Qualification:BA Hons (Sociology) Warwick

Poonam Pattni

Year Called:2010

Undergraduate Research Award

Graduate Diploma in Law, College of Law

Diplock Major Scholarship

Bar Vocational Course and LLB Hons, College of Law Benefactors Major Scholarship

Inn:Middle Temple Inn

Background:

Poonam has established a busy practice across a range of chambers' specialisms including all aspects of local government, regulatory crime, housing and planning law. Poonam accepts instructions on behalf of Government departments through the TSol 'Baby Barrister' scheme.

Prior to joining the Bar, Poonam worked at the Southall Black Sisters, a civil liberties organisation for black minority ethnic women and children. Her work engaged a number of areas of law including immigration, community care and housing. Poonam also drafted policy submissions responding to government consultations affecting legal aid and social welfare.

Expertise:

Planning

Poonam has experience in advising on planning appeals; interpretation of planning permissions; injunctions, and; judicial review proceedings. She is developing a successful planning practice with a particular focus on planning enforcement. Her recent cases include achieving the withdrawal of a breach of condition prosecution against a prominent theatrical charity; obtaining planning permission in respect of a residential development relying on under-enforcement provisions (following a two-day Planning Inquiry); dealing with matters relating to tree preservation orders, noise abatement notices and unauthorised encampments. Poonam also has experience of dealing with boundary disputes namely the ownership of disputed highway land.

Civil Law

Poonam accepts instructions on all areas of Housing Law on behalf of Landlords and Tenants. She has experience of dealing with contested possession proceedings; injunctions; right to rent; committal proceedings, and; matters arising from anti-social behaviour. Poonam has also dealt with interlocutory and final hearings on the small claims and fast track, Stage 3 hearings, infant approvals and is available for instruction in personal injury matters.

Crime & Regulatory

Poonam has developed a specialist criminal practice both prosecuting and defending regulatory offences. She is particularly adept at dealing with complex and overlapping areas of law and presenting them in an accessible manner. Poonam has experience in dealing with matters involving the Housing Act, Education Act, Health & Safety Regulations, Trading Standards, Building Regulations and Licencing.

Her recent cases have included prosecuting on behalf of a local authority in respect of housing offences (HMO Regulations), breach of a prohibition order, mandatory licencing provisions, Hackney Carriage Licencing and environmental offences.

Poonam is a Grade 1 CPS Prosecutor and regularly appears in the Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court on behalf of the prosecution and defence. She has a particular strength in dealing with young or vulnerable witnesses, having acted in a number of cases involving the cross-examination of young children and the use of intermediaries.

12 College Place, FauvelleBuildings, Southampton SO15 2FE

Tel: (023) 8032 0320 Fax: (023) 8032 0321