North West Housing Annual Conference

Garden Court North’s James Stark and Anna Watterson will be speaking at this year’s North West Housing Annual Conference, presented by the North West Housing Law Practitioners Group, taking place at the University of Manchester on Friday 7th November 2025.

The conference, held annually, will involve a full day of talks with lunch and refreshments included.

Ticket prices are set at: £60 per delegate for not-for-profit advice providers, or £120 for all other delegates including solicitors, barristers, local authorities and social landlord staff.

To secure a ticket, please fill out and send this booking form to Nicola Chadwick: nicolachadwick@peasegoodslegal.co.uk

Speakers include:

John Gallagher, former principal solicitor of Shelter, will cover the Renters Rights Act and Awaab’s Law, both of which are expected to come into force soon.

James Stark will be addressing “Emergency homelessness applications and gatekeeping especially with regard to refugees”, while Anna Watterson will deliver a talk on “How to help a deputy district judge in housing cases reach the right conclusion “

Both are highly experienced barristers in Garden Court North’s housing and homelessness team, and Anna also sits as a deputy district judge.

Ben Taylor of WTB Solicitors will also be providing an update on Committals and Sentencing in Anti Social Behaviour Injunction cases.

Dr Olusola Olowookere, consultant psychiatrist, will be delivering a session on ‘Expert psychiatric evidence in housing cases’. Dr Olowookere is a Medical Lead and Consultant Psychiatrist, Bond Solon Certified Independent Expert Witness and Forensic Medical Examiner. He currently works as a Medical Lead and Consultant Psychiatrist for a CAMHS in-patient unit, Rhodes Wood Hospital and as a Forensic Medical Examiner for G4S.

When: 07 Nov 2025
Where: University of Manchester, Dalton Room, Core Technology Facility, Grafton Street, Manchester
Start time: 09:00
End time: 16:30