Russell Cooke Putney London 2

About Tom

I provide advice to clients on property and housing matters to help them manage, resolve or avoid disputes. Understanding what’s important to my clients enables me to advise in a commercially-savvy, cost-effective and client-centred way.

Tom’s work in the property and housing litigation team includes representing freeholders and leaseholders, as well as landlords and tenants.

Tom advises businesses, RTM companies and individuals on property disputes. He has developed an interest in long leasehold issues such as service charge and building management disputes, having built experience handling disputes relating to the Building Safety Act 2022 in particular. 

Tom retains a keen interest in public law and legal aid in relation to his work in housing. He has a particular interest in homelessness law, advising on reviews under the Housing Act 1996, homelessness appeals in the county court and judicial review proceedings. Tom also worked extensively on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry since joining Russell-Cooke in 2020.

In December 2023, after passing the SQE, Tom qualified as a solicitor and began his role as an Associate in February 2024. 

Tom was ranked as a key lawyer in Russell-Cooke's social housing team in The Legal 500 UK Solicitors 2024 rankings. 

Tom Hopkins is a great addition to the team, undoubtedly a future star in the making.
The Legal 500 (2025)

Education

  • Studied for the Solicitors Qualification Exam at the University of Law (2022) and BPP University (2023), obtaining 72% in SQE1 and 77% in SQE2;
  • studied the Graduate Diploma in Law at BPP University (2019), obtaining a distinction;
  • studied European Politics at the University of Nottingham (2014).

Awards and accreditations

Tom's highlights

News

28.05.2025

Inside the Russell-Cooke UKREiiF experience: networking, insights, and breakfast at Harvey Nichols

Last week, we had the pleasure of attending the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) — an important event on the property and infrastructure calendar...
Pippa Beesley (1) Chloe Nixon, Associate in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, real estate, planning and construction team. Edward (Ed) Monkley, Associate in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, real estate, planning and construction team. Kaitlin Wilson, Associate in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, real estate team. Brooke Clarke, Trainee in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, charity law and not for profit team. Tom Hopkins, Associate in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, property litigation team.
Multiple Authors
2 min Read
Pippa Beesley, Chloe Nixon, Edward (Ed) Monkley, Kaitlin Wilson, Brooke Clark, Tom Hopkins
News

25.02.2025

Will I need to pay my landlord’s legal costs at the First-tier Tribunal?

Following the recent decision of Lea v GP Ilfracombe Management Company Limited, which centred on the question of what constitutes 'unreasonable conduct' in litigation proceedings...
Tom Hopkins, Associate in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, property litigation team.
Tom Hopkins
3 min Read
News

26.07.2024

Challenging unsuitable B&B accommodation

Senior associate Caroline Brosnan, associate Tom Hopkins and trainee Louise Bonnici discuss a recent High Court judgment which...  
Caroline Brosnan, Senior associate in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, property litigation team. Tom Hopkins, Associate in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, property litigation team. Louise Bonnici, Trainee in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, private client team.
Multiple Authors
4 min Read
Caroline Brosnan, Tom Hopkins, Louise Bonnici
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