Practice Summary
Patrick began pupillage in October 2025 after spending 4 years working in the housing law sector for tenants’ advocacy organisation, Safer Renting, where he worked with local authorities to advocate for tenants facing harassment and unlawful eviction.
At Safer Renting, Patrick gained a wide experience of housing and local government law including possession proceedings, disrepair, harassment, and unlawful eviction, as well as local authority enforcement action including Civil Penalty Notices, property licensing, and improvement notices.
In addition to casework, Patrick advised the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and represented Safer Renting on the Renters’ Reform Coalition regarding in relation to the Renters’ (Reform) Bill and subsequently the Renters’ (Rights) Act. Patrick advised on numerous elements of the Act, particularly amendments to Rent Repayment Orders, new grounds of possession, and new local authority enforcement powers.
Patrick also participated in research which informed Safer Renting’s intervention in the Supreme Court in Rakusen v Jepson [2023] UKSC 9 and contributed to the organisation’s research papers (in collaboration with the University of York) on local authority property licensing and criminality in the Private Rental Sector.
Patrick intends to develop a broad practice encompassing housing, local government, and public law generally. During his first 6 months of pupillage, Patrick has also developed a particular interest in Chambers strong elections law practice.
