (2001)*
Members of Chambers	DHANOA, Dilpreet K (2009)*
Members of Chambers	COHEN, Paul H (2011)*
Members of Chambers	FORSYTH, Prof. C (1987)**
Members of Chambers	CHRISTIE, Iain (1989)**
Members of Chambers	HOFFMAN, David (1997)**
Members of Chambers	*International Tenants
Members of Chambers	**Associate Tenants

Name	Position	Profile
Naveen Agnihotri	Barrister	View Profile
Christopher Baker	After becoming established at the Bar in a wide range of litigation…	View Profile
Stephen Barker	Stephen Barker is an independent commercial mediator. He is a CMC Registered…	View Profile
John Barrett	Barrister	View Profile
James Bridgeman SC	James Bridgeman SC is a practicing Barrister, Chartered Arbitrator and certified mediator.…	View Profile
Annette Cafferkey	Annette started out in practice in 1995 and for five years had…	View Profile
Guido Carducci	Barrister	View Profile
Nikki Carr	Barrister	View Profile
Iain Christie	Barrister	View Profile
Paul Cohen	Barrister	View Profile
Raoul Colvile	Raoul has a broad based dispute resolution practice and significant experience of…	View Profile
Iain Colville	Since joining chambers in 1997, having previously worked in local government since…	View Profile
Fionnuala Connolly	Barrister	View Profile
Salma Duncan	Salma’s practice comprises commercial and public law. She specialises in: commercial chancery;…	View Profile
Andrew Dymond	Specialises in housing, landlord and tenant and local government law. Reported cases:…	View Profile
Katharine Elliot	Katharine joined 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square as a third-six pupil in 2017,…	View Profile
Olivia Ford	Barrister	View Profile
Thomas Francis	Thomas has a broad civil practice, encompassing public, commercial, professional discipline, and…	View Profile
Hannah Gardiner	Barrister	View Profile
Helen Greatorex	Barrister	View Profile
Salmaan Hassanally	Barrister	View Profile
Satinder Hunjan	Satinder’s practice focuses on commercial litigation, insurance, private and manufacturing liability (including…	View Profile
Rayan Imam	Barrister	View Profile
Amy Just	Barrister	View Profile
Caroline Kenny	Caroline Kenny practices in commercial law, with expertise in trade practices, insurance…	View Profile
Christopher Larkin	Barrister	View Profile
Stephanie Lovegrove	Barrister	View Profile
Brooke Lyne	Barrister	View Profile
Colin Manning	Colin has been a barrister for over 40 years and has wide…	View Profile
Jonathan Manning	Examples of recent work: 1) Manchester CC v Pinnock [2010] UKSC 45;…	View Profile
Helen McAteer	Helen accepts instructions for claimants and defendants in commercial, chancery, public law,…	View Profile
John McCafferty	Specialises in housing, local government and public law. He was a junior…	View Profile
Rea Murray	Barrister	View Profile
William Okoya	Formerly a senior legal officer for a local authority and legal manager…	View Profile
Ayesha Omar	Barrister	View Profile
Ian Peacock	Barrister	View Profile
Anneli Robins	Barrister	View Profile
John Robson	Practises property law and commercial disputes. An experienced practitioner and trial lawyer,…	View Profile
Jonathan Rose	Jonathan has significant specialised experience of civil fraud and criminal defence he…	View Profile
Vivienne Sedgley	Vivienne is a leading junior with a wide-ranging public law practice. She previously…	View Profile
Max Shephard	Max is regularly instructed in employment, regulatory, sports, and commercial cases. He…	View Profile
Andrew Singer	Andrew practices exclusively in the field of construction and associated professional negligence…	View Profile
Paul Stafford	Barrister	View Profile
Michael Stephens	Michael is an experienced senior junior who has conducted a broad common…	View Profile
Hansjorg Stutzer	Barrister	View Profile
Patrick Taylor	Accredited & Registered Mediator – CEDR 2001. Since accreditation Patrick has been…	View Profile
Toby Vanhegan	Barrister	View Profile
Clara Zang	Barrister	View Profile