Kuljit Bhogal KC

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Kuljit has a broad practice with particular specialisms in local government, public law and judicial review, housing, and the Court of Protection. In March 2023, she was appointed King’s Counsel.

Kuljit is ranked by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 for Social Housing Law and Public Law.

In her public sector work, she acts predominantly for local authorities, housing associations and health bodies. In her private sector work, Kuljit acts for private landlords and developers.

Her local authority experience goes back over 21 years and she is able to advise on the full range of local authority functions.

She has an excellent understanding of the pressures faced by public bodies and is well able to service their needs. She is able to provide policy and strategic advice at the most senior levels.

She has extensive experience in policy and governance issues as well as in relation to individual cases and contracts.

Her recent work has ranged from governance (and other) issues relating to Public Space Protection Orders, the contracting out of local authority functions (in particular, homelessness functions) and the legality of Part VI Allocation Schemes.

Kuljit is able to provide advice quickly and efficiently and is able to provide practical solutions whilst working in partnership with her clients.

She is available and accessible to her clients on an informal basis and is able to discuss matters on the phone or in meetings, and outside of hours as required.

She is exemplary in terms of client care, trial preparation and written and oral advocacy skills.

Expertise

Public Law and Judicial Review
Kuljit has over 21 years of experience acting for public bodies.

She has particular experience of acting for local authorities in relation to the full range of their functions and activities.

She provides clear advice and is able to draft robust Pre-Action Protocol Responses and Acknowledgments of Service. Her practical, quick and robust approach means that many threatened challenges are avoided without the need for litigation.

Kuljit finds that even when a claim is issued, a robustly drafted Acknowledgment of Service is crucial to avoiding the grant of permission for seeking judicial review.

Over the last 21 years, she had advised on numerous aspects of local authority functions and responsibilities.

Her recent work includes advising on:
- Public Space Protection Orders – she has been all of the cases to the litigated in the Court of Appeal and High Court, and settled a number of others
- Allocation schemes and the lawfulness of additional preference post the Localism Act
- The contracting out of local authority functions
- Succession policies
- Disabled facilities grants
- Council tax and housing benefit
- Housing renewal and the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) Order 2002
- Public law defences, Equality Act 2010 challenges and the Public Sector Equality Duty
Housing
Kuljit is a leading silk in Social Housing in the current editions of the Legal 500 and Chambers UK. In her 21 years at the Bar, she has dealt with every aspect of housing law.

She provides policy and strategic advice at the most senior levels. Her housing client base consists of local authorities, housing associations, and private firms of solicitors.

She is the leading authority on Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) and has been instrumental in ensuring the orders are being used to their best effect. She has been instructed in each of the Court of Appeal and High Court challenges to PSPO including a number where she has been able to successfully conclude the litigation avoiding potentially adverse findings and publicity.

She has obtained injunctions against ‘persons unknown’ to cover activities as wide-ranging as car-cruising, fly-tipping, travellers and rough sleeping.

Kuljit provides practical and commercially sensible solutions to the problems faced by her clients. She has a collaborative approach and is happy to lead a team to meet the client’s objectives.

Her practice covers each and every aspect of Housing Law including:
- Strategy and policy
  
  Kuljit has advised the Mayor on his Housing Strategy for London 2012.
  
  Other policy advice includes allocation schemes, decant policies, the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance Order) 2002.
- Vires and governance
- Homelessness
- Management
  
  Right to Buy disputes
  
  Succession
  
  Subletting
- Social housing fraud, benefit fraud and the investigation and prosecution of offences
- Houses in Multiple Occupation
- Service charge disputes
- Mental Health and Equality Act 2010
Kuljit is author of Cornerstone on Anti-Social Behaviour, the second edition was published in May 2019. She is the expert on the new provisions and has advised on both policy and individual cases.
Court of Protection
- Overview
- News
Kuljit is a specialist in this area and has expertise of both welfare and financial cases. She was involved in the nationwide training offered by Cornerstone Barristers following the introduction of the Care Act.

Her experience includes:
- Best interests disputes
- Cross-examining sexual abusers and experts
- DoLS, including unauthorised deprivations
- Disputes as to costs and damages
- Mental Health Act disputes, nearest relatives
Some examples of her recent cases:
- L B Wandsworth v SMR and GB – Dispute as to capacity to manage financial affairs, concerns of financial abuse and a request for repayment of sums paid from SMR’s assets. Kuljit acted for the L B Wandsworth.
- Thomas (x2) v Thomas (x2) and L B Wandsworth and L B Bromley – Dispute about the validity of an Enduring Power of Attorney. Whether EPA should be disclaimed in place of a deputyship. Contact between P and family members. Kuljit acted for L B Wandsworth.
- L B Haringey v HS and VS – Best interest with regards to the residence of P who has severe learning disabilities. The dispute arose following allegations of historical and current sexual abuse by family members within the family home that had resulted in terminations of pregnancy. Kuljit appeared for VS.
- Cornerstone Barristers’ Kuljit Bhogal is sworn in as a Recorder of the Crown Court14 Jun 2021
- NEW BRIEFING – Local authorities post COVID-19. All you need to know01 Jul 2020
Inquests and Inquiries
Kuljit has appeared in several inquests, mainly on behalf of local authorities in their capacity as licensing authority, provider of social care or housing authority.

She has experience of:
- Inquests following death in a health setting, in the work place, in a holiday or leisure setting.
- The adequacy of assessments and care plans for the provision of residential care.
- Good practice in the provision of services to vulnerable adults and children in a residential setting.
- Health issues in residential care homes.
- Delineation of responsibilities between local authorities and other service providers.
Kuljit is currently instructed in an inquest involving a death at home and the social care provided by the local authority.

Kuljit was instructed in relation to the inquests into the deaths of JS, GP and KB, Inner South London Coroner’s Court. The fatalities related to licensed spa premises and Kuljit was instructed for the London Borough of Lambeth, an interested party. Further details can be found here.
- Inquests Into Deaths At Pleasuredrome Spa01 Jan 2018
- Cornerstone Barristers’ Kuljit Bhogal is sworn in as a Recorder of the Crown Court14 Jun 2021
Licensing
- Overview
- News
Kuljit has a developing licensing practice, and has particular niche expertise in Closure Orders made in respect of licensed premises under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and the interaction of this statutory regime with the Licensing Act 2003. She has acted for both local authorities and premises owners.

She is also able to advise on all aspects of managing anti-social behaviour relating to licensed premises.

She is the queen of anti-social behaviour – there is nothing about anti-social behaviour that she doesn’t know.
Chambers UK Bar (2022)

She brings great personal dedication to her work and really puts her heart and soul into her cases.
Legal 500 (2022)

She’s incredibly active in anti-social behaviour and is regarded as one of the strongest practitioners in terms of anti-social behaviour work.
Chambers UK Bar (2022)

About Kuljit

Directory Quotes
Social Housing – “Kuljit Bhogal is considered an expert in areas such as anti-social behaviour, public law defences and the Equality Act. She is frequently sought out by housing clients for her insight and advice on major policy matters. Her impressive client base includes local authorities and housing associations. Bhogal’s broad practice also encompasses community care and Court of Protection work.” Strengths: “Goes above and beyond and is loved by both clients and judges.” Chambers and Partners 2023

Local Government – “Kuljit Bhogal is a highly respected barrister with experience acting for local authorities in a wide range of matters. She demonstrates particular expertise in areas such as housing, licensing and healthcare, while her broad expertise also encompasses matters concerning anti-social behaviour and PSPOs. She is regularly called upon to advise her clients on strategy.” Strengths: “It is a pleasure working with Kuljit. She is knowledgeable, detailed, helpful and professional.” Chambers and Partners 2023

Local Government – “Kuljit’s knowledge and expertise in antisocial behaviour has been the driving force behind solving difficult issues for local authorities.” Legal 500 2023

Social Housing – “Kuljit is a superb counsel – her advice is thorough and knowledgeable. Her advocacy skills are excellent: she delivers with assuredness, resilience and eloquence.” Legal 500 2023

Social Housing – “She’s incredibly active in anti-social behaviour and is regarded as one of the strongest practitioners in terms of anti-social behaviour work.” “She is the queen of anti-social behaviour – there is nothing about anti-social behaviour that she doesn’t know.” Chambers and Partners 2022

Local Government – “She is very well respected and has a good reputation.” Chambers and Partners 2022

Administrative and Public Law – “She brings great personal dedication to her work and really puts her heart and soul into her cases.” Legal 500 2022

Local Government – “Very helpful in terms of helping the council to prepare its case. Good at dealing with all the witnesses involved in the case. A fine advocate.” Legal 500 2022

Social Housing – “A fountain of knowledge on the law of anti-social behaviour and local government functions, duties, and powers. Generous and supportive of junior members of the Bar, which is of the utmost importance to the Bar’s culture and development.” Legal 500 2022

Social Housing – “She is a great example of what a barrister should be. She is very professional not only in the way she acts for clients, but also with others at the Bar.” “Kuljit Bhogal is an expert in the law governing anti-social behaviour and her much-thumbed book is a key point of reference.” Chambers and Partners 2021

“Very helpful in terms of helping the council to prepare its case. Good at dealing with all the witnesses involved in the case. A fine advocate” Legal 500 2021

“She has a very good manner in court and is good at getting across the right point.” Chambers and Partners 2020

“She is certainly one of the most formidable juniors”.The Legal 500 2020

“Her advocacy is measured and thoughtful”. The Legal 500 2020

“A go-to counsel for anti-social behaviour claims, she is thorough, pragmatic and someone who thinks outside the box.” Chambers and Partners 2019

“Vast knowledge of the Equality Act and anti-social behaviour cases.” The Legal 500 2018

“Highly recommended for homelessness cases and matters involving mental health and Equality Act points.” The Legal 500 2017

“Very effective in dealing with difficult litigants in person.” The Legal 500 2016

“She provides a high quality of written work and advocacy.” Chambers and Partners 2016

“The authority on the new anti-social behaviour regime.” The Legal 500 2015
Associations
- Member of the ASB Forum at Scotland Yard (now LASBAS)
- Founding supporter of Social Housing Lawyers Association (SHLA)
- Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)
Publications
Notable Cases