Overview
By the time of the fourth Legal Futures Housing Condition Conference, Awaab’s Law will have been in force for six months and we will be able to assess the impact it is having on the social rented sector. With complaints to the Housing Ombudsman still going up, the SRA concerned about several aspects of housing disrepair work by solicitors, and a rise in complaints about surveyors’ reports, it is an important time for law firms to ensure they are getting claims right.
We’ll be raising funds in support of
Speakers
Craig Leigh, Barrister & Managing Director, 8PP Barristers & Associates
Craig Leigh is a dual-qualified barrister and solicitor-advocate specialising in housing disrepair litigation. With over a decade of experience, he acts for both landlords and tenants on liability, quantum and complex procedural and evidential issues, including high-value and technically challenging claims. Ranked as a Leading Junior in Social Housing by Legal 500, Craig is known for his clear, strategic and approachable style. At the conference, he will draw on frontline experience to explore the impact of Awaab’s Law on landlords and tenants.
Esther Bukoye, Barrister, Park Square Barristers
Esther Bukoye is a specialist housing barrister at Park Square Barristers, repeatedly ranked as a “Rising Star” by Legal 500. Called to the Bar in 2020, she has developed a national practice spanning housing conditions claims from small claims, to multi-track cases and appeals. Known as a tenacious and formidable advocate for vulnerable clients, Esther also produces widely used articles and webinars, earning recognition as a reliable and knowledgeable authority on housing condition claims.
Jamie Molloy, Head of ATE, Ignite Specialty Risk
Jamie has worked in the ATE market for the past 18 years and is a Chambers and Partners ranked individual. His experience includes underwriting and managing a significant volume of High Court and Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) disputes, as well as supporting a number of successful appeals to both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Most recently, Jamie supported the leading authority on the use of single claim forms for group actions (Morris & Ors v. Williams & Co (Solicitors) [2024] EWCA Civ 376) and also one of the claimants in the leading BLL test litigation (Why Not Bar and Lounge Limited v West Bay Insurance plc & QIC Europe Limited [2024] EWCA Civ 1026). Jamie also sits as a member of the consultation group on the Civil Justice Council review of litigation funding.
Ellie Staniforth, Partner, Bevan Brittan
Ellie Staniforth has been a housing solicitor for 17 years. Working in the housing management department, she is in charge of a large team and acts on behalf of local authorities and other social landlords defending housing condition claims. She has an excellent understanding of the relevant legislation, case law and pre-action protocols relating to disrepair claims. She is experienced in the court process including drafting court documentation and attending court. Ellie provides training on all aspects of disrepair including track allocation, quantum and assessment, Birmingham v Lee and preparing for trial.
Prof Rishabh Prasad, Chief Medical Officer, Genetix
Rishabh Prasad is a GP and healthcare operator with over 20 years’ experience across frontline clinical care, public health delivery, and digital health innovation. He is chairman of Willows Health, one of the UK’s largest GP providers. Through frontline practice, he has seen first-hand the impact of poor housing conditions – particularly damp and mould – on respiratory disease, child health, and health inequality. He is co-founder of Genetix and his current work focuses on applying clinically credible, bio-environmental evidence to housing condition, habitability, and disrepair claims.
Dr Samuel White PhD, Associate Professor at University of Nottingham
Dr Samuel White’s research spans immunogenetics, molecular and component-resolved diagnostics, microbiome and bioaerosol science, and the translation of complex biological data into clinical, regulatory, and policy settings. He acts in an advisory capacity to professional and governing bodies on microbial environments, diagnostics, and health risk. A central theme of his work is evidential robustness and compliance, including the development of technical guidance and best-practice frameworks for sampling, interpretation, and the use of microbiological evidence in regulated and legal contexts.
Jamie Paterson, Chief Executive Officer, Genetix
Jamie is one of the country’s leading experts in residential housing condition. A chartered surveyor and chartered engineer by profession, he brings senior-level experience and a proven track record as an entrepreneur. From co-founding Paterson Tighe Morton LLP to establishing Paterson Associates in 2019 and now leading Genetix as CEO, Jamie has consistently delivered growth and innovation in business. As a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health, Jamie champions higher housing standards which has led him – alongside the rest of the board at Genetix – to develop a market leading solution to the problems highlighted by the introduction of Awaabs Law in 2025.
Nick McDonnell, Director, Kain Knight
Nick graduated from Cambridge University in 1998 and subsequently went into the law practising civil litigation. He qualified as a costs lawyer in 2010, and has become a well-respected expert in his field, conducting high-value and complex costs matters, managing a costs business, and delivering technical and practical training to solicitors. His notable Court of Appeal cases include Belsner v CAM Legal Services Ltd [2022] EWCA Civ 1387 and West & Demouilpied v Stockport NHS Foundation Trust [2019] EWCA Civ 1220.
John Hoarey, Head of Dispute Resolution (interim), Housing Ombudsman
John Hoarey is the interim Head of Dispute Resolution at the Housing Ombudsman. He previously started at the service in 2017 as a caseworker.
David Nix, Deputy Executive Director of Investigations, SRA
David Nix is the Deputy Executive Director of Investigations at the SRA. He has worked at the organisations for more than 10 years in a variety of roles, including Director of Business Improvement, interim Director of Legal and Enforcement and Head of the Firm Based Authorisation.
Jacob Poole, Housing Operations Co-ordinator, Pabla & Pabla
Jacob Poole is a writer, researcher and paralegal at Pabla & Pabla Solicitors, specialising in housing disrepair. In 2025, he authored the whitepaper The uncomfortable truth about Housing Disrepair, examining tenant redress and local authority concerns, with the aim of informing government consultation. A regular contributor to Inside Housing, Jacob explores transparency, overcrowding and complaints handling. Drawing on frontline experience running his own claims and a background in homelessness services, he brings a practical, policy-aware perspective to housing disrepair.
Christian Potter, Partner, Pabla & Pabla
Christian is a solicitor and partner at Pabla & Pabla and has had a successful 20 year career in civil litigation. He is head of the housing department and manages a large team who seek access to justice for tenants and leaseholders. He has experienced first-hand many changes in the legal sector including the role of claims management companies, regulatory oversight (or lack thereof) and the expansion of fixed costs – all of increasing relevance to housing condition claims.
Julia Cooper, Director, Claims Management Association
Julia Cooper has 18 years’ experience in the claims management sector. A former Senior Claims Management Officer with the regulator, she played a key role in auditing and enforcing standards during the PPI era, working closely with lenders and regulatory bodies including the FCA and FOS. Since 2019, she has helped over 100 CMCs secure FCA authorisation. In 2024, Julia co-founded the not-for-profit Claims Management Association to give the industry a stronger voice and now engages regularly with the FCA on issues affecting CMCs.
George McLoughlin, Consultant Solicitor, Liver Law
George McLoughlin is a consultant solicitor at Liver Law with over 35 years’ experience in complex civil and high-value dispute resolution. Having historically practised in Legal Aid housing work, he has spent the past decade specialising in housing disrepair claims for tenants across England and Wales. Known for handling large, technically demanding cases with a pragmatic litigation style, George also brings a unique perspective from working positively alongside claims management companies. He is a published author and trainer in housing disrepair matters and a member of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
Venue
The Midland
16 Peter Street
Manchester M60 2DS
How to get to the conference
Travelling by train
The nearest train stations to the hotel are Manchester Oxford Road (200 metres), Manchester Piccadilly (5 minute walk) and Manchester Victoria (15 minute walk).
Travelling by bus and tram
Manchester is serviced by a free Metroshuttle bus and the nearest bus stop is outside the Free Trade Hall, 150 metres from the front of the hotel.
The Metrolink tram network runs across the City Centre and Greater Manchester. The nearest tram stop to The Midland is St Peter’s Square to the side of the hotel, with services including those to and from Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria.
Travelling by car
The nearest car parks are:
NCP Manchester Central – Lower Mosley Street, M2 3GX
3 minute walk from hotel
NCP Great Northern – Watson Street, M3 4EE
3 minute walk from hotel
Ticket Pricing
Early Bird Rate (until 6 March): £199 + vat
Standard Rate (from 7 March): £250 + vat
Vendors/Suppliers: Tickets for vendors/suppliers are limited to two per organisation, unless they are Associates of Legal Futures.
Refund Policy: Tickets are not refundable. If you are no longer able to attend, you can allocate your place to a colleague. Please notify us of any changes at least 48h in advance of the event.
