Beatrice Patrick

Bea is a solicitor in the housing and public law team.

Bea joined Hopkin Murray Beskine as a paralegal in 2019 and qualified as a solicitor in 2022. Prior to embarking on a career in law, Bea graduated in 2012 with a BA and MPhil in Philosophy.

Since joining Hopkin Murray Beskine Bea has been part of the housing and public law team. Bea regularly works on complex applications for judicial review against local and central government across a wide variety of issues including social housing, homelessness, education, social care and the environment. Bea has experience acting for refugees, travellers, those experiencing domestic abuse and disabled children.

Bea is experienced in advising clients about the range of legal issues triggered by homelessness, from the crisis leading to homelessness and the need for suitable emergency shelter to ensuring that their housing needs, both short and long term, are lawfully addressed. Bea also acts for tenants facing the loss of their home, for whatever reason, and in connection with housing conditions.

Bea adopts a problem solving, flexible and thorough approach to her work, tailoring her advice and devising strategies that are appropriate for the problems her clients face. She is quickly developing a reputation as an exceptionally effective, skilled and creative litigator who obtains excellent results for her clients.

TX v Adur District Council [2022] EWHC 3340 (Admin) – High Court – a judicial review claim concerning unlawful discrimination in a local authority’s housing allocations scheme, which operated to preclude women fleeing domestic violence in a different area from being placed in the highest priority bands on the housing register.

ZK v Havering LBC [2022] EWHC 1854 (Admin) – High Court – a key decision about the extent of the assessment and planning duties owed by local authorities in homelessness cases.

Richards v Environment Agency [2022] EWCA Civ 26 – Court of Appeal – a significant decision as to the extent of the court’s powers in a claim relating to breach of article 2 and article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The claim related to emissions from a landfill site and their impact on a child with severe respiratory problems.

Meet the team

“From the bottom of my heart, I am so thankful to you. You have changed mine and my children’s lives, forever. I will never forget this. Thank you”

“On behalf of my mother and the rest of my family I would like to say a big thank you for all your hard work and professionalism over the summer in regards to the eviction notice served.”

“This is to express my appreciation for all the help rendered to me during my homelessness.”