DEVONSHIRES SOLICITORS LLP

My experience of Devonshires Solicitors reinforces many of the criticisms reflected in public reviews and employee feedback online. While the law firm presents itself as socially responsible and expert in housing law, I found its approach in disability-related disputes highly defensive, unprincipled, procedural, and overly aligned with protecting G15 and other social landlords from accountability, corporately psychopathic and deliberately cruel.

For more than seven years, Devonshires client , London & Quadrant housing trust ( L&Q) fiercely resisted providing a straightforward and entirely reasonable adjustment linked to my disabilities, which include schizophrenia, end-stage liver cirrhosis, and now terminal cancer. The adjustment was not extravagant or unreasonable. It primarily involved basic communication and procedural safeguards: no unannounced visits, clear written notice of appointments, weekday-only contact, and proper recording and sharing of these adjustments with staff and contractors so that I would not repeatedly face situations of managers and contractors just turning up unannounced on my doorstep demanding access and making legal threats without them giving me any opportunity to tidy up or plan for the visit or social interaction beforehand.

These reasonable adjustments were eventually acknowledged and agreed ,but only after L&Q thrratened to evict me, in a written settlement yet in practice they continued to be ignored, diluted, reframed, or treated as optional “preferences” under vague “vulnerability” or “service adjustment” - goodwill gesture- policies rather than recognised as enforceable Equality Act rights.

I was forced to take legal action against L&Q yet despite formal admissions, Ombudsman findings, and written settlement agreements, Devonshires appeared more focused on reputational management and limiting liability no matter what than ensuring meaningful compliance or organisational learning. Serious issues involving disability, mental health, liver disease, and terminal cancer and immonucompromised status were repeatedly handled in a detached and procedural manner that often seemed devoid of empathy or safeguarding awareness.

Particularly troubling was the continued use or attempted use of unannounced contractor visits even after case solicitor Shannon Morrison and Devonshires housing disputes lead and L&Q had been informed that I was immunocompromised and at serious risk of infection from unprepared for contact and stress. Rather than treating this as a serious health and safety and Equality Act matter, the concerns often appeared minimised or reframed operationally. Morrison ,a real corporate psychopath has stubbornly declined to acknowledge that I have terminal cancer and am immunocompromised and the health and safety risks and harm the continued unannounced visits posed.

Morrison and Devonshires refuse to explain what steps their client is prepared to take in compliance with the Equality Act to ensure the reasonable adjustment agreed years ago is now provided.

My criticism is not that Devonshires defended its client robustly — solicitors are entitled to do that — but that the firm acted in a unprincipled ,unpfofessional and likely unlawful way and appears too institutionally embedded within the culture and interests of large social landlords, regulators and even SRA, glaring conflicting interests , to provide the degree of independence, balance, and ethical reflection that cases involving disabled and vulnerable tenants require.

In sectors involving enormous power imbalance between landlord and tenant, law firms should not merely legitimise defensive institutional behaviour through technical language and procedural manoeuvring. They should also recognise when systems, policies, and organisational culture are causing ongoing harm to people whose legal rights and health depend on those protections being taken seriously. Devonshires has also along with L&Q and other G15 social landlords contributed or sought to downplay the preventable deaths of disabled tenants .

Sent two emails - second one a chaser about a potential claim. Zero response. If they are this unresponsive concerning potential business for them, I would not have a lot of confidence in them taking on my claim. Given up and will pass the work to another firm.

I have worked with Helen Curtis and Chantelle Adadevoh a few times in connection with share options and corporate matters. I can always rely on prompt action and advice, plus gentle nudges for me when required. Speaking to Helen or Chantelle always makes me feel better!

I instructed Devonshires corporate team for independent legal advice last year, Chantelle and Alastair were extremely quick and helpful at explaining the process. They made this as clear and efficient as possible and I’ll definitely be back in touch if I need advice again'

We have been using the services of Devonshires Solicitors now for a number of years, mostly for companies we have been involved with or owned. We have engaged them for corporate services and litigation. The team have provided to us expert advice and guidance and have always come back to us in a timely manner often when deadlines are tight and critical to the situation. We have also found their fees to be fair and would recommend them without hesitation.