Stephen Reeder has specialised in housing & social welfare law, public & administrative law, and human rights since being called to the Bar. He continues to ranked as a leading junior in the area of Social Housing and in the latest edition of Chambers and Partners instructing solicitors say "he is very good with clients" and he is also praised for his "strong presence in court". Chambers and Partners 2010 directory lists him as a leading junior and commenting he is "a strong player who fights his corner well in difficult situations in front of judges." The 2009 directory records him as "hard-working and committed" and "a deft opponent across all areas of housing law."
He has extensive advisory experience in relation to homelessness, housing management, social housing allocations, community care, mental health and public law relating to children.
Stephen is an experienced advocate before all levels of tribunal including the Court of Appeal and House of Lords. His county court practice concentrates on homelessness appeals under the Housing Act 1996 and complex private law litigation. His Administrative Court practice takes in all aspects of housing, community care, mental health and public law children's rights. His human rights practice concentrates on socio-economic rights and Article 6, Article 8 & Article 1 of the First Protocol.
He has a particular interest in the rights of ex-offenders, children leaving the secure estate, clients suffering mental disability and older clients. He regularly accepts instructions in cases where the Official Solicitor acts for patients or children.
His private law work has included a number of multi-party actions relating to major redevelopment programmes, estate disrepair, infestations, pollution and inherent defects. He was involved in the Kinghold Estate, Five Estates, Wellington Estate and Marquess Estate litigation. His work representing the occupiers over a number of years during the mjaor regeneration of the Marquess Estate in Islington was widely reported in the legal and mainstream press. Individual private law cases include disability discrimination relating to housing provision and management, and public law defences to private law claims.
He regularly undertakes advisory and litigation work for central and local government, registered social landlords and trades unions. This client group values his combination of legal specialism, commercial acumen, clear advice and tenacious advocacy.
He is an experienced trainer, lecturer and author in his specialisms. He has contributed to Legal Network Television, advised Centrepoint, and trained for Shelter. He has delivered lectures and presented seminars for the Housing Law Practitioners Association. He has delivered bespoke training for local authorities, registered social landlords and the Crown Estates. He is a contributor to the New Law Journal and the Butterworths Human Rights Online service. He is the human rights editor of Tottel's Older Client Law Service. He designs and helps deliver the annual seminar programme delivered by the Housing & Social Welfare Team at Doughty Street Chambers.
Stephen is a CEDR and ADR Europe trained mediator. He was a founding partner of the 'Housing Mediation Service' which provides specialist mediators for housing & property related disputes. He has acted both as lead and second mediator in multi-party regeneration schemes, redevelopment schemes, decant programmes, disputes between social housing development partners, and latent defect disputes. He is also an experienced mediator in individual neighbour nuisance and ASB disputes. He appears in the Bar Council directory of barrister mediators.
Stephen is a Lawyer Chairman of the Residential Property Tribunal Service. In 2006 the Lord Chancellor appointed him to sit on the Eastern Circuit. He is a member of the Housing Law Practitioners Association (HLPA), the Administrative Bar Association (ABA), and the Human Rights Lawyers Association (HRLA).