Dianne Cowie
Director & Solicitor
Contact Information
- Director & Solicitor
- Housing
- City of London
- 02070147339
- 07920077029
- 02031190726
- @Send Email
Profile / Experience
"Dianne is an excellent landlord and tenant and housing lawyer with vast experience and great judgement. She's an extremely competent, committed and common-sense litigator."
Chambers UK 2025 Edition.Social Housing: Tenants / UK-wide
"Dianne Cowie is a highly experienced, competent and effective litigator who is both tenacious and strategic in pursuing cases as long as necessary to get a successful client outcome. She never misses a beat, and nothing throws her."
Legal 500 2025 Edition.Social Housing; Social Housing: Tenant / London; South East
Dianne Cowie is ranked in Chambers & Partners 2024 for her "considerable expertise in possession proceedings, tenancy disputes and homelessness appeals as well as advising on anti-social behaviour injunctions."
Chambers UK 2024 Edition.Social Housing: Tenants / UK-wide
"Dianne Cowie is determined to fight for her clients’ rights and uses her sound judgment and years of experience to obtain outstanding results."
Legal 500 2024 Edition.Social Housing; Social Housing: Tenant / London; South East
"Dianne Cowie offers considerable expertise in possession proceedings, tenancy disputes and homelessness appeals."
Chambers UK 2023 Edition.Social Housing: Tenants / UK-wide
"Dianne Cowie has a vast amount of experience in social housing and excellent judgment but retains a very affable and approachable manner."
Legal 500 2023 Edition.Social Housing: Tenant / London
"Dianne Cowie offers considerable expertise in possession proceedings, tenancy disputes and homelessness appeals as well as advising on anti-social behaviour injunctions. 'She is extremely well organised and is very good with clients; she has a nice rapport with them and keeps them informed.'"
Chambers UK 2022 Edition.Social Housing: Tenants / UK-wide
Dianne is a Recommended Lawyer in the 2022 edition of The Legal 500 and described as a "excellent solicitor".
Legal 500 2022 Edition.Social Housing / London
"Dianne Cowie offers considerable expertise in possession proceedings, tenancy disputes and homelessness appeals as well as advising on anti-social behaviour injunctions."
Chambers UK 2021 Edition.Social Housing: Tenants / UK-wide
Dianne Cowie has a ‘robust and sensible approach’ to advising on disrepair matters and cases involving allegations of anti-social behaviour, particularly in relation to vulnerable clients.
Legal 500 2021 Edition.Social Housing: Tenant / London
Dianne is a Recommended Lawyer in the 2020 edition of The Legal 500.
Legal 500 2020 Edition.Social Housing: Tenant / London
Dianne Cowie offers considerable expertise in possession proceedings, tenancy disputes and homelessness appeals. She "never fails to impress," say sources, who highlight her "grasp of the legal issues and her clear, straightforward and straight-talking manner" as key strengths.
Social Housing: Tenants / UK-wide
Dianne Cowie is listed as a Recommended Lawyer in the 2019 edition of The Legal 500 where her experience with disrepair claims is noted.
Legal 500 2019 Edition.Housing / London
"...knowledgeable and efficient housing practitioner..."
Chambers UK 2019 Edition.Housing / UK-wide
Dianne Cowie of Duncan Lewis maintains her impressive housing litigation practice and has significant expertise in disrepair claims and homelessness appeals. She is also noted for her work in possession matters.
Chambers UK 2018 Edition.Social Housing: Tenant / UK-wide
"Dianne Cowie is the 'go to' name for housing disrepair matters."
Legal 500 2017 Edition.Social Housing: Tenant / London
"An excellent litigator who has been involved in social housing cases at all levels”.
Chambers UK 2016 Edition.Social Housing: Tenant / London
I specialise in acting for tenants in matters including; disrepair; possession proceedings; injunction and committal proceedings; homelessness appeals and judicial reviews. I also have experience with cases which have been decided in the Administrative Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
I have a specialism in housing disrepair matters helping tenants ensure repairs are carried out to their properties and when possible obtaining compensation for clients affected by disrepair. I am highly experienced in possession matters and in particular, matters involving allegations of anti-social behaviour. Many of my clients are very vulnerable. The work I undertake often gives rise to public law and human rights defence.
I am recognised as a Recommended Lawyer in The UK Legal 500 and I am ranked in the legal directory Chambers and Partners UK for my work in social housing. Having practised since 2003, I have a wealth of experience and a track record of delivering the best results for clients. I aim to deliver with the mindset that settlement and negotiation are often key to the best result.
Education
- The College of Law, London - Legal Practice Course
- Nottingham Trent University - Bachelor of Laws (Hons) (LLB)
Career
- Duncan Lewis Solicitors (2015 - Present)
- Fisher Meredith Solicitors, London (2011 - 2014)
- Oliver Fisher Solicitors, London (2000 - 2011)
Testimonials
- "Dianne Cowie is determined to fight for her clients’ rights and uses her sound judgment and years of experience to obtain outstanding results." - Legal 500 UK, 2024
- "Dianne Cowie has a vast amount of experience in social housing and excellent judgment." - Legal 500 UK, 2023
- "She always has the client’s best interests in mind and gives sound and sensible advice." - Chambers and Partners, 2023
Awards
- Recommended Lawyer - The Legal 500, (2019 - 2024 and 2017)
- Ranked - Chambers and Partners UK (2021 - 2024) - Social Housing: Tenants, UK-wide
- Ranked - Chambers and Partners UK, (2017 - 2018) - Social Housing: Tenants, UK-wide
Membership & Accreditations
- Co-chair of The Housing Law Practitioners Association (HLPA)
Interests
- Running
Articles
- Housing Director Dianne Cowie appointed Co-Chair of Housing Law Practitioners Association (HLPA) (17 April 2024)
- Duncan Lewis Celebrates Exceptional Achievements in the 2024 Chambers and Partners Guide! (19 October 2023)
- Being evicted illegally? What can you do about it? (9 November 2022)
- Housing disrepair causing you mental health issues? It’s time to fight back (13 May 2022)
- Duncan Lewis Solicitors Chambers and Partners 2022 Rankings (21 October 2021)
- Duncan Lewis Solicitors Chambers and Partners 2021 Rankings (22 October 2020)
- Hotels EVICTING homeless amidst the coronavirus outbreak is UNLAWFUL (25 March 2020)
- Duncan Lewis Solicitors nominated for three awards at the LawWorks Pro Bono Awards 2019 (5 November 2019)
- Pro Bono Week 2019: Duncan Lewis Solicitors initiatives (4 November 2019)
- Excellent results for Duncan Lewis in the Chambers and Partners 2020 guide (10 October 2019)
- Tenants Ask: What is Disrepair? (23 October 2018)
- Social housing and the UK immigration policy right to rent rules (Asian Voice) (24 July 2018)
- ‘Generation rent’ bearing brunt of UK’s housing crisis (30 May 2018)
- Keeping a roof over your head: getting the right advice and support is critical for those on Universal Credit (Asian Voice) (6 February 2018)
- Housing Rules Strengthened in order to Protect Music Venues and their Neighbours (25 January 2018)
- Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ Croydon Housing Department to Hold Fortnightly Pro Bono Advice Clinic from January 22nd 2018 (19 January 2018)
- Chambers UK 2017 results: Duncan Lewis Solicitor’s Criminal Defence Team ranked as a Top Ranking Firm and Director’s Toufique Hossain, Dianne Cowie and Laila Bhunnoo ranked as leaders in their field (8 November 2016)
- Protestors occupy HQ of property guardian company Camelot (12 October 2016)
- Duncan Lewis Crime Department Receives Band 1 Ranking in Chambers & Partners 2016 (3 November 2015)