Public sector
Enjoying ‘one of the strongest reputations for civil liberties work’, Hodge Jones & Allen proves its mettle in claims against the police and state authorities, protest law matters, inquests, and public inquiries. A robust commitment to human rights inspires confidence in vulnerable individuals who have experienced tragic and distressing events, as well as those wrongfully arrested and mistreated while exercising their right to protest. The ’superb’ Susie Labinjoh helms the practice, and is a familiar face in civil actions against the police and prison service. Jocelyn Cockburn excels in bereavement matters, including inquests, deaths in custody, and military claims involving national security concerns, and Sasha Barton is ‘exemplary’ in her pursuit of novel claims based on Articles 3, 5, and 8 infringements. The ’intellectually formidable’ Cormac McDonough specialises in the representation of victims of maltreatment by the police and other state bodies. Maria O’Connell, who excels in civil liberties litigation, detention challenges, and prisoners’ rights, joined the team in October 2023 from Scott-Moncrieff & Associates Ltd. Alice Hardy left the firm in June 2023.
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Work Department
Civil Liberties & Human Rights
Position
Susie Labinjoh is a Head of the Civil Liberties & Human Rights practice at Hodge Jones & Allen. She specialises in civil actions against the police and public authorities and related Human Rights Act claims, as well as in bringing compensation claims for victims of miscarriage of justice and public law challenges related to these areas.
Susie is renowned for her dedication to using the power of the law to fight for what’s right and secure justice. She has devoted her career to fighting for those who have suffered injustice, training at Hodge Jones & Allen from 1997 and being promoted to Partner in 2005 based on her dedication to her work and her clients.
As an expert in her field, Susie has a strong track-record in complex cases, including representing bereaved families at inquests and civil claims arising out of deaths in custody. She represents families in relation to prison deaths, police restraint deaths and police pursuit deaths.
Susie is also well-known for her commitment to securing compensation for victims of miscarriage of justice. She has dealt with multiple high profile cases involving serious accusations such as murder, including the M25 Three and the Bridgewater Four.
Susie also has extensive experience in representing protestors, often those involved in major political and social demonstrations. She has represented a number of protestors in claims arising from many recent protests, including anti-DSEI, anti-EDL, BLM, XR Autumn Uprising and XR Lambeth Bridge.
Since 2005, Susie has held a position on the advisory board of the Miscarriage of Justice Support Service, a division of the Royal Courts of Justice Citizens’ Advice Bureau – a service that provides free legal advice and assistance for victims of miscarriage of justice. She is also a member of The Police Action Lawyers Group and The Miscarriage of Justice Lawyers Group.
Career
Trained at Hodge Jones & Allen, qualifying in 1999; Partner, 2005; Head of Civil Liberties & Human Rights Team
Memberships
- Police Action Lawyers Group
- Inquest Lawyers Group
Education
Blackheath High School; University of Hull (1989 BSc Hons Philosophy); University of Westminster (1996 graduate diploma in law); College of Law, Guildford (1997 LPC)
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Excellent civil liberties and human rights lawyers, working on a range of often high-profile cases. They have particularly strong and cohesive team-working.’
‘HJA combines one of the strongest reputations for civil liberties work of any UK firm with an outstanding client service in every single case I have worked with the firm over many years. It has achieved an impressive size without any sacrifice in quality by its growth, which is testament to its in-house training and rigorous recruitment standard.’
‘Guy Mitchell has a variety of skills and experience enabling him to work on a variety of cases, including inquests, public law actions, and civil claims against the police and public bodies. He provides a quietly diligent and meticulous approach to cases and his work is first-rate.’
‘Susie Labinjoh is a superb lawyer, with excellent client care skills.’
- ‘Sasha Barton has vast legal knowledge.’
- ‘Cormac McDonough is highly experienced. He has a calm and very effective manner with clients. Excellent on the details.’
- ‘Sasha Barton has been exemplary. She is very knowledgeable, very patient in explaining my case to me where it feels complex. She is very empathic and can put herself in the shoes of the client. Her passion for her work and her desire to help me obtain justice shines through everything she says and does.’
‘Cormac McDonough is fantastic – an astute, calm, measured, and intellectually formidable solicitor who combines mastery of the details of the client’s case with a clear and forensic understanding of the law and the boundaries to be pushed or recognised in the developing areas in which the case may sit.’
Key clients
- Ella Adoo Kissi Debrah
- Core participants in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry
- Extinction Rebellion
- Night Stars
- Undercover Policing Inquiry – International Solidarity Movement and others
- AA and AB
- Hillsborough families
- Smith
- Tostevin
- Bailey
- Lee Walker
Work highlights
Acted in a groundbreaking case using the ECtHR to shine a light on the impact of UK Government failures to protect life in relation to air pollution.
Represented over 40 core participants in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
Represented over 100 core participants at the UCPI and in associated criminal and civil cases.