Department profile
11KBW

Civil Liberties & Human Rights

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)

Share profile

11KBW

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Civil Liberties & Human Rights - London (Bar)

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

11KBW enjoys a strong reputation as a "go-to set for a complex piece of work" and for its human rights and civil liberties practice, which ranges through immigration and mental health matters, to disputes concerning privacy and the disclosure of criminal records. The set has "very high calibre barristers" and is a popular choice for individual claimants and NGOs, as well as state and public bodies.

The set's barristers are acting on behalf of the UK Government before the ECtHR defending changes to prisoners' voting rights, which came into effect in 2018.

Mark Dann leads the clerking team as Senior Clerk.

View ranking table

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Michael Smith is a fantastic clerk who always picks up.

    Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

  • The clerks that I have worked with are incredibly accessible and easy to work with.

    Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

  • Mark Dann is excellent.

    Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

  • 11KBW's clerks are excellent.

    Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Philippe Sands
    Philippe Sands

    Philippe Sands

    Philippe Sands KC in an experienced international human rights silk. He is noted for his skill in claims before the European Court of Human Rights and the International Court of Justice.

    • Philippe Sands is a clear front-runner.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Philippe Sands is known internationally as a strong environmental lawyer.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Philippe Sands is amazing, especially his work on eco-side.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Joanne Clement
    Joanne Clement

    Joanne Clement

    Joanne Clement KC is highly regarded for her adroit representation of both claimant and defendant clients, often in landmark human rights cases. Her comprehensive offering covers areas such as privacy rights, religious freedoms and deaths in detention. She is increasingly recognised for her work in deprivation of liberty cases.

    • Joanne Clement has impressive advocacy skills.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Joanne Clement is slick, persuasive and clear.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Joanne will go above and beyond and schedule calls in evenings to accommodate her clients.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Joanne is very forceful for her clients.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Aileen McColgan
    Aileen McColgan

    Aileen McColgan

    Aileen McColgan KC has a strong human rights practice, taking in issues of gender identity, equality, privacy and a host of other issues.

    • Aileen is very personable and easy to work alongside.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Aileen is thoughtful with quick turnaround at a high quality.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Hannah Slarks
    Hannah Slarks

    Hannah Slarks

    Hannah Slarks is an experienced junior with a broad civil liberties practice. She has a particular specialism in handling discrimination and freedom of expression claims.

    • Hannah is great at collaborating.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Hannah is incredibly diligent in absorbing and analysing information.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Hannah's knowledge of human rights and immigration was so strong.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Hannah Slarks is an excellent junior, doing amazing work.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Hannah Slarks is incredibly hands-on and user-friendly.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Ruth Kennedy
    Ruth Kennedy

    Ruth Kennedy

    Ruth Kennedy has gained in prominence in the human rights sphere and is experienced in a variety of cases, including those touching on environmental and equality law.

    • Ruth Kennedy has a dynamic and versatile practice.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Ruth is very to the point, concise and passionate.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Ruth Kennedy is excellent and fantastic at deep legal research.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Ruth Kennedy is a real star of the future and a star of the junior bar already.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Ruth's written advocacy is extremely good.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Stephen Kosmin
    Stephen Kosmin

    Stephen Kosmin

    Stephen Kosmin has acted in numerous important judicial reviews and other challenges concerning human rights issues, such as privacy and access to welfare.

    • Stephen Kosmin is, in my view, a phenomenally gifted lawyer.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Stephen is both extremely creative and extremely solid - which is a rare combination.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Stephen Kosmin is almost certainly a star of the future.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Zac Sammour
    Zac Sammour

    Zac Sammour

    Zac Sammour focuses his practice on an array of areas, including public, commercial, employment and data protection law. His civil liberties work often lies at the cross-section of his other interests.

    • Zac is amazing. He's an absolute superstar.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Zac's ability to analyse complex legal issues is incomparable.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Zac Sammour is an absolutely outstanding opponent with a stellar future ahead of him.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Zac Sammour has a brilliant mind.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Zac is a 'go-to' junior for complex human rights and employment cases.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Cecilia Ivimy
    Cecilia Ivimy

    Cecilia Ivimy

    Cecilia Ivimy KC is an experienced civil liberties and human rights barrister whose clients include central government, local authorities and public sector unions.

    • Cecilia is a real expert in this field.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Cecilia is really intelligent, really clear and a detailed advocate.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Cecilia is bright, very meticulous and has an eye for detail.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Cecilia is an outstanding barrister with fantastic attention to detail and excellent client service.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Christopher Knight
    Christopher Knight

    Christopher Knight

    Christopher Knight is a well-regarded barrister whose broad civil liberties and human rights practice is enhanced by his complementary expertise in administrative and public law, data protection and EU law. He has been involved in important constitutional law cases in addition to challenges to the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    • Chris is a true expert in the field.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Chris is commercially astute and has an unrivalled understanding of the manner in which the Government approaches public law cases.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Chris is absolutely first-rate and a very pleasant opponent.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Chris Knight is a cut above everyone else.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Chris is excellent to work with.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Tom Cross
    Tom Cross

    Tom Cross

    Tom Cross KC often appears in key civil liberties and human rights cases. His broad practice encompasses prison law, complex judicial reviews and significant claims for damages, with a particular focus on religious expression. He acts for both claimants and defendants, including individuals, regulatory bodies and the UK and Welsh governments.

    • Tom Cross is a seasoned public law litigator who handles complex concepts effortlessly and strives to be innovative in formulating strategy and argument.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Tom Cross is at the very top of his game.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Tom is an extraordinary talent.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar

    • Tom Cross is creative, sharp and has a rare ability to view matters holistically from a multi-disciplinary perspective.

      Civil Liberties & Human Rights respondentUK Bar
    View profile

Ranked Barristers at 11KBW (10)

London (Bar)

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership