‘The civil liberties and human rights practice at Bindmans is really first rate. They combine really strong lawyers with first rate client care and highly efficient case handling. With frequently high profile cases handled by them, they really work well together as a team and turn out top notch legal work.’

‘Salima Budhani – fiercly intelligent, but compellingly practical: she really thinks creatively and pushes you to come up with new solutions you hadn’t even contemplated. Routinely handles very big and legally significant, or high profile cases.’

‘Shirin Marker is a real one to watch – bright, efficient, excellent client rapport and can get to grips with the most complex of cases, quickly. Particular expertise with vulnerable female clients, and cases involving closed material/ secret evidence.’

‘Bindmans have a long-standing and wholly justified reputation as a firm that operates at the cutting edge of civil liberties and human rights work. They combine market-leading subject matter expertise with exceptional client care. The firm benefits from the breadth of its practice, with a strong cross-disciplinary approach.’

‘Salima Budhani is an outstanding practitioner with a broad public law practice. She combines exceptional insight and technical ability with wonderful client care.’

‘John Halford – knows everything. Salima Budhani – really excellent partner, best in class. Theodora Middleton – very very good lawyer, on the way up. Rachel Harger – very good civil actions specialist.’

‘I do really appreciate their outstanding communication. They went the extra mile to clarify legal procedures and various, probable outcomes. Their approach has always been professional and, at the same time, warm and empathetic, which is not that common.’

‘They are very dedicated. From their behaviour and endevaour, I can see they regard their job as their mission.’

‘One of the leading teams in the country, often dealing in the most complex and high profile cases. They have deep expertise in the area and some of the most skilled litigators in the field.’

‘Alison Millar and Andrew Lord are amongst the stand out practitioners that I would mention. I think both of them have exceptional client handling skills which really complements their professional expertise.’

‘Hands-down the best claimant firm for civil liberties and human rights in the country. They have strength at every level of seniority and know the law back to front. They are also fearless lawyers and very creative thinkers. They are a pleasure to work with.’

‘In my view, Leigh Day is at the very top of the London (and UK generally) firms that work in the civil liberties and human rights sector. They are innovative, very client-friendly, and always willing to go the extra mile, including in challenging politically sensitive work.’

‘Yvonne Kestler is an exceptional police actions lawyer. I have had the privilege of working with her since I started practising, and I have found her consistently brilliant in terms of legal acumen, completely committed to her clients, and a delight to work with.

‘The team comprises truly outstanding lawyers who provide clients with an exceptional service.’

‘I have worked with Sapna Malik for more than 10 years and I never cease to marvel at her brilliance as a lawyer, strategist, team leader and instructing solicitor. She manages her team striking a perfect balance between overall command and delegation.’

‘Tessa Gregory is a real standout star in this area. She is responsible for overseeing a multitude of complex and cutting-edge human rights claims. It is impossible to say a bad thing about Tessa: she is dedicated, fearless, strategically astute and immerses herself in the factual and legal detail of her cases.’

‘We always felt very privileged that they were our legal team in terms of their deep knowledge and expertise but also their humanity in fighting for justice.’

‘Kate Maynard guided us through the most traumatic time, and did it with humour and complete dedication to our family needs. Her expertise across inquests, prison system and probation was highly valued. Completely supportive in terms of the human impact of press coverage over a long period of time.’

‘Hickman & Rose are well known for their exceptional knowledge and dedication to representing families in particular in difficult inquest cases, which often relate to deaths in custody or other cases where human rights or other challenging issues arise.’

‘Daniel Machover is at the top of his field – he has comprehensive legal knowledge of police, inquests and public law, has brilliant analytical skills, and is wonderful to work with.’

‘Helen Stone is a brilliant solicitor who is razor sharp and thorough, quickly masters the key points in a case, and is very thoughtful and attentive with clients.’

‘Excellent and well established legal knowledge in civil liberties and human rights – without doubt one of the market leaders.’

‘Stefano Ruis – fabulous all round lawyer with every skill that client, counsel or tribunal could ever want.’

‘Hickman & Rose quietly achieves the most magnificent results for their clients – using a combination of public law, private law and inquest/inquiry results.’

‘Jocelyn Cockburn is a leading solicitor in public and police law, who has a brilliant record in bringing important public interest cases, who has meticulous preparation.’

‘The team at Hodge Jones and Allen is of excellent quality, from the most junior member of the team up to the most senior of partners. They work exceptionally well as a team and have been involved in some of the most prominent and high profile cases of recent times.’

‘Susie Labinjoh is an excellent and highly experienced litigator, who cares deeply about her clients and their interests.’

‘Alice Hardy is particularly strong in cases involving women’s rights. She is passionate about achieving the best outcome for her clients.’

‘Sarah Flanagan is extremely hard-working and effective in all of her cases. She works tirelessly to achieve justice for her clients, whom she truly cares about.’

‘Gimhani Eriyagolla is a highly committed solicitor, with a diverse practice. She is able to turn her hand to civil claims involving lots of different issues and consistently gets very good results.’

‘The Hodge Jones & Allen civil liveries and human rights practice is amazing, communication was excellent. I received full explanations of what my case would involve from the start and they made legal jargon easier for me understand.’

‘Sasha Barton – compassionate, supportive, extremely professional and knowledgable. Sarah Flanagan – extremely professional and knowledgeable. Supportive with compassion, kindness and understanding to mental health needs of clients. The confidence that both Sasha and Sarah gave to me to I will never forget and I will always be greatful for.’

‘Howard Kennedy have great strength in depth, they fight hard for the clients and they are able to manage complex and fast moving litigation.’

‘At the partner level, Howard Kennedy boasts a number of highly capable lawyers who are equally as adept at dealing with legal issues as their clients’ broader strategic goals.’

‘The partners are supported by hard working and reliable associates.’

‘Mark Stephens: an extremely experienced lawyer who is not afraid to roll up his sleeves, and who gives bold advice where needed. Mark’s committment to his clients is unsurpassed.’

‘Elizabeth Morley: delightful and brilliant: She is a pleasure to work with and has added real value on every case on which I have worked with her. She gets clients on side and manages them throughout litigation, and she is excellent at managing a claim.’

‘Unique features are care for the client and a commitment do ensure that justice is done.’

‘Efficiency of service. Good communication between members of the legal team.’

‘Empathy with the client and care taken by senior partner Mark Stephens in supervising the work of junior colleagues.’

‘The team are amongst the best in this area; extremely knowledgeable, good strategic sense, they obtain excellent results for their clients through being tenacious and committed, without being aggressive.’

‘Juliet Spender is an excellent lawyer and deeply committed to her clients. She has secured superb results by combining tenacity with good judgment. She is particularly skilled at providing effective representation for clients with vulnerabilities.’

‘Led by giant in the field Yogi Amin, the IM civil liberties team is one of the strongest. They offer a friendly and thorough service backed by an organisation which exudes a solid competence.’

‘Each member of the team brings a different style and expertise which gives a real breadth of coverage.’

‘Hard working lawyers who are happy to take on difficult cases and push boundaries.’

‘Gus Silverman – excellent with clients, a pleasure to work with, really gets to grips with the law, unafraid of big challenges.’

‘Gus Silverman is a a standout practitioner. He is notable for his meticulous preparation, legal acumen, combined with first-class client skills.’

‘Excellent depth of experience, especially as regards high value and complex claims.’

‘I am so glad and totally happy with the way McCue Jury are handling my very sensitive case – they go above and beyond managing my expectations and reassuring me on the case. I cannot begin to express my heartfelt thanks about what to me was/is a very stressful time but during which I was constantly kept up date with proceedings.’

‘I have now known Matthew Jury for 8 years. In my honest opinion, he is a born winner, the finest solicitor in his field in the UK. His record with us speaks for itself.’

‘A small conscientious team. A genuine human rights firm with a commitment to (and respect for) lay clients.’

‘Matthew Jury does not give up in pursuing legal points.’

‘They were very committed to fighting a difficult case while making sure we weren’t spending more money than our NGO could afford.’

‘Joe Snape has been particularly helpful and spent a lot of time making sure I was engaged with each part of the process, one where we have a number of complicating factors.

‘In the field of human rights legal practice, McCue Jury & Partners are not only utterly professional in how they approach their cases, but also totally committed to upholding the human rights of their clients. Simply put, they always put people first and their mission is to achieve justice for them.’

‘Jason McCue and Matthew Jury set the highest personal standards for all those they recruit and who work for the practice. Through the highest level of personal leadership they exhibit, they are perfect role models so that the entire practice is imbued with their vision – always for the benefit of clients – never for the practice itself.’

‘I have worked with Saul Lehrfreund for over 20 years on cases. He is passionately committed to his work. His knowledge is second to none. He has immense energy and positivity. He is a joy to work with.’

‘Parvais Jabbar and Saul Lehrfreund have unrivalled experience in criminal appeals to the Privy Council and in the representation of those facing the death penalty worldwide. Parvais Jabbar is brilliant, hard-working and innovative.’

‘Saul Lehrfreund and Parvais Jabbar are the pre-eminent experts in legal challenges concerning the death penalty and have been for over 30 years.’

‘Saul Lehrfreund and Parvais Jabbar have done more to abolish the death penalty across the globe than any other individuals in the last 30 years. They truly are trailblazers, and this is recognised by the MBEs that they have both received for service to international human rights.’

‘Parvais Jabbar is the consummate death penalty litigator. His breadth of work shows Parvais’s dexterity and ability to work across a number of practice areas at the national and international level. Such skills are very rare, in my experience.’

‘The Death Penalty Project which is run by this firm is unique in providing specialist advocacy in strategic cases involving the death penalty worldwide.’

‘Saul Lehrfreund and Parvais Jabbar are excellent, committed and intelligent lawyers who always go the extra mile.’

‘The premier team in the UK for death penalty work.’

‘Saul Lehrfreund is a force of nature! The most committed and driven human rights lawyer who is realistic and strategic but also absolutely determined to save lives worldwide through his ground-breaking work.’

‘Toufique Hossain is a high profile solicitor who remains at the forefront of immigration public law work, working with a committed and able team.’

‘Have access to a huge number of potential civil actions through long years of work preventing removals and securing release from detention. A big team with big capacity. Brave and inventive in the points they take.’

‘DL are running most of the most important immigration and immigration-detention related cases. That is down to Toufique Hossain and his unique ability to identify and foster talented younger lawyers. All his team speak of that ability.’

‘Duncan Lewis is able to provide a high quality service that includes bringing ground breaking cases on legal aid. I am not aware of any other firm that can do such a high volume of legal aid work while maintaining such high standards. They also show great commitment to their clients.’

‘Duncan Lewis Solicitors have a great depth of experience in this area. They have been involved in some of the most important cases in this area in the last 10 years.’

‘Their public law team is extremely active in both judicial review claims for unlawful detention and civil claims for false imprisonment. They are also heavily involved in the trafficking arena, both in claims for judicial review and civil/human rights claims. They are incredibly well prepared, dedicated and really know their stuff.’

‘James Packer is one of the most astute lawyers I know. He is utterly fearless, fighting for his clients with tenacity, even when the odds seem stacked against him. He has an extremely high level of knowledge and exceptional judgment. He is strongly recommended for tactical high level litigation.

‘The firm is extremely visible in the sector and has an excellent team of solicitors who are extremely hard working and conscientious. They prepare the cases very well and have a clear understanding of the principles and issues in question.’

‘Hausfeld’s civil liberties and human rights practice is going from strength to strength, alongside their other areas of expertise. With an eye on cutting-edge trans-national litigation strategies, with the public interest in mind, the firm is bringing its significant expertise in the group litigation and claimant sphere to bear on important issues.’

‘Hausfeld is an international firm and is able to draw on a multitude of excellent lawyers and to run a wide variety of cases, safe in the knowledge that it has the expertise and experience to do so very competently. My experience of working with the civil liberties and human rights team members is that they are all highly proficient lawyers with a strong committment to their clients and the preservation of their rights.’

‘Ingrid Gubbay is well recognised for having a wealth of expertise and experience in human rights work with a particular emphasis on environmental cases where the rights of individuals are at stake – whether that be in the domestic or international arena.’

‘Wessen Jazrawi is a member of the team that stands out for praise and recognition. In an ongoing case, Wessen has once again shown to me her enormous committment to her clients and the vindication of their rights. Throughout Wessen has ensured that my clients understand the process and that they are thereby able to play a part in forming the case and the arguments and the way in which the case is framed.’

‘They are simply without peer in their attention to detail and their bid to “get it right” for the client. Very team focussed and very driven.’

‘Attention to detail and collaborative working to ensure best outcomes is an absolute hallmark of their operation… and it works!’

‘The team at Hausfeld have supported us pro bono on two human rights strategic litigation cases. The team are excellent to work with; their knowledge and expertise is unmatched, and they are fantastic with regards to understanding our needs and communicating any updates.’

‘The individuals within the team that we have worked with at Hausfeld are all extremely knowledgable, helpful, and innovative thinkers.’

‘ITN’s civil liberties practice is wide ranging and the team has a highly regarded reputation within the sector. The team undertakes high profile and complex damages claims and associated judicial review matters.’

‘William Kenyon is a really quick thinker and can get to grips with complex matters quickly, including cases involving closed material procedures (secret evidence).’

‘Sam Hall is a diligent associate with whom I am working on a complex national security matter.’

‘Fantastic team that covers the entire spectrum of civil liberties and human rights cases. Particular expertise in protest law.’

‘Lochlinn Parker – An outstanding solicitor. Very well respected for representing protestors in civil claims. An author of the Protest Handbook, one of the leading practitioner texts, he wrote the chapter of police claims.’

‘William Kenyon – A very good solicitor. Great client care and legal acumen. Always on top of the detail in his cases.’

‘ITN is well established as a go to firm for anyone seeking to challenge the decision of a public body. Most of their cases involve Civil Liberties. They are well known for interesting and ground breaking public law cases.’

‘William Kenyon is a go to lawyer for anyone bringing a claim in prison law. He has recently brought a series of ground breaking cases – he quickly spots novel points of law. He is very charming, and clients always return to him.’

‘My experience is that their team routinely provides excellent client care; they are responsive and proactive. They are quick to consider the wider needs of their clients and the bigger picture beyond the case to hand. This is a skill which is reflected in their involvement in some of the most high profile claims and cases in the last 12 – 18 months.’

‘Neil Hudgell leads an exceptional team. He holds the trust and confidence of his clients in a way which I’ve rarely seen. He approaches his business and his clients’ claims in a way which strikes an enviable balance between strategic thinking and human empathy.’

‘Vicky Richardson is smart, incisive and considered in her team leadership. She delivers on the law while being both responsive and approachable.’

‘They are very client-centric and have an excellent and professional relationship with their clients. They are attentive to advice and always strive to achieve the tasks that we have agreed. An excellent, ambitious and motivated team.’

‘Terry Wilcox is a standout solicitor. He runs a tight ship, supports his team of solicitors, trainees and caseworkers and gets the best out of them. He is excellent with clients.’

‘Hudgell Solicitors have the ability to truly understand what a client wants, and to communicate with them in a sensible, sensitive manner. They do not seek to pursue cases as causes where the client does not want this. They are able to manage a client’s expectations suitably and always be on hand to guide a client through a delicate case.’

‘Vicky Richardson is a star among the civil liberties field. She is able to manage the civil liberties team with extreme diligence and has successfully taken it from strength to strength.’

‘Neil Hudgell is an outstanding lawyer, and recognised as such widely. He regularly appears as a commentator on TV and radio. He is, in every respect, a staunch defender of human rights.’

‘Katy Colton is a high-flying managing associate. She is an excellent lawyer but also supremely enjoyable to work with. She also has the business and political awareness that few lawyers of her seniority have.’

‘Many seasoned human rights lawyers who are exceptionally creative.’

‘They think creatively about human rights cases and are able to work on highly strategic litigation with great effect.’

‘In my personal experience, MDR has one of the finest teams in this area of practice and has been providing excellent service in this area.’

‘I have had an excellent experience working with them and their teams are very well entrenched into the global developments and are fully aware of what is happening all over the world.’

‘Kamal Rahman is a market leader in this area of practice and I have seen that for myself as I witnessed 100% dedication in the subject and the passion for the cause. Not only professionally, but Kamal also has a personal compassion towards human rights and that is what makes her the best in the industry.’

‘Shulamit Aberbach was outstanding in her work to support our case. She expertly kept track of a lengthy and complicated case and provided innovative solutions which significantly aided our work. She outstandingly communicated complex legal solutions which enabled the client to remain at the centre of the decision-making process.’

‘Wilsons Solicitors LLP are really at the top of the game in the civil liberties and human rights field. In the immigration cross-over areas in particular, they are known as being leaders in their field. They are brilliant and dedicated lawyers.’

‘They are incredibly well prepared, dedicated and really know their stuff. But importantly, they never forget that there is always a client at the heart of every important legal challenge.’

‘Nkiru Okafor –is making a real name for herself with her exceptional judgment and tenacity.’

‘James Elliott is a bible on unlawful detention and a pleasure to work with.’

‘Wilsons are an excellent choice for complex human rights claims, particularly in the field of immigration, human trafficking and forced labour.’

‘Nusrat Uddin is highly intelligent and very committed, with excellent contacts amongst NGOs in the UK and abroad.’

‘Excellence in knowledge and experience – particularly in unlawful detention claims.’

‘Arising in large part from their position as one of the pre-eminent immigration detention firms, Wilsons have a really strong civil liberties and human rights team now. Really deep knowledge runs all the way through the team.’