Source: https://www.trinitychambers.co.uk/people/barristers/alice-richardson/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 00:22:21+00:00

Document:
Prior to coming to the Bar, Alice worked as a housing advisor for three years. She undertook pupillage, and began her practice, at a leading specialist set of Chambers in London before relocating to the North-East.
Alice was appointed to the Attorney General's regional panel of counsel in 2018.
Alice’s practice covers all aspects of housing litigation including possession, homelessness, allocations, anti-social behaviour, tenancy deposits, unlawful eviction, disrepair, succession and assignment.
Alice is particularly interested in homelessness matters and has appeared in appeals under s.204-204A Housing Act 1996 and claims for Judicial Review.
She recently successfully represented the Claimant in a judicial review of a local authority’s revocation of a decision made under Part 7, Housing Act 1996. Alice appeared alone in the High Court (R (Sambotin) v Brent LBC  EWHC 1190 (Admin),  PTSR 1154,  HLR 31) and was led in the Court of Appeal (R (Sambotin) v Brent LBC  EWCA Civ 1826).
During pupillage, she assisted on a number of homelessness matters in the High Court and Court of Appeal including Firoozmand v Lambeth LBC  EWCA Civ 952;  PTSR 65;  HLR 45.
Alice acts for both landlords and tenants in possession cases and has a particular interest in cases involving the Equality Act 2010, human rights and public law defences.
She recently successfully represented a tenant in an appeal against a District Judge’s decision to strike out a defence brought under the Equality Act 2010. In another case Alice successfully represented an Introductory Tenant in a possession claim defended on public law grounds.
She is also interested in ‘technical defences’ particularly those concerning s.21 notices. She recently appeared in an appeal concerning the validity of a s.21 notice where a landlord had not served an EPC certificate on a tenant in shared accommodation.
Alice also has significant experience in matters concerning anti-social behaviour and community safety. She is interested in the use of civil remedies in tackling community safety issues such as domestic violence and gang-related problems.
Alice was junior counsel in the case of Birmingham City Council v Jerome Jones & 17 others (Birmingham County Court, ex tempore judgment, 12th July 2017) successfully representing the applicant in the largest ever gang-injunction application.
Alice was also junior counsel on behalf of the local authority, in Christie v Birmingham City Council  EWCA Civ 1339 in which the Court of Appeal considered the lawfulness of a suspended sentence for breach of a gang injunction.
• Council Tax and Business Rates.
She has particular experience advising on licensing schemes under the Housing Act 2004.
Alice also represents both landlords and local authorities in prosecutions under the Housing Act 2004. In Mirza (1) City Based Lettings Limited (2) v Newcastle City Council, Newcastle Crown Court, 8th June 2018, she successfully represented a landlord in an appeal against a conviction for failing to license a HMO.
Alice has a growing public law practise covering a wide-range of areas. In addition to housing and homelessness matters her practise covers social welfare law, community care, environmental law and prison law. She is regularly instructed in claims involving human rights.
Alice has advised on council tax reduction schemes, social housing fraud and the right to buy as well as housing policy and procedure. She was recently instructed in a Judicial Review of a decision made under a local authority’s introductory tenancy scheme and during pupillage she assisted in R (Regas) v Enfield LBC  EWHC 4173 (Admin);  HLR 14, a successful judicial review challenging a local authority’s additional and selective licensing schemes.
Alice has appeared in both the First Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal in appeals concerning social security benefits. She has been instructed in a wide range of matters including disputes concerning housing benefit and the ‘bedroom tax’, challenges involving the ‘right to reside’ and complex claims concerning disability benefits.
Alice appeared in the Upper Tribunal in KD v SSWP, CJSA/1156/2018 which concerned the test for “genuine and effective work". UT Judge Ward praised both advocate’s “measured and thoughtful questioning and submissions”.
Alice is also instructed in community care matters, primarily those that involve those facing homelessness or living in unsuitable accommodation. She has been instructed in judicial review proceedings concerning the provision of accommodation under the Children Act 1989 and the Care Act 2014.
Alice has been instructed in a wide range of claims brought by prisoners predominantly in relation to alleged breaches of the Human Rights Act 1998 or the Equality Act 2010.
Alice’s practice also covers traditional chancery work and she has particular experience of TOLATA claims, dilapidations, disrepair, possession and related disputes including breach of covenant, forfeiture and relief.
Alice was junior counsel for the Residential Landlord’s Association (“RLA”) in the Supreme Court case of McDonald v McDonald  UKSC 28;  AC 273;  3 WLR 45;  1 All ER 961;  HRLR 18;  BPIR 728;  HLR 28;  L & TR 9;  2 P& CR.DG 22; Times, June 29, 2016. The RLA intervened by way of written submissions on the applicability of an Article 8 defence in possession proceedings brought by a private landlord.
She accepts instructions in leasehold disputes including service charges, property management and enfranchisement.
Alice has a developing Court of Protection practice and is regularly instructed in matters concerning both Property and Affairs and Health and Welfare Matters. She has been instructed by local authorities, professional deputies and on behalf of the Official Solicitor.
Recent cases include: appearing on behalf of a professional deputy seeking authority to litigate following defective works undertaken to a patient’s property; advising on injunctive relief where a patient was a victim of anti-social behaviour; acting for a local authority seeking a deprivation of liberty and acting in a trial where lack of capacity was in dispute.
She is also regularly instructed in County Court matters in proceedings involving parties lacking capacity particularly those which arise in the context of housing and homelessness.
KD v SSWP, CJSA/1156/2018 (Upper Tribunal, Administrative Appeals Chamber) - represented the Secretary of State in this appeal concerning the test for “genuine and effective work" in relation to an EU citizen’s right to reside in the UK . The judge praised Alice’s “measured and thoughtful questioning and submissions”.
R (Sambotin) v Brent LBC  EWCA Civ 1826 (junior counsel) – successfully defeated the local authority’s appeal to the Court of Appeal. The authority were not entitled to ‘revise’ their positive decision on Mr Sambotin’s homelessness application notwithstanding the fact that a local connection referral was outstanding.
Mirza (1) City Based Lettings Limited (2) v Newcastle City Council, Newcastle Crown Court, HHJ Gittins, 8th June 2018 – successful appeal against conviction under s.72(1) Housing Act 2004 on the basis of abuse of process.
Birmingham City Council v Jerome Jones & 17 Others, Birmingham County Court, 12th July 2017 (junior counsel) - successfully represented the applicant in the largest ever gang-injunction application.
R (Sambotin) v Brent LBC  EWHC 1190 (Admin);  HLR 31 – successfully represented the claimant in a judicial review of a local authority’s decision to revoke a decision made under Part 7, Housing Act 1996.
Christie v Birmingham CC  EWCA Civ 1339 (junior counsel) – successfully opposed an appeal to the Court of Appeal on the lawfulness of a suspended sentence for breach of a gang injunction.
McDonald v McDonald  UKSC 28;  AC 273;  3 WLR 45;  1 All ER 961;  HRLR 18;  BPIR 728;  HLR 28;  L & TR 9;  2 P& CR.DG 22; Times, June 29, 2016. (junior counsel) – successfully acted for the RLA, an intervener by way of written submissions, in the Supreme Court on the applicability of an Article 8 defence in possession proceedings brought by a private landlord.
Firoozmand v Lambeth LBC  EWCA Civ 952;  PTSR 65;  HLR 45 (assisted as a pupil) - an appeal to the Court of Appeal on local authorities’ duties when a homeless applicant complains about the suitability of accommodation.
R (Regas) v Enfield LBC  EWHC 4173 (Admin);  HLR 14 (assisted as a pupil) a – a successful judicial review challenging a local authority’s additional and selective licensing schemes under the Housing Act 2004.
Securing gang injunctions, Local Government Lawyer, 7th September 2017 (available here).
Revisiting decisions on eligibility for homelessness assistance, Local Government Lawyer, 9th June 2017 (available here).
Proportionality and Private Landlords, Solicitor’s Journal 2016, 160(36) Supp (Bar Focus), 24-27.
Ali v United Kingdom: Homelessness Appeals and the Right to a Fair Trial, Journal of Housing Law 2016, Vol.19(2), 38-42.
Alice regularly summarises cases for Lime Legal’s “Housing Law Week” (available here).
Alice is available to deliver CPD training to solicitors, advisors and clients across her specialist areas.
She is also qualified to accept instructions directly from the members of the public through the Direct Access scheme.
Alice undertook a four-month internship with Reprieve working pro-bono on death penalty cases at a Texas law office prior to commencing pupillage. She continues to undertake pro-bono work including through the Bar Pro Bono Unit.

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