MEET THE TEAM
Rebecca Cobb
Partner
Rebecca qualified in 2004 at Bevan Ashford, now Bevan Brittan LLP. She worked in their commercial and property litigation team until 2015, specialising in social housing and complex multi-party disputes. Her passion quickly became housing management, because no two days are ever the same! Following 5 years building her own social housing practice within chambers-style firm, Carbon Law Partners, Rebecca and Joe decided it was time to join forces and create a niche firm specialising in everything social housing.
Born in the midlands, originally working in London and then Bristol, Rebecca enjoys travelling to meet different clients and a variety of county courts. In her spare time she enjoys long walks with her exuberant English Pointer!
Qualifications:
- Solicitor in England and Wales
- LLB (Hons) – University of Exeter
Email address: rebecca.cobb@cobbwarren.com
Joe Warren
Partner
"Our 4th emergency service." That's how some of our housing clients describe Joe. A Devonian born and bred, Joe is a tenacious property litigator who has supported social landlords across the South West for nearly 20 years. He's a familiar face in County Courts up and down the M5 and has litigated cases all the way to the Court of Appeal.
Joe has an acute understanding of the pressures housing officers face. Clients appreciate his approachable, down-to-earth manner. His lack of airs and graces, and dislike of legalese. He loves getting stuck in to help as one of the team. No issue too big, no query too small, he thrives on being their go-to problem solver.
Joe is adept at handling complex cases with capacity and mental health issues. He’s an accredited mediator and mediation advocate. And he has specialist expertise in gypsy and traveller law. An area with its own intricate legal regime.
A keen baker in his spare time (what’s that?), Joe specialised in Russian history at university. He knows his Bolsheviks from his Mensheviks and his macaroons from his macarons.
Qualifications:
- Solicitor in England and Wales
- Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives
- BA (Hons) History - University of Leeds
- Graduate Diploma in Law - DeMontfort University
Email address: joe.warren@cobbwarren.com
Daryl Bigwood
Partner
With a background working for the police, Daryl lives and breathes anti-social behaviour, housing condition and neighbour nuisance cases. A talented advocate and litigator, he’s dedicated to making a difference for his clients, their tenants and the wider community.
Daryl joined us in 2024 from Swindon Borough Council, where colleagues described him as “a walking encyclopedia around legal matters”, “an inspiration to others” and someone who “routinely goes above and beyond” for his clients. He is an “amazingly responsive”, “super-approachable” lawyer who “puts officers at their ease if they are anxious about the legal process.” He understands the time pressures housing officers are under and makes a point of making himself available for a quick query or as someone to bounce an idea off.
Daryl has taken cases all the way to the Supreme Court and has litigated important appeals in the County Court. These include Heys v Swindon Borough Council, which confirmed that an application for pre-action disclosure in a housing conditions case should be refused if a subject access request had not been made.
In 2020, Daryl won Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Making a Difference Award.
Qualifications:
- Solicitor in England and Wales
- Higher Rights of Audience (Civil)
- LLB (Hons) – Aberystwyth University
Email address: daryl.bigwood@cobbwarren.com
Emma Rudge
Solicitor
Emma is known for her down-to-earth approach to housing disrepair cases. But she's also someone who once hurled herself out of a plane at 13,500 feet. It's this combination of grounded practicality and fearless spirit that makes her particularly effective at guiding clients through complex disputes.
After over a decade as a corporate lawyer, Emma brings valuable commercial awareness and strong negotiation skills to housing cases. Her corporate background helps her understand client perspectives, while her mediation expertise enables her to achieve settlements that avoid the cost and disruption of court proceedings.
A qualified yoga teacher who runs weekly online classes and weekend workshops, Emma has even led sessions for legal colleagues in the office. But don’t let that peaceful image fool you. Despite (in her words) “being very ungifted in the sporting department”, she’s tried everything from climbing and skiing to downhill mountain biking. And while that skydive in New Zealand marked the peak of her thrill seeking, she'll still swap an "Ohm" with an "OMG!" when the mood strikes.
Emma grew up in rural Somerset, fostering her love of nature, and has a passion for vegan food despite not being vegan herself. At home, her two young sons are counting down the days until the family gets its first cat.
Qualifications:
● Solicitor in England and Wales
● LLB (Hons) – University of Bristol
Email address: emma.rudge@cobbwarren.com
Emma Orledge
Paralegal
Emma is assistant to the Partners, Rebecca and Joe. Her friendly voice is often the first thing clients hear when they pick up the phone.
A legal pioneer in her family, Emma loves the variety of her work, which extends to helping with important legal tasks such as preparing applications for access injunctions.
She prides herself on her attention to detail and, as someone who has danced on a West End stage, she is a dab hand at managing diaries and making sure our lawyers never miss a beat.
Qualifications: LLB(Hons) First Class - University of Law
Email address: emma.orledge@cobbwarren.com
Anne Williams
Solicitor
Anne brings a rare perspective to housing law: deep understanding of both sides of the landlord–tenant relationship. After two decades in commercial property, she transitioned to become a housing solicitor at Citizens Advice – encouraged by her sons, who decided she wasn't quite suited to being their full-time mother at home.
That career move proved inspired. And now, drawing on her extensive experience representing tenants, Anne has developed a reputation for finding practical solutions to challenging housing disputes, particularly in anti-social behaviour cases. Her approach is always to listen first, then identify workable outcomes that address everyone's core concerns.
Anne's problem-solving skills were sharpened through years on the Housing Duty Desk, where she had to negotiate agreements under pressure. Clients appreciate her methodical approach and ability to cut through the complexity to reach outcomes everyone can accept.
Anne grew up in Bristol and studied history at Warwick. She's married to a fellow solicitor and has three sons – two lawyers and one in the film industry. When she's not solving housing disputes, you'll find her on a woodland walk with her dogs or perfecting recipes in the kitchen.
What our clients say about us:
