Alice Hardy

Partner, Public Law and Human Rights.

She specialises in human rights claims and public law challenges against government bodies and detaining authorities, with particular interest in women’s rights, protest law, discrimination and coronial law.

Alice represents victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse and other individuals who have been poorly treated by the State, including the criminal justice system. Her caseload includes civil claims and judicial reviews against the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice, prosecuting agencies and local authorities.

She acts for environmental and political activists and campaigning groups, challenging unlawful decisions and injunctions that restrict the right of protest and freedom of speech. She has acted in challenges to injunctions issued by Shell, Esso, Exxon, Valero, National Highways Limited, Transport for London, North Warwickshire Borough Council, Thurrock County Council and Three Countries Agricultural Society.

Alice is also interested in representing individuals and campaigning groups to make complaints and challenge public decisions or failures to act on environmental matters, including air and water pollution. She is also interested in acting for groups or individuals wishing to challenge government policy and practice in relation to the arms trade.

Alice also represents bereaved families at inquests and in judicial review challenges and civil claims, where their loved one has died in custody or in other circumstances in which the State is implicated in the death.

Alice gave oral evidence to the House of Commons Justice Committee in 2015. She regularly delivers training on protest law, coronial law and women’s rights. She participated, by invitation, in the Law Society round table event to inform its response to the Independent Human Rights Act Review in 2021.

• Centre for Women’s Justice Legal Advice Panel and Femicide Working Group

• INQUEST Lawyers Steering Group

• Police Action Lawyers Group