Jim Shepherd

Prior to becoming a barrister Jim worked in housing management for fifteen years starting as a housing officer and rising quickly to senior management. He trained at the Greater London Council and went on to work for various local authorities and housing associations in London, where he gained valuable experience of service provision to a diverse client group with multiple needs.

The vast majority of Jim's work now involves acting for tenants and applicants. He has built up a busy practice in all aspects of housing and homelessness work, including judicial review, defending possession proceedings, homelessness appeals, disrepair actions and unlawful evictions.

Jim is popular with solicitors for his practical problem-solving approach. He is extremely hard working, putting a strong emphasis on sound preparation, and always meets deadlines. In his day-to-day practice he seeks to run innovative and tenacious arguments, often centered around the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Jim regularly appears in the County Court and High Court. He acted for the Claimant in R (Slaiman) v Richmond-upon-Thames LBC [2006] EWHC 329 (Admin); [2006] HLR 20, a case concerning reviews pursuant to Housing Act 1996,s.202. He acted for the successful Appellant in the case of Robinson v Hammersmith & Fulham LBC [2006] EWCA Civ 1122;[2007] HLR,7, an important case on priority need amongst 16-17 year olds where the Court of Appeal provided guidance on the duties of the reviewing officer, delays in decision making and the use of mediation by local authorities. He also acted alongside Robert Latham for the successful tenant in Wandsworth v Whibley [2008] EWCA Civ 1259 when it was confirmed by the Court of Appeal that in an application to fix a date following an alleged breach of a postponed possession order the court had an obligation to properly consider (with live evidence if necessary) whether or not it was right to make an order.

Jim frequently speak on housing issues at conferences and training courses on topics including the Human Rights Act 1998 and other developing areas of law. He also has experience as a visiting lecturer in Housing Law at South Bank University. Jim was Deputy General Editor of the Encyclopedia of Housing Law and Practice between 2005-2007. He co-wrote Housing Law Pleadings in Practice (2003, 2nd Ed), Sweet and Maxwell, which is regularly used by solicitors and barristers in practice. He has also written articles on housing issues for the Journal of Housing Law and Solicitors Journal.

Publications

• Deputy General Editor of the Encyclopedia of Housing Law and Practice (Sweet and Maxwell) 2005 -2007.
• Co-author of Housing Law Pleadings in Practice (2003, 2nd Ed), Sweet and Maxwell.
• Co-author of the Solicitors Journal quarterly Housing Law Update.
• Accommodating minors, Solicitors Journal (2006) Vol 150 p.236.
• The Implications of section 194 Housing Act 1996 for homelessness appeals in the county court [2001] J.H.L. 7

Reported Cases

• Robinson v Hammersmith & Fulham LBC [2006] EWCA Civ 1122;[2007].
• R (Slaiman) v Richmond-upon-Thames LBC [2006] EWHC 329 (Admin); [2006] HLR 20.

last updated November 2007

Year of Call

1998

Education

BA (Hons) Dip Law (City) Professional Membership: Fellow of Chartered Institute of Housing Housing Law Practitioners Association

Email Address

j.shepherd@doughtystreet.co.uk

Specialist Teams

Jim Shepherd is a member of the following specialist law teams:

• Housing and Social Welfare
• Public and Administrative Law