Set Profile > Doughty Street Chambers > Manchester, England
Doughty Street Chambers Offices
3 Hardman Square
Spinningfields
MANCHESTER
M3 3EB
England
Doughty Street Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings
Inquests and inquiries Tier 1
Considered 'one of the very best' Doughty Street Chambers is an 'excellent set for inquest work', acting on behalf of bereaved families in cases including deaths in clinical and custody settings such as immigration detention, secure hospitals and prison. As an example, Alison Gerry acted at an inquest on behalf of the sister of Kirsty Walker, a prisoner at Sodexo-run HMP Bronzefield who after engaging in over two hundred acts of self harm took her own life in the prison. Heather Williams QC represents the families of three of the deceased in the resumed inquests into the 1974 Birmingham Pub Bombings, which killed 21 and led to six men ("The Birmingham Six") being wrongfully convicted. Members are involved in all the major ongoing public inquiries, with Henrietta Hill QC acting as deputy counsel to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Leading Juniors
Leading Silks
International crime and extradition Tier 1
Doughty Street Chambers 'has a strong team dealing with extradition and at all levels of seniority', according to clients, and is also well known for acting in prominent international criminal cases. In a major instruction, Edward Fitzgerald QC, Tim Moloney QC, Peter Caldwell, and Graeme Hall successfully defended Arti Dhir and Kaval Raijada against an extradition request made by the government of India, on the grounds that the extradition would breach Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights; the defendants were requested for alleged conspiracy to murder a child.
Leading Juniors
Leading Silks
Social housing Tier 1
Doughty Street Chambers garners praise from instructing law firms, who note that it 'provides excellent service and has a number of standout barristers'. Its reputation as one of the leading sets for social housing (notably on the tenant side) is underpinned by its consistent involvement in many of the leading decisions in this area, as well as cases involving novel legal issues. Martin Westgate QC and Dominic Preston acted for Abdelrahim Alibkhiet at the Supreme Court in Alibkhiet v Brent LBC, which concerns a challenge to the local authority's procurement and allocations policy in relation to the provision of temporary accommodation. The matter is now pending before the Supreme Court. Also notable is that Westgate QC and others represented the non-governmental organisation Liberty as an intervening party in Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants v Secretary of State for the Home Department; Goloshvili v Secretary of State for the Home Department. These are two linked, systemic challenges to the government's 'Right to Rent' scheme.
Leading Juniors
Leading Silks
Civil liberties and human rights (including actions against the police) Tier 2
Doughty Street Chambers is known for its 'excellence in bringing claims against the police and in the inquest field' and has vast expertise in immigration, extradition, and claims against the state. Recent instructions of note for members include Heather Williams QC representing clients in McGlone & Others v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police and Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, which concerns the role of the police in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster. She has also been instrumental in the Undercover Police Inquiry, undertaking considerable advisory work for the core participants which include Neville Lawrence and six victims of deceptive sexual relationships initiated by undercover officers. Edward Fitzgerald QC is acting for Maha El Gizouli, the mother of one of the 'IS Beatles', El Shafee Elsheikh, in her application for a judicial review into the Home Secretary's decision to cooperate with the US authorities and assurances that her son won't be subject to the death penalty. Others members of note include Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC, who acted for Just for Kids Law in a test case concerning the use of children as ‘covert human intelligence sources’ by the police in R (Just for Kids Law) v Secretary of State for the Home Department; Stephen Cragg QC who acted in Miah v Independent Police Complaint Commission challenging the use of illegal stops at Heathrow airport under the Terrorism Act 2010; and ‘standout junior’ Adam Wagner who acted for the Equality and Human Rights Commission in AB, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for Justice regarding the prolonged detention of a minor in solitary confinement.
Leading Juniors
Leading Silks
Court of Protection and community care Tier 2
Doughty Street Chambers ‘is a formidable set with a depth of expertise’. This 'excellent' set's members handle the full array of community care and Court of Protection matters. In one example, Aswini Weereratne QC acted for MIND in Welsh Ministers v PJ. The case looked at whether it was lawful to deprive a patient of their liberty with a community treatment order under the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended).
Leading Juniors
Leading Silks
Crime Tier 2
'One of the go-to sets for fighting cases against the state', Doughty Street Chambers has particular strengths in terrorism cases, criminal appeals, and cases where mental health issues are involved. Tim Moloney QC represented the first successful joint enterprise appellant after the Jogee Supreme Court case in 2016, and also represented the parents of Jack Letts (dubbed "Jihadi Jack" by the media), who received suspended sentences for sending money to their son; Letts had travelled to Syria to join the Islamic State group, which he subsequently left. Before trial, the matter went before the Supreme Court to consider if the test for mens rea in terrorism finance offences is objective or subjective. Rebecca Trowler QC represented autistic Islamist convert Lewis Ludlow, who was convicted of plotting a truck attack on Oxford Street. A number of the set's juniors handle terrorism work, unled, too: Liam Walker represented the reported leader of proscribed neo-Nazi group National Action, who was convicted of a plot to behead a Labour MP; in an entirely separate trial involving the same group, Piers Marquis represented the first of six defendants convicted of membership of the organisation. Walker also represented television personality Ant McPartlin in a drink-driving case. Paul Taylor QC represented one of two anonymised appellants in the R v AS Court of Appeal case concerning the sentencing of severely ill convicts.
Leading Juniors
Leading Silks
Immigration (including business immigration) Tier 2
Doughty Street Chambers is a 'go-to set for immigration' with 'depth and breadth of experience'. As such, chambers undertakes a broad spectrum of immigration work from personal immigration, EU, family, student and nationality applications to business and commercial migration, as well as asylum and human rights-related immigration claims. In one represenative instruction, Laura Dubinsky was leading counsel for a high profile former ETA (Basque separatist) militant convicted of 22 murders who resisted his deportation to Spain.
Leading Juniors
Administrative and public law (including local government) Tier 3
Doughty Street Chambers handles various public law matters, frequently crossing over with its other areas of expertise where it acts for individuals against the state. Edward Fitzgerald QC represented a Grenadian revolutionary convicted of murder after the Grenadian Bar rejected his application to practice law due to a failure to meet its "good character" requirement. Among the juniors, Jude Bunting represented Michael Segalov, a left-wing commentator and Labour Party activist, in a challenge to Sussex Police's decision to refuse him accreditation to attend the 2017 Labour Party conference; in court proceedings it transpired that this was based on his reporting.
Leading Juniors
Leading Silks
Fraud: crime Tier 3
Doughty Street Chambers houses 'a solid team of fraud practitioners'. Rupert Bowers QC is representing West Ham United in an ongoing investigation into alleged tax evasion regarding the transfer of football players, while Benjamin Newton successfully defended Barry Jefferd, an accountant who was acting as financial advisor to Armande Cohen, a former member of the French Resistance, against allegations of fraud by abuse of position and forgery.
Leading Juniors
Leading Silks
Crime
Amos Waldman at Doughty Street Chambers specialises in defendant work, including serious drug-related crime. Additionally, Waldman has expertise representing professionals facing criminal prosecution, as well as appearing in the International Criminal Court, recently representing former child soldier Dominic Ongwen.
Employment
Doughty Street Chambers northern offering is home to Paras Gorasia, who primarily focuses on respondent work including discrimination, whistleblowing, and union disputes, as well as Paul Draycott, who acts primarily for claimants and is particularly prominent in cases which overlap with issues covered by the European Convention On Human Rights.
Leading Juniors
Immigration
Paul Draycott at Doughty Street Chambers has a strong asylum and immigration practice, with recent highlights including a successful judicial review against a Home Office decision to revoke indefinite leave, which was the third such case undertaken for the same claimant.
Property
Doughty Street Chambers' John Hobson specialises in homelessness and housing proceedings, acting for tenants in possession claims, disrepair claims, unlawful eviction, and rent arrears.
Leading Juniors
Public law
At Doughty Street Chambers, Paul Draycott recently represented a claimant in challenging a court fee charged by Liverpool County Court during a low-value personal injury claim, which had been overcharged by almost 50% and which may affect large numbers of similar claims.
Leading Juniors
Set overviews: England and Wales
The ‘top-class’ Doughty Street Chambers ‘tends to be involved in most high profile and/or legally significant cases’. It is ‘one of the best sets for civil liberties and criminal instructions’ and, with a ‘solid team’ of fraud practitioners, it is building itself ‘a strong reputation as a business-crime set’. Chambers also provides pro bono assistance in death penalty and constitutional/human rights cases in the Caribbean and other Commonwealth countries. ‘They have a big team of gifted advocates at all levels who can do the most serious trials as well as appeal work. They are the go-to set for fighting cases against the state.’ Overall, chambers is described as ‘excellent; from reception to senior management they have a real friendly, can-do attitude and a professional feel about how they conduct themselves that can be missing at other sets’. The set also ‘regularly hosts interesting legal events and see the bigger picture in trying to keep their solicitors happy’. The clerks are praised for resolving listing issues thanks to the maintenance of good relationships with both listing offices and other sets, which ‘allows for collaborative resolutions’. Senior practice manager (civil) Sian Wilkins is ‘excellent, friendly, and helpful’. ‘She suggests the right barrister for the work at hand and knows solicitors requirements without prompting.’ Matthew Butchard, senior practice manager (crime), is also a name to note. At practice manager level, Marc Gilby and Rebecca Gilchrist are ‘efficient and easy to deal’, while Callum Stebbing is ‘always very helpful and pleasant’ and Richard Vile ‘is extremely responsive, efficient, and friendly – just what you want from a clerk’. In recent news, general crime practitioner Karlia Lykourgou joined from 3 TEMPLE GARDENS; Adrian Waterman QC moved to Matrix Chambers; the set has moved its Manchester office to 3 Hardman Square in the business district of Spinningfields; and what seems to be becoming a trend at the Bar, after five years in chambers former business development director Marurice MacSweeney has joined Harbour Litigation Funding as a director; and in the clerking team, Georgia Pilbro joined Wilberforce Chambers . Offices in: London, Bristol, Manchester, and The Hague
Doughty Street Chambers > Firm Profile
This buoyant and cutting-edge set, renowned for and committed to defending freedom and civil liberties, has a truly national and international profile across its wide range of practice in criminal law, civil law, administrative and public law, international law and human rights.
The set: Doughty Street Chambers was set up in 1990 with the aim of ‘breaking the mould’ and setting new standards of excellence in the legal world. Striving for justice, professionalism and excellence remains the driving force behind all that chambers does today, along with the desire for innovation in its approach to business. It has grown to become one of the largest sets in the country, with 133 members, of whom 33 are QCs, and now has established chambers in Manchester and Bristol as well as London. Standards of excellence and quality have been both maintained and improved with this expansion, with 8 new silk appointments in the last three years and targeted recruitment at all levels of seniority to ensure a balanced structure to each of the practice teams. Members are noted as leaders in their field, for intellectual excellence and a collegial, team-based approach which allows the set to commit to providing a genuinely first-class, fully accountable service to clients. Many barristers are qualified to accept work directly from lay clients through the public access scheme and chambers can provide mediators and facilities for dispute resolution.
Types of work undertaken: Doughty Street provides specialist practitioners at all levels of seniority in civil and criminal work, offering advice and representation before all the courts of England and Wales and the rest of the UK as well as in Europe and other jurisdictions worldwide. Members are often involved in high-profile, precedent-setting cases. Principal areas of practice include administrative and public law, civil liberties and all aspects of criminal law including the following:
Actions against the police and public authorities; administrative and public law; clinical negligence and personal injury; community care and health; corporate governance and policy; education law; employment law and industrial relations; equality and discrimination; freedom of information and data protection; housing and social welfare; asylum and personal immigration; business and commercial immigration; inquests and public inquiries; public and private international law; land and property; media law and defamation; mental health and Court of Protection; national security; prison law and criminal justice; product liability and group actions; professional discipline and regulation; solicitors’ negligence and professional liability; sports law.
Criminal appeals; courts martial; extradition; homicide and related grave offences; international crime; protest cases; regulatory and financial crime; terrorism.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Members of Chambers | ROBERTSON QC, Geoffrey (1973) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FITZGERALD CBE QC, Edward (1978) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KENNEDY QC, Helena (1972) | ||
| Members of Chambers | O'CONNOR QC, Patrick (1970) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SALLON QC, Christopher (1973) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CARTER QC, Peter (1974) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WOOD QC, James (1975) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HALL QC, Andrew (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ROGERS QC, Heather (1983) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BENNATHAN QC, Joel (1985) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WILLIAMS QC, Heather (1985) | ||
| Members of Chambers | OPPENHEIM QC, Robin (1988) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WATERMAN QC, Adrian (1988) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BOWEN QC, Nicholas (1984) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BENTLEY QC, David (1984) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FORSHALL QC, Isabella (1982) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WESTGATE QC, Martin (1985) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WHITFIELD QC, Jonathan (1985) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HUCKLE QC, Theo (1985) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WEERERATNE QC, Aswini (1986) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HISLOP QC, David (1989) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STONE QC, Joe (1989) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BRIMELOW QC, Kirsty (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FISHER QC, Richard (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TROWLER QC, Rebecca (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ELLIOTT QC, Sarah (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CRAGG QC, Stephen (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HILL QC, Henrietta (1997) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GALLAGHER QC, Caoilfhionn (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MOLONEY QC, Tim (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BOWERS QC, Rupert (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | THORNE QC, Katy (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | POWLES QC, Steven (1997) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KILROY QC, Charlotte (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CARTER, David (1971) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOUGH, Christopher (1981) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SAMUEL, Gerwyn (1986) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SOERTSZ, Lauren (1987) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MILES, Sophy (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TAYLOR QC, Paul (1989) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BROWN, Nick (1989) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MAIDMENT, Kieran (1989) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WHITAKER, Quincy (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | REEDER, Stephen (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | NABI, Zia (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ADDY, Caroline (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | COOPER, Jonathan (1992) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MURPHY, Fiona (2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WALSH, John (1993) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HENDERSON, Mark (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DRAYCOTT, Paul (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | RAWLINGS, Clive (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MACKIE, Jeannie (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BROWN, Althea (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PRESTON, Dominic (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CALDWELL, Peter (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CHATAWAY, Ben (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GOODALL, Emma (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MUKHERJEE, Krishnendu (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TOMS, Nicholas (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BURNHAM, Ulele (1997) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JOHNSON, LIndsay (1997) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MIDDLETON, Joe (1997) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STANAGE, Nick (1997) | ||
| Members of Chambers | VINE, Sarah (1997) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ARSHAD, Farrhat (1998) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SHEPHERD, Jim (1998) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BURTON, Jamie (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | COOPER, Ben (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GREEN, Garry (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOBSON, John (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | NARAIN, Benjamin (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LEMER, David (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MUSHTAQ, Erim (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LEWIS, Oliver (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BRANDER, Ruth (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HART, Amanda (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HAYWOOD, Phil (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MARQUIS, Piers (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SLEEMAN, Sue (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WALDMAN, Amos (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WALKER, Liam (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DUBINSKY, Laura (2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | RHODES, David (2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | THOMAS, Richard (2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | EASTWOOD, Philippa (2003) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GERRY, Alison (2003) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PATRICK, Angela (2003) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MACKENZIE, Alasdair (2004) | ||
| Members of Chambers | NEWTON, Benjamin (2004) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PRICE, Jonathan (2004) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STRAW, Adam (2004) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HAINES, David (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HIGGINS, Nichola (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MANKAU, Louise (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GORASIA, Paras (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STEPHENSON, David (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BUNTING, Jude (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | NICE, Amelia (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HAWKES, Malcolm (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOBCRAFT, Gemma (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HIRST, Megan (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ROBINSON, Jennifer (2016) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PRICE, Louise (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ANNAND, Kate (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BEATTIE, Kate (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | EATWELL, Tatyana (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | OKEWALE, Tunde (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TIMAN, Annabel (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WAGNER, Adam (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WESTCOTT, Mary (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GASK, Alex (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KNORR, Michelle (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MEREDITH, Catherine (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SAMUEL, Zimran (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STEINHARDT, Sarah (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STEVENS, Tom (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MOFFATT, Rowena (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BRIGHT, Abigail (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CLOONEY, Amal (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | COHEN, Marisa (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JOHNSON, Harriet (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MIR, Maryam (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | NICHOLLS, Jesse (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ROCHE, Maria (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HALL, Graeme (2011) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JACOBS, Sam (2011) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KIRK, James (2011) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MASON, Paul (2011) | ||
| Members of Chambers | O'RAGHALLAIGH, Kate (2011) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SCOTT, Emma (2011) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GONIN, Emilie (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | COOKE-HURLE, Tim (2012) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DOUGLAS, Hayley (2012) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TAYLOR, Jake (2012) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BENFIELD, Antonia (2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CLARKE, Daniel (2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | O'BYRNE, Katherine (2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SANE, Jelia (2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | YOSHIDA, Keina (2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LYKOURGOU, Karlia (2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JOHNSON, Christopher (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PATYNA, Agata (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WADDOUP, Daniella (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WOODROW, Pippa (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | OVERMAN, Claire (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BARKER, Paul (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MCCABE, Mary-Rachel (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SYKES, Christopher (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HARPER, Zoe (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DALY, Gemma (2017) |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Paul Draycott | View Profile | |
 |
Harriet Johnson | View Profile |
Top Tier Set Rankings
- London Bar Inquests and inquiries
- London Bar International crime and extradition
- London Bar Social housing
Set Rankings
- London Bar Civil liberties and human rights (including actions against the police)
- London Bar Court of Protection and community care
- London Bar Crime
- London Bar Immigration (including business immigration)
- London Bar Administrative and public law (including local government)
- London Bar Fraud: crime
- Regional Bar Crime
- Regional Bar Employment
- Regional Bar Immigration
- Regional Bar Property
- Regional Bar Public law
- London Bar Set overviews: England and Wales