Bernadette Chikwe

I am a Director of Housing at Duncan Lewis having joined the firm in 2013. I supervise a team of solicitors, trainees and caseworkers who all specialise in Housing Law. I have over 15 years of post-qualification experience and I specialise in all aspects of housing litigation and tenant/landlord social housing matters.

I have been a duty solicitor since 2002 at both Bow County Court and also the Central London County Court. I have copious experience in both dealing with privately rented, local authority and social landlords rent and other grounds possession proceedings. I also have experience in dealing with mortgage possession proceedings and charging order proceedings. I have also assisted clients in making applications to suspend warrants of eviction. As a duty solicitor, I have given clients face to face advice before and after their hearings. I have liaised with third parties and represented them in relation to their hearings and made referrals to other organisations following the hearing when appropriate and confirmed the advice and outcome to the client in writing after the hearing.

I have experience supervising a remote advice service through the LAA Civil Legal Advice - this means representing clients and progressing cases remotely by representing clients UK-wide and handling their instructions on an exclusively remote basis through non face to face communications such as Skype, Telephone and Email.

I am listed as a Recommended Individual in The Legal 500 for my work representing an individual in possession proceedings arising out of the client's inability to assume tenancy due to her immigration status.

I speak Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, some German and basic French.

• LPC - College of Law, London
• Common Professional Examination - City University
• BA Hons, Business Studies - University of North London

• Director at Duncan Lewis - 2016-present
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors - 2013-present
• Helen Robbins Solicitors - 2003-2013 - housing and welfare benefits solicitor and supervisor
• Qualified as a Solicitor at Bow and Shore Solicitors - 2002

• "She is very much focused on getting the best result for her clients. She runs a diverse team and works with a very diverse client group." - Legal 500 UK 2023