SHLA Disrepair Virtual Conference 2026
Programme may be subject to change
| Time | Session | Topic and Speakers | Chair |
| 10.00 am | Chair’s welcome | Welcome | Katrina Robinson MBE, Legal Director at Birketts LLP and Co-Chair of SHLA |
| 10.15 am – 10.45 am | Chair’s Plenary | Introduction to the Conference
Katrina Robinson MBE, Legal Director at Birketts LLP and Elizabeth England, Barrister of Five Paper Chambers, Co-Chairs of SHLA |
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| 10.45 am – 11.45 am | Breakout Session 1 | ADR and the ICP
Iain Wightwick, Barrister, Mediator and Trainer of Unity Street Chambers |
Dambu Tenner, Head of Legal, at Abri |
| 10.45 am – 11.45 am | Breakout Session 2 | How to interpret Expert Reports
Oliver Wright, Surveyor of Oliver Wright Building Surveying Elizabeth England, Barrister of Five Paper Chambers |
Katrina Robinson MBE, Legal Director at Birketts LLP and Co-Chair of SHLA |
| 11.45 am – 12.00 noon | Break | Break | |
| 12.00 noon – 1.00 pm | Breakout Session 3 | Back to Basics: the pre-action protocol and access
Iris Ferber KC, Barrister of 42BR Kelly Lloyd, Senior Associate of Devonshires Solicitors LLP |
Imran Mustak, Legal Manager & In-House Solicitor Governance, Strategy & Communications at L & Q |
| 12.00 noon – 1.00 pm | Breakout Session 4 | Case Updates from the last 12 months
Matthew Lake, Partner of Weightmans LLP Elizabeth Nicholls, Barrister of 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square |
Emily Hope, Senior Associate Solicitor at Clarke Willmott Solicitors |
| 1.00 pm – 1.30 pm | Lunch | Lunch | |
| 1.30 pm – 2.30 pm | Breakout Session 5 | Costs
Simon Allen, Head of Department, Housing Disrepair at MRN Solicitors |
Kirsty Varley, Fixed Share Partner at MSB Solicitors |
| 1.30 pm – 2.30 pm | Breakout Session 6 | Allocation: best practice
Clare Jones, Senior Associate at Clarke Wilmott Solicitors Stathis Kosteletos, Barrister of 12CP Chambers |
Elizabeth England, Barrister of Five Paper Chambers and co-Chair of SHLA |
| 2.45 pm – 3.55 pm | Group Session | Top Tips Panel
Katrina Robinson MBE, Legal Director at Birketts LLP and Co-Chair of SHLA Nitika Singh, Partner at Judge & Priestley LLP Solicitors Louise Murphy, Head of Social Housing, MSB Solicitors |
Kelly Lloyd, Senior Associate at Devonshires Solicitors LLP |
| 4.00 pm | Chair’s Closing | Closing | Elizabeth England, Barrister of Five Paper Chambers and co-Chair of SHLA |