Civil Liberties & Human Rights

Phillippa Kaufmann KC is a highly-regarded human rights specialist who regularly attracts instructions in high-profile, significant judicial review proceedings. She demonstrates notably deep knowledge in prisoners' rights matters and human rights cases arising out of the Iraq war. She is a familiar face in inquiries and at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Ben Silverstone has a strong human rights practice. Alongside his notable specialism in privacy and surveillance, he has acted in a number of group claims concerning human rights abuses allegedly perpetrated by natural resources companies operating in African countries.

Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC is a dedicated human rights barrister noted for her focus on national security, prohibition on torture and freedom of speech cases. She has recently been involved in several matters before the Belfast Court of Appeal pertaining to the retroactivity of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Clare Montgomery KC is particularly highly regarded for her adroit handling of public law and due process matters. She regularly acts both for and against the government in significant, high-profile cases, and is active at the intersection of human rights, criminal regulatory and fraud law. Montgomery is admitted in Northern Ireland and a number of international jurisdictions, including Hong Kong.

Daniel Squires KC is a popular silk with a strong civil liberties and human rights practice, known for leading high-profile cases in the Supreme Court. He receives instructions from both claimants and respondents on matters covering a range of areas, including prison and police law, terrorism and discrimination.

Danny Friedman KC is a respected silk with a broad-based practice spanning public, human rights and criminal law. He has a particular focus on matters concerning terrorism, national security and armed conflicts, and has been active in legacy cases involving human rights abuses in Northern Ireland. He has notable experience in acting for individuals and interested groups in inquests and public inquiries, and has in recent years been heavily involved in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

Hugh Southey KC is a recognised expert in the fields of immigration, human rights and prison law. He demonstrates notable skill in cases concerning mental health, extradition and discrimination, and frequently represents clients before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. Further areas of expertise include TPIM, work before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission and Court of Protection matters.

Jesse Nicholls comes highly recommended in the civil liberties and human rights sphere, given his deft handling of complex inquests and deep knowledge of police law. Further aspects of his practice include expertise in immigration detention matters, claims against the CPS and his work representing prisoners.

Karon Monaghan KC is a skilled practitioner with far-reaching expertise in human rights, discrimination and equality, employment and EU law. She regularly attracts instructions in high-profile cases from a diverse range of clients, including charities, trade unions and private claimants. She is an expert in the Equality Act and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

Raza Husain KC is a renowned public law barrister who specialises in immigration and civil liberties work. He routinely appears before the Supreme Court and is called upon by high net worth individuals and publicly funded claimant clients. His practice also includes an international dimension with appearances in European courts, as well as in the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands. He has recently garnered attention for his work challenging the Home Office's policy of deporting some migrants to Rwanda.

Alex Bailin KC is highly respected for his civil liberties and human rights work. His very busy practice has a strong criminal law slant and he routinely receives instructions in significant matters concerning police power, data retention and torture issues, representing affected and interested parties at the Supreme Court, Administrative Court and European Court of Human Rights.

Chris Buttler KC frequently handles judicial reviews concerning fundamental rights and claims for damages under the Human Rights Act. He regularly assists claimant clients with challenges against government bodies, demonstrating particular skill in matters concerning human trafficking. He has further expertise in mental health, immigration and child detention matters.

David Wolfe KC is an esteemed civil liberties and human rights silk who is widely respected for his adept handling of complex judicial review proceedings. He has notable expertise in discrimination, community care and EU law, and regularly appears opposing the State on behalf of individuals and organisations, including NGOs.

Jessica Jones has a sophisticated human rights practice covering a vast array of domestic and international issues, ranging from social care to armed conflict and genocide. She has appeared in a number of landmark appeals, including the series of cases arising from Shamima Begum's deprivation of citizenship.

Jessica Simor KC is an established silk with a diverse client base composed of individuals, large corporations, NGOs, government departments and regulatory bodies. She regularly tackles significant cases before the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights, and fields additional expertise in climate change, education and tax matters.

Joanna Buckley is a highly esteemed barrister who is instructed in high-level international advisory and policy roles alongside her human rights litigation practice.

Kate Boakes exhibits a high level of expertise in running human rights claims in various jurisdictions. She has notable experience in representing claimant groups in actions concerning labour practices, pollution and other issues.

Michelle Butler has a strong international law practice and deep experience in multiple human rights-related issues, ranging from sovereign immunity to environmental damage.

Raj Desai is an accomplished barrister who has experience across a range of civil liberties litigation matters, including cases related to healthcare, discrimination and police law. He appears before all levels of court, including the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights.

Tim Owen KC is a hugely respected advocate with a wide-ranging practice covering the gamut of human rights issues. He is particularly well known for his aptitude in complex judicial review proceedings and for his expert grasp of criminal and police law. He also has expertise in cases concerning data retention, disclosure and national security matters.

James Robottom is highly esteemed in the human rights sphere and has been active in cases arising from controversial matters of immigration and asylum, such as the Home Secretary's 'pushback' policy and the Windrush scandal.

Jonathan Glasson KC has a strong human rights practice, generally acting for data-controlling companies or public bodies such as the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. His key focus is on the use of data by state agents in relation to intelligence, policing and immigration.

Nicholas Armstrong KC is a skilled barrister with a respected civil liberties practice. He regularly handles public law disputes, inquests and private law actions, and has significant expertise in cases concerning equality, immigration and prison law. He appears before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

Sarah Hannett KC is a leading public law barrister who has expertise in civil liberties and human rights cases, with a focus on equality, routinely acting for government defendants and the Equality and Human Rights Commission. She draws on her significant experience in education, local government and community care matters.

Zoë Leventhal KC is regularly instructed in high-profile matters in the human rights field. She displays a particular flair for environmental, planning, social security and EU law, and has additional expertise in welfare benefits law, as well as health and community care matters. She has experience in appearing before the Supreme Court, and regularly acts for both claimants and the government.

Aidan Wills is an impressive junior barrister with considerable expertise in civil liberties and human rights cases relating to privacy and surveillance.

Ayesha Christie is a human rights-focused barrister whose impressive practice centres on issues relating to asylum, unlawful detention and human trafficking. She has made multiple appearances before the Supreme Court, including one unled.

Catherine Dobson is a highly skilled public law and human rights barrister who frequently acts in complex cases involving a broad variety of issues. She has been instructed in matters concerning the COVID-19 regulations, and environmental law.

Darryl Hutcheon is a strong choice of junior barrister in the fields of employment, discrimination and public law. He regularly assists prisoners, asylum seekers and individuals who have been abused.

Samantha Knights KC is a respected silk and recognised expert on the European Convention on Human Rights, who regularly tackles cases against the MoD concerning British action in armed conflicts. She has worked on complex matters covering issues such as deprivation of citizenship, exclusion from refugee protection and the scope of closed material proceedings. She is notable for her experience in human trafficking cases.

Robbie Stern is an impressive junior barrister with a varied practice focusing on the human rights aspects of public, criminal and information law. He has been instructed at all levels of Court, including the UK Supreme Court.

Edward Craven is a highly rated barrister with a wide-ranging domestic and international civil liberties and human rights practice. He often appears in high-profile cases that garner significant media attention and is recognised for his impressive knowledge of the Refugee Convention. Edward has been instructed in matters related to discrimination, terrorism and military actions of the state abroad. He is regularly seen at the Supreme Court.