Samantha joined CLP in 2023 after completing her training contract at Merseyside Law Centre as a Justice First Fellow. Prior to retraining as a solicitor, she worked for two decades in the field of human rights, primarily as an urgent action coordinator for the Clean Clothes Campaign, where she advocated on behalf of workers employed in the supply chains of European clothing brands. While completing her law degree, Samantha also participated in a student scheme with Greater Manchester Law Centre, where she assisted people with disabilities to appeal benefit decision and was shortlisted for a LawWorks pro-bono award for her work on that scheme. Samantha lived on a narrowboat for many years and has a particular interest in housing and public law matters affecting this community. She also works on cases involving homelessness, housing possession and unlawful evictions.
Megan Lloyd
Prior to joining the firm in October 2023, Megan worked in the public sector and the NHS, advocating for clients in mental health crisis at risk of psychiatric inpatient admission as a result of social issues such as homelessness and debt. Megan has experience working with clients of varying and complex need in both community and in-patient settings. Megan has also previously volunteered for Nightline and the Alzheimer’s Society. Megan currently specialises in homelessness cases but has interests in all areas of housing law.
Andy Marlow
Andy has completed the Bar Professional Training Course and was called to the Bar in 2016. Having previously worked as a paralegal in commercial property matters, and having also previously volunteered to help applicants in Employment and Support Allowance appeals and defendants in possession claims, he moved to the Community Law Partnership in 2018. He initially worked full time on the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme. He now acts as a Trainee Solicitor, assisting clients in matters relating to defending possession proceedings, taking action on disrepair, homelessness and unlawful eviction. Andy qualified as a solicitor on the 13th March 2023.
Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson was a founding partner in 1999. He has now stepped down from the partnership. He has acted in some of the leading cases involving Gypsies and Travellers including three cases in the House of Lords and one in the Supreme Court. He travels the country to represent them, as well as lecturing, training, writing and campaigning on issues affecting Gypsies’ and Travellers’ rights. He is co-editor of the Legal Action textbook “Gypsy and Traveller Law” and writes regularly for Legal Action and other publications. He is a member of the Free Tibet Campaign.
Fiona McGilvray
Fiona joined the Community Law Partnership in January 2014 as a Solicitor specialising in housing law. Fiona’s previous experience includes family law and mental health law representing clients detained under the Mental Health Act. Before training as a solicitor Fiona worked for the YMCA and the Youth Offending Service in various roles focused on rehabilitating young offenders.
Syma Rushd
Syma qualified as a Solicitor in September 2007 and specialises in all areas of Housing Law. Syma joined Community Law Partnership in November 2015, having previously worked as a Housing Solicitor at firms in London and Birmingham.
Parminder Sanghera
Parminder completed her LPC at the University of Central England in 2002. She qualified as a Solicitor in 2005 and joined the Travellers’ Advice Team. Parminder specialises in advising on accommodation issues including evictions, planning appeals, injunctions and homelessness. Parminder also takes on a number of Judicial Review cases against Local Authorities and other public bodies. She was the instructing Solicitor in Charmaine Moore -v- SSCLG and London Borough of Bromley [2013] EWCA Civ 1194 and in the case of Moore & Coates -v- SSCLG and Others [2015] EWHC 44 (Admin). Parminder was also shortlisted for the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards 2015 in the Housing category and is the firm’s Public Law Supervisor.
Rose Pritchard
Rose qualified as a solicitor in 1986, initially specialising in family law (primarily victims of domestic violence) and crime. She then moved to be senior solicitor at Dudley Law Centre and later to McGrath & Co. solicitors, specialising in Housing Law, before joining CLP in 2000. Rose was one of the instructing solicitors in Ali & others -v- BCC [2010] 2 WLR 471 SC.
Sean Gilmore
Sean has practised housing law for 20 years, and during that time he has been nominated for a number of awards. He was a partner heading the housing team at Evans Derry before joining CLP in Sept 2015. Sean has run ground breaking cases in the United Kingdom Supreme Court including BCC v Frisby [2011] UKSC 8 (a tenant’s human rights); Solihull MBC v Hickin [2012] UKSC 39 (children’s rights to succeed to their parent’s tenancy); and Solihull MBC v Johnson [2015] UKSC 30 (vulnerable homeless adults). In Sept 2016 he successfully appealed to the Court of Appeal against a possession order made in the County Court, preventing a very vulnerable tenant from being evicted; BCC v Stephenson B2/2016/2501.
Shaheen Bi
Shaheen qualified as a solicitor in 2005, specialising in Housing Law. She joined CLP in 2007 and now her main area of responsibility is to support the Birmingham County Court Duty Possession Scheme on behalf of the firm, where she offers advice, representation and advocacy to all those facing eviction.