
Clair Dobbin KC
About
Provided by Clair Dobbin KC
Practice Areas
Clair Dobbin KC practices in the fields of public law, human rights (with a particular expertise in children’s rights), international co-operation law (extradition, mutual legal assistance and diplomatic law), inquests and inquiries and civil recovery
Prior to taking silk, Clair was Counsel to the Crown (civil) for 17 years, seven of which she spent on “A” Panel of Treasury Counsel. She has been in many of the seminal cases in her areas of expertise, in recent years. Recent or current instructions include United States v Assange (in which she is counsel for the United States); Secretary of State for the Home Department v El Gizouli (Supreme Court litigation concerning the death penalty and the so- called Jihadi Beatles); Terra Services v Home Secretary (concerning the investigations in the United Kingdom of associates of former President Trump); EVAW v DPP (judicial review litigation concerning the decline in rape cases being charged and prosecuted); the inquiry into Children’s Homes in Lambeth (as part of her role as counsel to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse) and the East London Inquests (concerning the investigations into the murders of four young men).
Clair has appeared alone before the Supreme Court, the Privy Council and in the European Court of Human Rights. She is recommended as a leading practitioner across six different practice areas (public law, extradition law, inquests and inquiries, professional discipline, police law and civil liberties).
Career
MA Hons (Cantab), Call 1999, Treasury 'C' Panel 2004; 'B' Panel 2007. “A” Panel 2014.
Chambers Review
UK Bar
Clair Dobbin KC
Clair Dobbin KC has a broad practice encompassing public law and human rights as well as extradition. She has undertaken some of the most high-profile and sensitive extradition work of recent years, and has appeared in cases in the Supreme Court and the ECtHR. She is highlighted by peers for her work for the UK and US governments, providing counsel and representation in extradition litigation.
Clair Dobbin KC
Clair Dobbin KC is consistently involved in the most high-profile inquests and inquiries. She chiefly counsels state agents, including police forces and government departments, and also has experience serving as counsel to the inquiry. Her practice has a particular emphasis on inquests relating to prison and police custody deaths.
Clair Dobbin KC
Clair Dobbin KC typically acts for central government departments and other public bodies in complex judicial reviews involving the criminal justice system. She is well versed in public law cases that concern terrorism and national security.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Clair is really great to work with. She is intellectually brilliant, passionate about the cause and extremely empathetic to the client. Her attention to detail is also extraordinary."
"A very powerful advocate with a bright future ahead of her."
"She works ferociously hard and she has a very good manner with vulnerable and bereaved people. She has a careful way of explaining the process, and combines it with a keen intellect, which is hard to beat."
"She works ferociously hard and has a very good manner with vulnerable and bereaved people. She has a careful way of explaining the process."
"She's superb; she's got a really penetrating intellect and she's extremely pleasant to work with."
"Clair is really great to work with. She is intellectually brilliant, passionate about the cause and extremely empathetic to the client. Her attention to detail is also extraordinary."
"A very powerful advocate with a bright future ahead of her."
"She works ferociously hard and she has a very good manner with vulnerable and bereaved people. She has a careful way of explaining the process, and combines it with a keen intellect, which is hard to beat."
"She works ferociously hard and has a very good manner with vulnerable and bereaved people. She has a careful way of explaining the process."
"She's superb; she's got a really penetrating intellect and she's extremely pleasant to work with."
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