The Legal 500

Bindmans LLP leads the field; its lawyers ‘are virtually unrivalled in human rights and equality matters’ and ‘apply an astute political approach to very complex, often controversial, areas of law’. Practice head Stephen Grosz is ‘a top player in the human rights field’, supported by the ‘tenacious and totally committed’ John Halford. Saimo Chahal is ‘really outstanding’, displaying ‘exceptionally good judgement, understanding of the needs of the client, and the ability to apply objective criteria’, and information law expert Tamsin Allen ‘knows her subject matter inside out’. The practice is representing Debbie Purdy in her high-profile case against the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Bhatt Murphy Solicitors focuses on prison and police law, and has been involved in numerous judicial reviews relating to prisoners’ rights. The ‘outstanding team’ includes Simon Creighton, ‘the best prison law solicitor in the country by a mile’, and Tony Murphy, who is ‘fiercely committed to his clients’. Raju Bhatt, Fiona Murphy, Hamish Arnott and Mark Scott are also recommended.

Birnberg Peirce & Partners is ‘a front-runner in the field of human rights’, focusing on police, prison and immigration cases. Gareth Peirce is widely praised as ‘a phenomenal solicitor with incredible insight’ and is ‘the icon of civil liberties law’. The ‘absolutely superb’ Nigel Leskin also merits mention for immigration-related work.

Leigh Day & Co is ‘a wonderful advertisement for the profession’, handling a high volume of work, such as advising Mencap on the care of people with learning difficulties, and representing Binyam Mohamed. Practice head Frances Swaine’s healthcare expertise ‘brings a particular strength which others lack’, Richard Stein is ‘pragmatic and practical’, and Sean Humber is ‘committed to his clients and passionate about his cases’. Junior members of the team also attract praise.

Christian Khan Solicitors has a varied human rights practice, with particular specialisms in actions against the police, deaths in custody, and mental health and personal injury cases. Lead partner Louise Christian is recommended for public inquiry and judicial review work.

Deighton Guedalla Solicitors handles discrimination, asylum, immigration, inquests, police and prison law, and other crime-related human rights issues, often through legal aid. Lead partners Jane Deighton and Vicky Guedalla are ‘extremely thorough’ and ‘incredibly committed to their work and their clients’.

Hickman & Rose’s varied practice, led by Daniel Machover, specialises in international human rights. The practice is advising the NUJ on police surveillance.

Scott-Moncrieff, Harbour & Sinclair is a predominantly legal aid practice, representing people with mental health problems, physical disabilities or learning difficulties, as well as prisoners, children, and vulnerable adults. Lucy Scott-Moncrieff is ‘absolutely brilliant’; ‘there is nothing about mental health that she doesn’t know’.

Louis Charalambous, who leads Simons Muirhead & Burton’s practice alongside Anthony Burton, acts for the NUJ, the BBC, Channel 4, and journalist Sally Murrer, who was charged with aiding the misconduct of a police officer who allegedly leaked her information. The practice has also established the Death Penalty Project, an independent NGO which advises individuals facing the death penalty in Africa and the Caribbean.

With an excellent reputation in criminal work, Tuckers Solicitors focuses on claims against the police and prison authorities, led by Jules Carey and Rosy Bowling respectively. The firm is currently representing the family of Ian Tomlinson.

Fisher Meredith’s practice spans public, immigration, police and prison work. Angela Jackman and Eleanor Wright, assisted by Julie Cornes, specialise in welfare litigation and acting for young people leaving detention. Stefano Ruis and Andrew Arthur focus on prisoners’ rights and civil actions against the police and Home Office.

H2O Law LLP’s practice, led by Jason McCue with assistance from Matthew Jury, is handling the case brought by families of the Omagh bombing victims against the alleged bombers and, for the first time, the terrorist organisation which claimed responsibility, the Real IRA. The practice is also expanding its representation of British nationals imprisoned abroad.

Hodge Jones & Allen LLP is ‘legally innovative’ and ‘committed to civil liberties work’. Led by Jocelyn Cockburn, who ‘works tirelessly for her clients’, and ‘exceptionally committed’ partner Susie Labinjoh, the practice specialises in actions against the police, miscarriages of justice, and inquests relating to deaths in custody. The team is currently seeking compensation for clients wrongfully detained by immigration authorities, and represented Catherine Smith in the Court of Appeal on the applicability of the Human Rights Act to soldiers serving abroad.

Led by name partner Imran Khan, Imran Khan & Partners’ strength is in pursuing actions against the police regarding false imprisonment, assault, wrongful arrest or malicious prosecution, as well as death in custody cases, especially involving claims of racial discrimination.

Irwin Mitchell LLP has ‘a team of first-class lawyers’ led by Andrew Lockley, with Yogi Amin also recommended; both are based in Sheffield. The practice is acting in several cases regarding deprivation of liberty to adults without mental capacity, though it also covers prisoners’ rights, health and community care.

Oury Clark Solicitors, led by James Oury, concentrates on human rights abroad, especially in relation to prisoners on death row. The practice is also acting for victims and families affected by the July 7 bombings, seeking a judicial inquiry or Select Committee hearing.

Pierce Glynn Solicitors ‘takes on difficult and complex cases in under-explored areas of law’, and is ‘confident, courageous and fearless’. Lead partner Sue Willman is ‘exceptionally knowledgeable and authoritative in asylum support law’. Also praised are the ‘very reputable’ Stephen Pierce, Polly Glynn, who has ‘encyclopaedic knowledge’, Gareth Mitchell and Adam Hundt.

Human rights and civil liberties work runs across several practices at T V Edwards Taylor Nichol, from criminal work handled by Jim Nichol and Anthony Edwards, to social welfare, homelessness, community care and mental health issues.

Wesley Gryk Solicitors LLP’s human rights expertise stems from its specialist immigration work, representing immigrants and asylum seekers under threat of deportation and often bringing challenges under the Human Rights Act. Lead partner Wesley Gryk is ‘very well respected in his field’.

Beachcroft LLP’s practice, led by Tony Child, advised the Parliamentary, Health and Local Government Ombudsmen on matters resulting from Mencap’s “Death by indifference” campaign regarding healthcare of people with learning difficulties.

Carter-Ruck focuses primarily on international law with a human rights aspect, successfully leading the team acting for Yassin Kadi at the ECJ. Practice head Cameron Doley and Guy Martin are recommended.

Michael Smyth leads Clifford Chance’s predominantly pro bono practice, which advises numerous organisations concerned with human rights, including Amnesty International, JUSTICE, Liberty and Save the Children.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has a different offering from other firms ranked here, focusing on the crossover between business and human rights. The ‘impressive’ team, led by Paul Lomas, advised the Barclay brothers on their injunction against the Guardian for attempting to publish leaked documents.

Offering a ‘real depth of knowledge and experience in ECHR cases’, specialist immigration firm Gherson represents immigrants and asylum seekers. The ‘highly experienced and expert niche practice’ is led by Roger Gherson, who ‘has a go-getting, never-say-die attitude’.

Herbert Smith LLP’s human rights work is led by Andrew Lidbetter, who has ‘skill, talent, knowledge and experience’, while Nusrat Zar offers ‘star quality’. The practice recently acted for prisoners on death row in the Caribbean, and represented JUSTICE and Human Rights Watch in a House of Lords case regarding deportation of foreign nationals.

Lester Morrill’s Leeds-based practice is headed by Ian Bosley, who specialises in actions against the police. Fiona Borrill is also well regarded for inquest work, particularly relating to deaths in custody.

Led by Janice Kaufman, the ‘efficient and knowledgeable team’ at Steel & Shamash focuses on mental health, community care, asylum and prison law cases. Anna O’Connell and Yen Ly provide ‘great expertise in community care’.