Doughty Street Chambers is delighted to announce that Robert Latham was named Legal Aid Barrister of the Year at the LAPG awards ceremony (see LAPG website here for full details) on Monday 1st December 2008.

Following Robert's call to the bar in 1976, he took little time in pushing himself forward as a leading figure within the field of public and private social welfare law. His early practice was one dedicated to the legally aided client.

A regular across the country in the County and Administrative Courts he was nicknamed "the King of Housing" in 1991 by Yorkshire Television on a documentary entitled "Called to the Bar". During the 80s and early 90s he was involved in the first large scale multi-party actions on some of the most deprived estates in London. He was also involved in some of the earliest estate-wide redevelopment schemes designed to do away with the urban deprivation and ancillary social problems caused by poor housing. His work in this area was highlighted in another television documentary "Summer on the Estate".

In more recent years he has been at the forefront of many of the important developments in social welfare law. To review a selection of his most recent works click here.

Robert's work in Human Rights, Social Housing Allocation, Destitution and Asylum Support, Tolerated Trespassers and Disability Discrimination and Residential Premises amongst many others, has helped him established an impressive legacy.

He has transformed the lives of thousands of legal aid clients. He has been pupil supervisor, mentor or role model to a generation of younger lawyers who have committed themselves to legal aid.

All the work he has done has brought with it much praise from a number of individuals working in and around law. Not least from a former pupil of Robert's and now practising member alongside him at Doughty Street, Mr Stephen Reeder:

"After 30 years of civil legal aid work at the Bar, Robert retains his unrivalled reputation, absolute sanity and some of his hair. The man deserves an award."

In support of his nomination, Robert received many complimentary and heartfelt letters. Below are just a few extracts:

• "In housing law, there is rarely a level playing field between landlord and tenant, and never between homeless applicant and local housing authority. But with Robert on your side, the gradient is less steep and the uphill task less daunting." - John Gallagher, Principal Solicitor, Shelter Legal Services.

• "Warmly support the proposal that Robert Latham's untiring and unselfish work for people with housing problems should be recognised." - The Rt Hon Lord Justice Sedley

• "This (I felt) was not some smooth, well heeled mercenary who was being paid thousands to turn up and glide with effortless charm - but as quickly as possible - down his written skeleton argument upon a subject in which his interest was only cosmetic. This was a man with a mission, of a man in the street - that the law was clearly and simply stated and worked as fairly as possible." - Lord Justice Wilson

• "Robert has also visited Bangladesh and developed a strong link with the British High Commission in Bangladesh and has helped to raise key policy issues to support the cause of the British Bangladeshis living in Camden" - Councillor Nasim Ali, Regent's Park Ward

• "He is principled: he never runs cases just because they might be interesting or get him glory. He will only run a case if he can be persuaded that it has merit. This can sometimes be a difficult task: he is meticulous, pedantic, clever....you can't get anything past him. But once he decides he will run a case, he is formidable." - Rebekah Carrier, Southwark Law Centre.

• "By the end of our telephone conversation I was left reassured, confident and somewhat awed by his incisive ability to absorb, analyse, and dissect the problem at hand and then give clear and cogent advice." - Amran Vance, AM Vance Solicitors

• "He provides a shining example of dogged endurance, driven by a commitment to serving the needs of others. It is always a pleasure to be associated with the work he does." - Jan Luba QC, Garden Court Chambers

The award citation read :

Robert Latham of Doughty Street Chambers received massive support from solicitors and barristers, academics and judges. His outstanding contribution to the development of housing law and his unwavering commitment to those who are homeless or in housing need are highlighted. His back catalogue of housing cases could serve as a reading list of seminal cases. He is praised for ploughing back his knowledge and experience for the benefit of colleagues. His insight into substantive law and practice are coupled with his concern for law reform and the machinery of civil justice. A local councillor praises his work with the local Bangladeshi community.

Photo below shows Robert Latham (centre) with his award, flanked by former BBC radio presenter John Howard (compere) and Cherie Booth QC (chair of judges panel) who presented the awards (photo: Robert Aberman)