Kelvin Rutledge KC

Silk: 2013 | Call: 1989

Contact my clerk

Kelvin Rutledge KC
Daryl Hughes, Deputy Senior Clerk
> People > Barristers > Kelvin Rutledge KC

Kelvin Rutledge KC is a leading silk in local government law with a nationwide client base. He is especially well known for his expertise in the fields of housing and social care. Kelvin is a highly accomplished advocate with multiple appearances before the Supreme Court. He regularly undertakes appellate work, judicial review cases, High Court work and inquests.

Kelvin is a CEDR-accredited mediator.

Kelvin provides advocacy, advisory and drafting services in relation to a wide range of topics including homelessness and housing allocation schemes, care home contracts and standards, children’s services, housing finance, road traffic management schemes, land appropriation, public procurement, leaseholder’s rights, ombudsman’s complaints, ordinary residence disputes and equality duties. Kelvin regularly provides assistance to local authorities on matters of policy and public governance. He also appears and advises in related areas of European, human rights and private law.

Common themes running through the directory entries are that Kelvin is a highly knowledgeable and technically adept lawyer; a tenacious advocate with a friendly and accessible manner, and that clients enjoy working with him. He has a strong work ethic and can be relied upon to meet deadlines.

 

Expertise

    Kelvin’s knowledge of housing and homelessness is unparalleled...he is widely regarded as a leading expert in this field, for good reason.

    Legal 500 (2025)

    Kelvin is an exceptional silk.

    Legal 500 (2024)

    Kelvin is extremely experienced and innovative. I use him on all complex cases.

    Chambers UK Bar (2023)

    No one knows the legislation better than Kelvin, he knows every provision.

    Chambers UK Bar (2022)

    A very impressive barrister.

    Chambers UK Bar (2022)

    Kelvin is the alchemist of legal complexity and dedication.

    Legal 500 (2022)

About Kelvin

  • Directory quotes
    • Social Housing – “His analysis of the issues in the most complex of cases is excellent.” “He is widely regarded as a leading expert in this field.” “Kelvin’s knowledge of housing and homelessness law is unparalleled.” “He is excellent with the client and so approachable.” “I really value his wealth of experience.” “Kelvin is really the fount of all knowledge in housing and local government matters.” Chambers and Partners 2025
    • Community Care – “Kelvin is very good and knowledgeable.” Chambers and Partners 2025
    • Social Housing – “Kelvin’s knowledge of housing and homelessness is unparalleled. His knowledge of the law as it stands, and its development and evolution over time is exceptional, and he is widely regarded as a leading expert in this field, for good reason. He understands clients, the risks and challenges they face, and provides practical advice that meets their needs. His analysis of the law, and his written submissions are exceptional.” Legal 500 2025
    • Local Government – “He has careful regard to clients’ strategic needs and resource pressures. His analysis of the issues, strategy and written pleadings have been simply excellent.” “He is always helpful and prompt in his responses and very knowledgeable.” Chambers and Partners 2024
    • Social Housing – “Kelvin is an exceptional silk”. Legal 500 2024
    • Social Housing – “Kelvin is extremely experienced and innovative. I use him on all complex cases.” Chambers and Partners 2023
    • Social Housing – “A leading silk in the housing field.” Legal 500 2023
    • Local Government – “Kelvin is the alchemist of legal complexity and dedication – his ability to condense globalised legal complexities into entirely digestible and persuasive nutrition for judges is exquisite.” Legal 500 2023
    • Social Housing – “No one knows the legislation better than Kelvin, he knows every provision.” Chambers and Partners 2022
    • Local Government – “A very impressive barrister.” Chambers and Partners 2022
    • Community Care – “A hugely experienced local authority advocate.” Chambers and Partners 2022
    • Kelvin is ranked in Court of Protection and Community Care and Social Housing with Legal 500.
    • Local Government – “Kelvin is the alchemist of legal complexity and dedication – his ability to condense globalised legal complexities into entirely digestible and persuasive nutrition for judges is exquisite.” Legal 500 2022
    • Social Housing “Highly experienced silk with a particular focus on matters concerning local government. He offers respected expertise in a range of cases, such as those involving homelessness allocation schemes and outer borough placements. He also makes frequent appearances before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Rutledge complements his housing expertise with an impressive community care practice, and is able to act in a range of cases where the two spheres intersect. He also regularly provides counsel to local authority clients on issues of policy. Strengths: “A very fair and thorough advocate.” “A real specialist who deals with difficult cases.” Chambers and Partners 2021
    • Community Care “Leading silk with a broad community care practice, who is most active representing local authorities. He has appeared at the highest levels of the judicial system including at the Supreme Court and House of Lords. Strengths: “Extremely knowledgeable and very thorough.”Chambers and Partners 2021
    • “Has a good eye for detail.” Legal 500 2021
    • “He is very knowledgeable about his subject matter and he always performs.” Chambers and Partners 2020
    • “He’s a very nice opponent and has very good judgement.” Chambers and Partners 2020
    • “He has a particular expertise in homelessness law and is, deservedly, a go-to silk for local housing authorities nationwide.” The Legal 500 2020 
    • “Great on the case detail.” The Legal 500 2020
    • “Always extremely fair and very well prepared.” “He absolutely knows housing law inside out.” Chambers and Partners 2019
    • “Kelvin has an encyclopaedic and enviable knowledge of housing law and its inter-relation with other areas of law, including community care and the Court of Protection. These qualities make him an excellent housing lawyer. He is equally an experienced, authoritative and persuasive advocate.” Legal 500 2021
    • “A very competent silk.” “A go-to for government and local authorities.” Chambers and Partners 2019
    • “He is forensic in his legal approach, yet makes it seem so simple.” The Legal 500 2018
    • “Generous with his time and encyclopaedic in his knowledge of housing law through the ages.” The Legal 500 2018
    • “He’s a die-hard defender in local authority cases, and a solid silk who has lots of public authorities seeking him out.” Chambers & Partners 2018
    • “Blown away by him, one of the most tenacious advocates around.” Chambers & Partners 2017
    • “A tactical opponent who goes in quite hard but also takes a fair and balanced view.” Chambers & Partners 2017
    • “A tough and excellent advocate, who is easy to work with as part of a team.” Legal 500 2016
    • “He’s a very succinct advocate who is dogged in his determination.” Chambers & Partners 2016
    • “He should be singled out for his knowledge of eligibility issues and matters related to EU law.” Chambers & Partners 2016
    • “Very knowledgeable on all aspects of homelessness law.” Legal 500 2015
  • Services

    Kelvin is a well-known speaker at both national and regional conferences and training programmes on topics relating to his fields of specialism.

    He is a CEDR-accredited mediator.

  • Associations

    Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)

  • Publications
  • Notable Cases
  • Events

Custom PDF

Profile sections:
Areas of expertise:
Include the following related content for areas:
X