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Marie is a specialist housing and social welfare barrister. She accepts instructions in housing, homelessness, community care, and related public law matters. She has extensive experience of litigating housing matters in the county court, having joined chambers after spending two years as a duty adviser at South West London Law Centre.

What Clients Say

Marie was clear and holistic with advice and instilled confidence in my client, while at the same time managing his expectations. 

Marie advised clearly, represented my client and achieved the best possible outcome. She also handled my client well, given that he was upset at times. 

Marie was very professional, knowledgeable as well as compassionate and attentive to client’s wishes and feelings at all times.

Previous Experience

Prior to joining the bar, Marie was a housing and welfare benefits paralegal at the South West London Law Centres. As a duty advisor, she provided emergency advice and representation to tenants and mortgagors facing eviction across three county courts.

Marie managed her own caseload for clients who were either experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their homes. Marie specialised in acting for clients with severe mental health conditions and those lacking litigation capacity.

Whilst at the Law Centre, Marie provided training in homelessness law to non-profit organisations and social prescribers based in South London.

Housing

Marie receives instructions across the full range of housing law, and has experience:

  • Defending possession proceedings
  • Defending claims for injunctions under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
  • Defending against applications for committal
  • Bringing claims for damages for discrimination under the Equality Act 2010
  • Bringing claims for damages and injunctive relief for disrepair, harassment and unlawful eviction
  • Bringing claims for judicial review to challenge decisions relating to homelessness and housing allocations
  • Bringing county court appeals in respect of homelessness decisions

Marie is adept at making vulnerable clients feel at ease, and is passionate about making sure they are able to participate and contribute to their own cases as much as possible. She particularly enjoys advising on issues relating to mental capacity and disability in housing.

Recently, Marie has had particular success in helping disabled clients to defend against possession claims and injunction applications where they have been accused of serious anti-social behaviour including drug use and violent crimes. She has also helped clients to overturn homelessness decisions in respect of priority need and suitability, often prior to the issue of proceedings.

Having worked as a paralegal at a Law Centre prior to joining the Bar, Marie has frontline experience and a firm understanding of the complexities of the Legal Aid system. She is therefore able to give her professional clients pragmatic advice on how best to navigate cases from end to end.

Marie has delivered training on anti-social behaviour injunctions, unlawful eviction, and mental capacity in housing cases.

Marie is a member of the executive committee of the Junior Housing Lawyers Practitioners Association.

Community Care

Marie regularly receives instructions in cases involving challenges against the failure of local authorities to secure suitable accommodation and support for children in care, care leavers, adults with eligible needs under the Care Act 2014 and asylum seekers.

Discrimination Claims

Marie has advised clients and drafted pleadings in respect of standalone claims for damages for discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.