United Kingdom > London > Public sector > Civil liberties and human rights
Index of tables
Civil liberties and human rights
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- Herbert Smith LLP
- Howells LLP Sheffield
- Imran Khan & Partners
- Lester Morrill Leeds
- Steel & Shamash
Leading individuals
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- Raju Bhatt Bhatt Murphy Solicitors
- Fiona Borrill Lester Morrill
- Jules Carey Tuckers Solicitors
- Saimo Chahal Bindmans LLP
- Tony Child Beachcroft
- Louise Christian Christian Khan Solicitors
- Jocelyn Cockburn Hodge Jones & Allen LLP
- Jane Deighton Deighton Guedalla Solicitors
- Polly Glynn Pierce Glynn Solicitors
- Stephen Grosz Bindmans LLP
- John Halford Bindmans LLP
- Imran Khan Imran Khan & Partners
- Jason McCue H2O Law LLP
- Fiona Murphy Bhatt Murphy Solicitors
- Tony Murphy Bhatt Murphy Solicitors
- Gareth Peirce Birnberg Peirce & Partners
- Lucy Scott-Moncrieff Scott-Moncrieff & Associates LLP
- Sue Willman Pierce Glynn Solicitors
Providing ‘first-rate service’, the ‘pre-eminent’ team at Bindmans LLP advises on death in custody, mental health and disability cases, in addition to freedom of speech and police actions. John Halford provides ‘clear and unambiguous leadership and guidance’, and is valued for his ‘acute drafting skills, persistence and decisiveness’. Halford and ‘top litigator’ Stephen Grosz are advising families of the victims of an attack in colonial Malaya in 1948 in a challenge to the legality of the killings. Paul Ridge acted in respect of the Parliament Square protest, and Saimo Chahal acted for a paraplegic prisoner in a disability discrimination claim. Associate Chez Cotton is a ‘tenacious and committed litigator’. Sara Lomri offers ‘frank and realistic advice’; Saadia Khan is ‘invaluable’; and Gwendolen Morgan has the ‘tact and sensitivity to deal with sensitive and difficult issues’. Criminal partner Mike Schwarz is also recommended.
Praised for its ‘extraordinary diligence and attention to detail’, Bhatt Murphy Solicitors is ‘more than willing to challenge established orthodoxy’. The ‘outstanding’ Hamish Arnott is highly rated for immigration detention work, and Simon Creighton advises life-sentence prisoners on innocence and release matters. Raju Bhatt acts in police law cases, and advised on the Blair Peach case in 2010. Mark Scott, Fiona Murphy and Tony Murphy are also recommended.
At specialist human rights firm Birnberg Peirce & Partners, ‘outstanding practitioner’ Gareth Peirce continues to do ‘high-quality and cutting-edge legal work’, and is representing a range of asylum seekers and detainees held without trial, including prisoners of Guantanamo Bay. Ronnie Graham is ‘excellent’; Henry Miller is ‘very good’; and Marcia Willis Stewart is also recommended.
Deighton Guedalla Solicitors’ Jane Deighton advises on asylum and immigration issues, as well as handling actions against the police and human rights criminal cases. ‘Tireless worker’ Sarah Ricca has a ‘real ability to focus on the issues at hand’, and Lochlinn Parker is also recommended.
At Leigh Day & Co, Frances Swaine is representing a team of independent doctors in their application to re-open the inquest into the death of Dr David Kelly. Prison law specialist Sean Humber is advising over 550 prisoners in their applications to the ECHR regarding prisoner voting rights. Richard Stein is recommended, and Alison Millar is singled out for education and health cases. Solicitor Rosa Curling ‘takes care and attention to consider each point of law’.
With ‘expert knowledge’, Pierce Glynn Solicitors’ ‘extremely assiduous, organised and capable’ group is ‘100% on top of complex legal issues’, and has experience in social welfare, discrimination and unlawful immigration detention. The ‘incredibly knowledgeable and dogged’ Sue Willman handles asylum support cases, and Bristol-based Polly Glynn has ‘great expertise’ and is currently active in two cases before the ECHR. The ‘truly impressive’ Adam Hundt, also based in Bristol, has ‘fine legal judgement and tenacity’, and ‘unsurpassed knowledge of health law’. Joanna Thomson is a ‘star performer’, and senior associate Louise Whitfield is ‘extremely accomplished’.
Jules Carey’s team at Tuckers Solicitors is currently ‘leading the way on control order litigation’. The group has experience in bringing actions against the police and in anti-terrorism law, including in complex claims for false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, discrimination and deaths in custody. In 2010 Carey successfully represented a client in a challenge against HM Treasury regarding the government’s asset-freezing regime, and his other recent work includes advising Ian Tomlinson’s family in the inquest into Tomlinson’s death during the 2009 G20 protests. Andre Clovis is recommended, and solicitor Zareena Mustafa has a ‘cool head’.
Claimant firm Christian Khan Solicitors represents individuals in false imprisonment, right to protest and assault claims, and in race, gender and disability discrimination cases against the police and the Ministry of Justice. A ‘market leader in human rights law’, Louise Christian is representing the widow of Alexander Litvinenko in a case before the ECHR against the Russian government. Sarah McSherry is representing students in claims relating to the kettling of protesters at the 2010 tuition fees protest. The ‘very impressive’ Katherine Craig is a ‘rising star’.
Hickman and Rose represents victims of crime and suspects in actions against the prison service, the IPCC and the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Daniel Machover, Anna Mazzola and Kate Maynard are singled out in the ‘very good’ team.
Hodge Jones & Allen LLP has a ‘committed and dedicated’ team. A ‘leader in the field’, the ‘outstanding and tireless’ Jocelyn Cockburn is ‘wholly committed’ and ‘fearless in promoting her clients ’ rights’, and acts in inquests into the deaths of soldiers overseas. Susie Labinjoh is ‘prepared to fight’. The ‘highly intelligent and persuasive’ Anna-Louise Thwaites has a ‘practical and creative approach’, and Sasha Barton is a ‘rising star’.
A ‘very good outfit’, Irwin Mitchell LLP advises on prison law and actions against the police, and has particular experience assisting in mental incapacity cases, where it is often instructed by the Official Solicitor. Sheffield-based partners Andrew Lockley and Yogi Amin are highly recommended.
Scott-Moncrieff & Associates LLP advises on human rights cases in the mental health sector. The team acts for individuals against organisations and institutions, particularly hospitals and prisons. Managing partner and Mental Health Tribunal judge Lucy Scott-Moncrieff is recommended.
Beachcroft provides ‘prompt service’, and advises both claimants and defendants in human rights cases. Tony Child acted for Sharon Shoesmith in her successful judicial review challenge against Ofsted for unfair dismissal following the Baby P case; and also successfully acted for the Icelandic Federation of Master Builders in a challenge to the legality of Icelandic business taxation. Stephen Hocking is also recommended.
At Fisher Meredith LLP, Stefano Ruis is experienced in matters relating to deaths in custody and arrests during protests and demonstrations, and Andrew Arthur has notable experience in prison law and in bringing actions against public authorities. Solicitors Shamik Dutta and Debaleena Dasgupta are also recommended. Stefan Vnuk moved to Lawrence Lupin Solicitors in May 2011.
H2O Law LLP specialises in advising victims of terrorism. It is currently representing several families of political prisoners and opponents regarding suspicious disappearances in the Republic of Belarus. The team also successfully advised Oriflame Cosmetics in a bid to release three of its employees detained without charge by the Iranian authorities. Jason McCue and Matthew Jury are recommended.
Maxwell Gillott Solicitors handles community care cases, Court of Protection work and immigration and asylum support, and acts in judicial reviews following breaches of human rights or the Mental Capacity Act. Oliver Studdert has an ‘intricate understanding’ of children’s community care; the ‘outstanding’ Julie Cornes is ‘responsive, proactive and tactful’; and Angela Jackman and Emily Gent are also recommended.
Oury Clark Solicitors’ pro bono practice provides human rights advice to international clients. Juliet Oury has notable experience in representing prisoners before the Privy Council, and co-ordinates the Jamaican Pro Bono Panel, representing Jamaican capital prisoners wishing to apply for special leave to appeal to the Privy Council.
At Public Interest Lawyers, the ‘brave, principled and immensely experienced’ Phil Shiner is ‘one of the UK’s most innovative human rights lawyers’, and has an excellent track record of success at the ECHR. The ‘impressive team’ also features the ‘excellent’ Daniel Carey.
Simons Muirhead & Burton is active in media cases that involve human rights issues, and in cases of contempt of public law, defamation, and breach of confidence. Litigator Louis Charalambous is recommended. The firm lost Shahram Taghavi to Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP in 2010.
T V Edwards Taylor Nichol assists in cases of mental health, wrongful arrest, assault by the police and death in custody. Anthony Edwards and Jim Nichol have acted for a number of individuals accused of terrorism.
Specialist immigration firm Wesley Gryk Solicitors LLP focuses on British immigration cases involving human rights issues. The team is noted for advising lesbian and gay individuals seeking to remain in the UK with British partners. Wesley Gryk is recommended.
Clifford Chance handles ‘high-end’ human rights challenges on a pro bono basis. It recently acted for the National Autistic Society in a Supreme Court case concerning the exclusion of an autistic and disabled child from school.
The ‘tenacious and committed’ team at Duncan Lewis & Co advises on immigration, asylum, human rights, unlawful detention and prison matters. James Packer is a ‘top-level performer’ and has an ‘exceptional grasp of detail’. ‘First-rate strategist’ Naim Rahman was successful in a Supreme Court case against the Secretary of State for the Home Department relating to European Directive issues concerning asylum seekers’ access to employment and permission to work.
With ‘hugely impressive attention to detail’, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP advises on corporate human rights and the right to property. The ‘careful, thorough and thoughtful’ Paul Lomas continues to advise the All Party Parliamentary Group on Extraordinary Rendition. The team is also active in defending claims in the ECHR. Associate Deba Das is ‘hardworking and committed’. Patrick Doris joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in 2010.
The growing team at GT Stewart Solicitors recruited Sophie Khan from Imran Khan & Partners in 2010. The team handles protest cases, and cases involving prison and police assaults. Greg Stewart ‘works tirelessly’ and has a ‘particular flair for standing up for young and vulnerable clients’.
Gherson provides ‘exceptional service’ and specialises in immigration, human rights, asylum and extradition cases. Led by the ‘extremely tenacious’ Roger Gherson, the team also defends politically motivated prosecutions, and has multi-jurisdictional expertise.
Herbert Smith LLP is acting for Public Law Project on a pro bono basis in a Supreme Court appeal. It also represented Justice and Liberty before the Supreme Court in two cases relating to the use of secret evidence. ‘A master in his field’, Andrew Lidbetter is able to ‘disseminate complex legal points in layman’s terms’.
The ‘very good’ Howells LLP acts for claimants in judicial reviews and inquests against the police and other public bodies. Peter Mahy has represented clients in the ECHR and the House of Lords.
Imran Khan & Partners advises on appeals, public inquiries and inquests relating to deaths in custody and wrongful arrest. Imran Khan is renowned for his longstanding experience. Sophie Khan joined GT Stewart Solicitors in 2010.
Lester Morrill is ‘one of the best in the country for civil liberties inquest work’. With an ‘outstanding record of hard work’ in coroners’ inquests, the ‘level-headed’ Fiona Borrill is praised for ‘championing the rights’ of bereaved families seeking justice for deaths in police and psychiatric custody.
With ‘very effective communication skills’, the ‘expert’ team at Steel & Shamash has experience in Court of Protection cases, and advises on housing, community care, asylum and mental health issues. It is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor, and ‘goes the extra mile for highly vulnerable children, young people and adults’. Janice Kaufman and the ‘excellent’ Anna O’Connell are recommended.