The team at 42BR Barristers has in depth expertise in the social housing arena, the barristers represent and advise individuals and housing bodies on antisocial behaviour, disrepair, possession claims, rent, tenancy fraud and many more. Iris Ferber KC leads the housing team and has acted for the defendant in Vyas v LB Newham, a homelessness case involving an applicant who refuses to live in a council flat due to difficulties with an ex-partner. Mathew McDermott represented the defendant in Richmond Housing Partnership v Yakub-Hughe, this case involved the defendant seeking to avoid mandatory possession proceedings from social housing due to criminal activity. Peter Jolley has extensive experience representing clients in disrepair claims, equality, succession and tenancy fraud. The team was further strengthened with the arrival of barristers Amritpal Bachu in May 2024 and Alex Bailey in November 2024.
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Work Department
Employment Team, Property and Commercial Team, Housing Team
Position
Specialist in all aspects of employment law and in property law, especially social housing
Career
Practice Area: Employment
Iris is an Employment specialist, who represents both claimants and respondents. In the Employment Tribunal, she is particularly sought after in large claims involving many allegations and many different heads of claim; as well as claims involving the handling of vulnerable witnesses. She appears regularly in employment appeals.
Iris also advises and represents parties in cases involving restrictive covenants, and other contractual issues that arise from the employment relationship.
Practice Area: Social Housing
Iris has been a Housing specialist for over 18 years.
She has long experience in dealing with complex anti-social behaviour cases, including those involving mental health issues, on behalf of both landlords and tenants. She is particularly good at dealing with vulnerable clients and witnesses, and managing the complex legal arguments involved in Equality Act and Human Rights cases. Her expertise in discrimination law generally (including her Employment Law practice) makes her particularly adept at handling Equality Act defences. Iris has extensive experience of homelessness litigation, including s204 appeals in the County Court, judicial review in the High Court, and appeals to the Court of Appeal.
Languages
Hebrew, Russian
Memberships
- Employment Lawyers' Association
- Employment Law Bar Association
- Discrimination Law Association
- Property Bar Association
- Chancery Bar Association
- Social Housing Law Association
Education
MPhil (Cantab) 2002
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The set as a whole is fantastic. The range of advocates that they have available from varying levels of experience is a rare find.'
- 'The chambers has very good barristers for social housing matters.'
- 'The clerks are always approachable and friendly.'
- 'The clerks are always ready to assist, especially when hearing dates come up at short notice.'
- 'The Clerks are fantastic and are always willing to go above and beyond as much as they can.'