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Tim's practice covers housing, homelessness, community care, mental health, public law, prison law, regulatory crime inclusive of environmental law and general civil law. Housing and Community CareIn Tim's housing practice his work concerns the representation of tenants in possession proceedings brought by local authorities and claims by tenant against local authority or private landlords. With cases involving local authorities there is often a strong public law dimension either by reference to other public law duties or reference to inherent failures by local authorities in seeking possession. Most of Tim's Housing cases are rent arrears or disrepair claims but he also deals with succession, unlawful eviction, nuisance, anti-social behaviour and cases involving Community Care and Mental Health issues. Tim also represents Defendant's in Mortgage Possession cases. Tim is also experienced in Homelessness cases and related appeals. Tim also deals with complex issues related to land law, trusts and property. Mental HealthTim provides advice and representation before Mental Health Review Tribunals and mental health and capacity issues raised in the County Court. Welfare benefitsTim is experienced in providing advice and representation in the Appeals Service on housing and disability benefits. Prison LawTim is experienced in both adjudication and parole hearings held in prisons. In adjudications he has successfully represented prisoners accused of drug violations, having contraband, disobeying orders and having mobile phones. Tim has successfully represented prisoners either serving determinate or life sentences in Parole hearings before the Parole Board, particularly in recall hearings. Tim also advises prisoners in respect of potential personal injury, disability discrimination and other potential claims against the Prison Service. Tim also teaches aspects of prison law for the Institute of Prison Law. Public law and Administrative LawTim is experienced in making judicial review application to the Administrative Court and representation in other matters before the Administrative Court. OtherTim is also a trained mediator and is qualified to take instructions via Direct Access. He has provided seminars to solicitors on the Mental Capacity Act and Prison Law. He is a mentor for Lincoln's Inn and is involved in other mentoring projects to encourage people from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds to join the legal profession. BackgroundTim completed his pupillage at Garden Court Chambers under the supervision of Stephen Knafler, Nicola Rogers and Stephen Simblet. Originally he was trained as biochemist, molecular biologist and neuroscientist and was involved in scientific research for a number of years. Prior to embarking on legal training he was a researcher and administrator at the Public Law Project. Following his legal training he was a research assistant in the Public Law team at the Law Commission where he worked on several projects concerned with the reform of local authority inquiries, housing law and the law of compulsory purchase in collaboration with the Property and Trusts team. At the same time he was a visiting lecturer in law at King's College London and the University of Westminster Law Schools. AwardsHardwicke, Thomas More and Cassel Scholar.
Notable CasesCH/1098/2007: A successful appeal before the Social Security Commissioners concerning alleged housing benefit overpayment and complex issues of trusts of land.
R(H) v Guildford Youth Court [2008] EWHC 506 (Admin): A successful JR application leading to a quashing of a conviction under s 20 OAPA 1861 in respect of a refusal by the Youth Court to stay proceedings as an abuse of process. Essentially the judge quashed the conviction on the papers, with the CPS conceding the case and the Instructing Solicitor taking judgment.
R(Surat Singh) v Stratford Magistrates' Court & Others [2007] EWHC 1582 (Admin); [2007] 1 WLR 3119; [2007] 4 All ER 407; [2008] 1 Cr App R 2; [2007] ACD 72; The Times, March 27 2007: A challenge by way of JR of the exercise of a district judge's discretion to refuse to allow the claimant to advance the defence of insanity in summary only proceedings.
R v DPP; B v DPP [2007] EWHC 739 (Admin), The Times, March 27 2007. Also reported in the robbery sections of Archbold and Blackstones. An appeal by way of case stated which concerned proof of intention, mens rea and the use of implied force in robbery by reference to the fortitude of the victim.
R(on the application of Brandon) v London Borough of Ealing. Unreported (CO/7655/2006). A claim for judicial review of a decision to bring possession proceedings on the basis of alleged rent arrears following a succession. A High Court judge granted permission to judicially review the Defendant's decision. The possession proceedings on which the JR touched was settled and the JR withdrawn.
PublicationsTim is a co-author of the following books: Housing Act 2004: A Practical Guide (2005). Jordans. The Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003: A Special Bulletin (2004). Jordans. Legal and Ethical Aspects of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Perioperative Medicine (2004). Cambridge University Press. Tim is also the author of a number of articles including "Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 and Gypsies, Travellers and Public Gatherings" (2004) August LAG 19, and co-author of 10 articles relating to medical law and ethics and scientific papers. SocietiesTim is a member of the following organisations:
HLPA (Housing Law Practitioners Association);
ALBA (Administrative Law Bar Association);
CBA (Criminal Bar Association);
PIBA (Personal Injury Bar Association);
PNBA (Professional Negligence Bar Association);
and PABA (Public Access Bar Association).
He is also a member of the Civil Mediation Council and Liberty.
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