Our housing and mental health lawyers recognised as ‘brilliant,’ ‘passionate,’ ‘knowledgeable,’ and ‘pragmatic,’ in Chambers & Partners 2023

Our lawyers often work with some of the most vulnerable members of society and their work is incredibly important, so we were delighted to see our Mental Health and Housing teams receive recognition in the 2023 Chambers & Partners UK Guide.

Housing law guru and partner Lou Crisfield has jumped up to band 2 in the 2023 edition for UK-wide Social Housing: Tenants, in only the second year of participation.

The UK guide describes how she is ‘well known for her strength in social housing law, while also offering complementary expertise in public and community care law. She advises on homelessness applications as well as possession proceedings and housing allocation disputes.’

Clients and referees have described her strengths as:

• “She explains to client the options and strategies with a high degree of detail. She carefully explains all possible outcomes so that the client is best informed before making a choice.”
• “Lou Crisfield is brilliant and very passionate about what she does.”
• “She is very good with vulnerable clients, diligent and tenacious.”

Lou is hugely respected by numerous charities which help people who are homeless, facing eviction or have inappropriate social housing or other problems relating to their accommodation.

Our mental health solicitors continue to be leaders in the sector, and are credited in band 2 for UK-wide Court of Protection: Health & Welfare, with three partners recognised individually.

Rachel Turner continues to be ranked in band 2, and we are delighted that Floyd Porter has been ‘promoted‘ to band 2 and Andrew Bowmer has been promoted to band 3.

Floyd Porter (now band 2) is recognised for his work in with ‘individuals who lack mental capacity on deprivation of liberty, care and residence issues. He also advises family members on deputyship and best interest matters, while continuing to serve as chief assessor on the Law Society’s Mental Capacity (Welfare) Accreditation Panel.

Clients and referees have described his strengths as:

• “Floyd has an extremely calm manner and is very good at putting clients at ease.”
• “He has real pragmatism and expertise so that he’s able to cut through to the solution.”
• “He is very knowledgeable and personable.

Andrew Bowmer, (band 3), is known for providing counsel on a range of health and welfare proceedings, including safeguarding and capacity cases involving vulnerable adults. He is regularly instructed by family members as well as the Official Solicitor and is commended for his “years and years of experience. He is always up to date on legal case law.”

Managing partner Kate Hammond comments, “The vast majority of instructions to both teams come via personal and professional recommendations, with many via charities who work with vulnerable people.  The partners would like to extend their thanks to everyone who responded to the Chambers & Partners researchers.

The contents of this article are for the purposes of general awareness only. They do not purport to constitute legal or professional advice. The law may have changed since this article was published. Readers should not act on the basis of the information included and should take appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.