Ben Chataway

Overview

Ben specialises in housing, social welfare and public law. He can provide expert advice and representation across a wide range of public and property law issues, from cutting edge human rights actions to secure assistance for the most vulnerable clients to complex land law disputes. Having worked for many years as a solicitor he has a thorough understanding of the pressures of a solicitor's practice, of public funding issues and procedures, and of costs. He combines specialist expertise with a pragmatic and client-focused approach. He is accessible and happy to give advice informally where possible.

Ben studied at Cambridge before undertaking pupillage at a leading company law set. Instead of pursuing a career at the commercial bar he re-qualified, and spent 13 years as a legal aid solicitor and partner at a prominent housing, public law and family firm Hopkin Murray Beskine in Finsbury Park. He returned to the bar in 2010 and has already developed a thriving practice.

In 2007 Ben was appointed as a fee-paid Tribunal Judge to the First-tier Tribunal, Social Entitlement Chamber. He sits regularly hearing welfare benefits appeals.

Core practice areas include:

Housing

Ben has extensive experience as a housing lawyer. His areas of expertise include homelessness disputes, allocations, other judicial reviews, possession proceedings (from rent arrears to public law defences), housing benefit issues, antisocial behaviour, succession, leasehold disputes, claims for housing disrepair, and unlawful eviction. He is an experienced advocate but is happy to undertake work at any level and at short notice.

Support for asylum seekers and other persons from abroad

He has developed a special interest and expertise in acting for asylum seekers and other persons from abroad seeking welfare support, whether from NASS or local authorities. He can assist across a range of issues relating to migrant welfare, including dispersal, support for overstayers, unaccompanied minors, age disputes, and community care issues. He is a longstanding member of the Housing and Immigration Group. He has extensive experience of obtaining urgent interim relief.

Children and Young Adults

Ben acts frequently for vulnerable children, for care leavers, and for families seeking Children Act support. He can provide specialist advice and representation with regards to the rights of "looked after" children, homeless children and their families, inter-authority disputes, and rights under the leaving care provisions.

Public Law
Public and administrative law is central to Ben's practice. While his public law work is focused mainly on the social welfare field, including housing, welfare benefits and community care, he can assist across the range of public law issues. He was recently instructed as junior (with Nicholas Bowen QC of Chambers) to intervene in the Law Society's challenge to the Legal Service Commission's tender for family law services.

Year of Call

1995

Education

BA (Hons) (Cantab), BVC Outstanding (Inns of Court)

Email Address

b.chataway@doughtystreet.co.uk

Specialist Teams

Member :

• Community Care & Health
• Housing and Social Welfare
• Human Rights
• Public and Administrative Law