Clare Cullen is an excellent advocate with a very high level of knowledge and expertise. She is always my first port of call to instruct in complex cases.
Chambers & Partners, 2024
Clare is a brilliant barrister who is thorough and approachable. She exudes confidence in a courtroom which is fully justified by her exceptional advocacy.
Chambers and Partners, 2021
Clare Cullen is forthright and concise in her legal advice, providing effective representation for clients
Chambers & Partners, 2024
Clare is incredibly relaxed and down to earth, which puts our clients at ease.
Chambers and Partners, 2021
Clare is probably the most thorough counsel I have ever instructed.
Chambers and Partners, 2021
Clare Cullen has brilliant case foresight, is a clear and strong advocate and you feel confident that the client is getting the best result possible."
Chambers & Partners, 2024
Clare is a forensic and compelling advocate who regularly secures outstanding results for her clients.
Legal 500, 2021
A star of the housing junior Bar. She is a brilliant barrister who is blessed with a first-rate legal mind and a superb knowledge of housing law.
Legal 500, 2021
Her written work is impeccable as is her ability to analyse complex legal problems and identify novel legal arguments. Tenacious and talented.
Legal 500, 2021
She is always incredibly well prepared, has a very good understanding of legal issues and can view a matter from all perspectives, flagging any concerns in a constructive manner.
Chambers and Partners, 2021
She has a brilliant and incisive legal mind. She is devastatingly effective within a courtroom and is able to come up with creative and pragmatic advice when conducting litigation.
Legal 500, 2020
An excellent barrister with an eye to detail. Thorough and confident.
Legal 500, 2022
She is bright, industrious and technically brilliant with excellent client care.
Chambers and Partners, 2022
Her written work is excellent, she performs brilliantly on her feet, her knowledge is second to none, and she is very approachable and easy to work with.
Chambers and Partners, 2022
Clare is an exceptionally talented barrister, who is comfortable handling all aspects of housing law. An intelligent barrister who demonstrates clarity of thought and provides pragmatic advice.
Legal 500, 2023
Clare's judgement and solutions to difficult cases are consistently excellent.
Chambers and Partners, 2023
Clare Cullen is a fantastic barrister who excels at all aspects of housing law. Her advocacy is clear and convincing while her written submissions are always powerful and perceptive.
Chambers and Partners, 2023
She is incisive, thorough and pragmatic.
Chambers and Partners, 2023

Clare Cullen is a civil and public law practitioner who specialises in housing, property and local government.

She advises and represents public and private clients including local authorities. Clare began practice at a specialist housing set and has appeared in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court.

Clare is able to accept direct access instructions within her specialist areas.

Clare delivers training on housing and property related issues. She was appointed a Deputy District Judge in September 2021.

If you would like more information about Clare’s practice, please contact her clerks or call +44 (0)20 7405 6114.

Housing

Clare is recommended in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leading junior in social housing. Clare has experience in all areas of housing including:

  • Possession claims (including Art.8 and Equality Act 2010 defences)
  • Anti-social behaviour
  • Homelessness and allocations
  • Subletting
  • Succession
  • Unlawful eviction
  • Harassment
  • Disrepair
  • Service charges
  • Selective and HMO licensing, rent repayment orders and civil penalty appeals.

Property

Clare advises and represents in property, leasehold and commercial cases including:

  • Service and administration charge disputes.
  • Right to manage
  • Forfeiture
  • Business tenancies
  • Trusts of land
  • Orders for sale

Local government

Clare advises and represents clients in local government cases including:

  • claims for judicial review in cases concerning homelessness, housing allocations, Care Act 2014 assessments, human rights and equalities issues.
  • selective and HMO licensing, rent repayment orders and civil penalty appeals.
  • education appeals.
  • section s.222 Local Government Act 1972 injunctions.

Clare was junior counsel for the local authority in the Court of Appeal in Abdikadir v Ealing LBC [2022] EWCA Civ 979, concerning a homelessness appeal.

Clare acted as junior counsel for an interested party in the benefit cap challenge R (on the application of JS and Others) v The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions & Ors, Shelter and CPAG intervening [2015] UKSC 16.

She was junior counsel for the local authority in the Court of Appeal in R (on the application of Jakimaviciute) v Hammersmith and Fulham LBC [2014] EWCA Civ 1438, concerning a challenge to the local authority allocation scheme.

Clare appeared for the local authority in the Court of Appeal in R (on the application of Tesfay) v Birmingham City Council [2013] EWCA Civ 1599, concerning interim accommodation in a homelessness case.

 

Anti-social behaviour

Clare represents clients in anti-social behaviour cases including:

  • Anti-social behaviour possession claims
  • Anti-social behaviour injunctions
  • Closure orders
  • Gang injunctions
  • Protection from Harassment Act 1997

She appeared in the Court of Appeal in Gill v Birmingham City Council [2016] EWCA Civ 608, representing the local authority in an appeal against a committal order for breach of an anti-social behaviour injunction.

Regulatory

Clare represents clients in selective and HMO licensing cases, rent repayment orders and appeals against civil penalties.

Before joining the Bar, Clare worked as a paralegal for a solicitor’s firm representing regulatory bodies in fitness to practise and conduct matters.

Education

  • B.A. International History and Politics (University of Leeds)
  • BVC (College of Law)
  • GDL (College of Law)

Notable cases

  • Moge v London Borough of Ealing [2023] EWCA Civ 464 -representing, as junior counsel, the successful local authority in a Court of Appeal case considering out-of-area placements and the extent of enquiries when a local authority is ending the homelessness relief duty using private rented sector accommodation.
  • Abdikadir v Ealing LBC [2022] EWCA Civ 979 – as junior counsel for the local authority in the Court of Appeal  concerning a homelessness appeal.
  • Gill v Birmingham City Council [2016] EWCA Civ 608. Representing the local authority in an appeal against a committal order for breach of an anti-social behaviour injunction.
  • R (on the application of JS and Others) v The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions & Ors, Shelter and CPAG intervening [2015] UKSC 16. Junior counsel for Shelter in a challenge to the benefit cap regulations.
  • R (on the application of Jakimaviciute) v Hammersmith and Fulham LBC [2014] EWCA Civ 1438. Junior counsel for the local authority in a challenge to the local authority’s allocation scheme.
  • R (on the application of Tesfay) v Birmingham City Council [2013] EWCA Civ 1599. Representing the local authority in a homelessness case concerning interim relief.

Legal publications

Memberships

  • Social Housing Law Association
  • Housing Law Practitioners Association

Privacy notice

Privacy Notice – Clare Cullen