Bindmans LLP

Solicitor, Public Law and Human Rights team. Alex acts in a range of matters against public authorities. He also specialises in a range of education law cases, and has experience in bringing challenges to the decisions of public bodies including schools, local authorities and police forces. He has a particular interest in education law, including cases concerning special educational needs provision, discrimination, children missing education and school disciplinary powers. Alex also has experience of cases arising from decisions made in the criminal justice system. His work includes challenges to the proper prosecution of vulnerable people, the rights of children in the police station and the criminal records system. His work includes high profile successes in the appeal courts, as well as changes to national law through negotiation with government departments. Alex has worked with organisations striving to make legal change and takes a holistic approach to these cases. He understands how to maximise the impact of strategic work by bringing together a legal case with public communications and policy influencing. Most recently, he secured changes to education regulations introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic which risked discriminating against disabled learners.

Alice Hardy

Partner, Public Law and Human Rights team. Alice 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 also acts for environmental and political activists and campaigning groups, challenging unlawful decisions and injunctions that restrict the right of protest and freedom of speech. 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.

Alison Leivesley

Partner, Head of Family and Matrimonial. Alison specialises in all aspects of the law relating to children. She has a particular interest in domestic abuse, forced marriage, so called ‘honour’ based violence and female genital mutilation (FGM) issues. Alison regularly represents parents in complex care proceedings including those involving international elements; where non-accidental injury, physical abuse or sexual abuse of children has been alleged; fabricated illness; domestic abuse and cases with parallel criminal proceedings. She is experienced in acting in private and public law children cases where there are issues of radicalisation. She also advises parents in respect of disputes about where a child lives and who child spends time with. This includes cases where one parent is seeking to relocate outside of England and Wales and cases where there is social services involvement with the family. Alison is experienced in acting for parents where there is a dispute with treating doctors as to what treatment a child should receive, and she provides training in her fields of expertise for other professionals including lawyers, social workers, health care professionals and advice agencies.

Alison Stanley

Senior consultant, Immigration, Asylum and Nationality. Since 1984, Alison has specialised in immigration law and associated fields. She has extensive experience in all aspects of immigration, asylum and nationality law. Her very diverse caseload varies from applications for high net worth individuals, through asylum to children in care. Alison is instructed by individuals, NGOs, Local Authorities and businesses. She is very experienced in litigating at all levels of the Tribunal and Court system. Alison advises regularly on the interplay of immigration and asylum in extradition matters, and also on applications to INTERPOL/EUROPOL in relation to Red Notices, as well as litigating against the National Crime Agency. She frequently acts as an expert witness in immigration in litigation. Alison has a keen interest in policy issues in the immigration field, and legal aid.

Alla Murphy

Partner, Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury. Alla has extensive experience of acting for people who have suffered catastrophic injuries, and also for those who have had more minor injuries, but with nevertheless devastating consequences to their lives and livelihoods. She has particular expertise in claims arising from accidents at work, notably on construction sites. Alla has an exceptional record for maximizing the compensation paid to her clients; not just immediate settlements, but robust allocations for long-term aftercare and proper financial planning for possible future complications. She has also worked on quantifying claims for those injured in the criminal justice system.

Amrit Rana

Partner and Head of Private Client. Amrit has over 15 years of experience specialising in estate planning and wills, probate, contentious probate, trusts, powers of attorney and Court of Protection. Amrit's work includes providing bespoke advice to clients dealing with their estate planning needs, including succession planning, preserving wealth and minimising inheritance tax liability. She has advised clients in relation to trust structures and lifetime gifts. As the Head of the Wills, Trusts and Estates team, Amrit has implemented a number of processes for the quick and efficient turnaround of new Wills since joining Bindmans LLP. Through her experience, she applies an understanding and thoughtful manner to emotional situations when a loved one applies for a death bed Will. She has specialist experience in handling contentious probate disputes, adopting a sensitive and pragmatic approach with an aim to achieve the most cost-effective resolutions for her clients. In addition, Amrit advises executors or personal representatives on all aspects of estate administration including obtaining the grant of probate. Having undertaken considerable court of protection work, Amrit has gained experience in dealing with individuals’ mental capacity issues, helping clients to make decisions relating to their welfare and financial affairs which includes advising on lasting powers of attorney and where they lack capacity making deputyship applications. For many years, Amrit has acted for elderly clients and assisted with their later life planning needs.

Anna Ford

Solicitor, Crime, Fraud and Regulatory team. Anna has a breadth of experience in the field of criminal defence, representing individuals at all stages of proceedings, from the police station through to courtroom advocacy, in addition to complex criminal litigation. Anna is routinely instructed by professionals such as pilots, teachers, medical professionals, and high-profile individuals from the world of business and the arts. She appreciates the importance of discretion and making strong representations from the outset to minimise the risk of litigation. Anna has extensive experience representing those being interviewed by the police whether detained or invited to attend a voluntary interview, and those accused of very serious offences. She is able to quickly understand the evidence and issues in a case, offering accurate and pragmatic advice. She also has experience representing young clients accused of very serious offences, as well as professionals, with a strong understanding of a client’s short- and long-term needs. Anna is a keen advocate, with experience conducting trials and legal arguments at the Magistrates’ Court, including those regarding sexual offences and drugs offences, as well as dishonesty offences, violent offences, and fraud offences. Anna has also litigated a wide range of criminal cases at the Crown Court, including numerous complex cases regarding allegations of murder, historic sexual offences, sexual offences, dishonesty offences, sensitive child assault offences, firearms offences, and violent offences. She also has a strong background in cases that involve telephone analysis. Anna is quickly able to identify where expert evidence is required and assist in the defence. She has strong tactical ability in pre-trial preparation, praised by peers for her strong instincts. Anna also has experience in representing vulnerable defendants. This includes those with mental health difficulties, those on the autistic spectrum and those with learning difficulties. She is very much alive as to whether any special measures could assist her clients, and has experience in making such applications where required.

Anna Thwaites

Partner, Actions against Police and State. Anna is highly regarded for her work representing bereaved families in contentious inquests following the death of their loved ones in state custody (police, prison or in a psychiatric setting) or following recent state contact. Anna also has expertise in judicial review challenges and compensation claims under the statutory miscarriage of justice scheme.

Annie Leach

Solicitor in our Family and Matrimonial team, specialising in all areas of family law. Annie has experience in all areas of family Law, and represents parties in international child abduction, private and public law children cases. Annie also has experience on cases concerning the recognition and enforcement of foreign orders and proceedings relating to a transfer of jurisdiction. In public law family law matters, Annie represents parties involved in cases concerning sexual abuse, drug and alcohol misuse, mental health, non-accidental injury, deprivation of liberty (DOLS) issues and cases with an international element. Annie also represents parents who have social services involvement at a child in need, child protection conferences or pre-proceedings (public law outline) level. Annie also has experience of working on a variety of private law cases, such those involving disputes between parents in relation to lives with and spends time with (child arrangements) orders and cases concerning domestic abuse. Annie also advises on cases that concern financial issues arising from a marital or relationship breakdown and assists parties during the divorce or dissolution process. Annie has an interest in surrogacy and planned parenthood, having completed her Masters in the subject in 2021. As a trainee, Annie worked in our public law team, working on a mix of both education law cases, cases in the Court of Protection, and on judicial review challenges against the decisions made by public bodies.

Basmah Sahib

Solicitor, Public Law and Human Rights Basmah has represented clients in relation to a wide range of legal issues with a particular focus on advocacy in the Mental Health Tribunal, advising families whose relatives have passed away while in hospital and associated public law issues. Basmah also has experience of representing unaccompanied asylum seeking minors in age disputes in the Upper Tribunal (Immigration & Asylum Chamber).

Brighde Gallivan

Solicitor, Public Law and Human Rights team. Brighde joined Bindmans as a paralegal in June 2018 and she spent eight months in Bindmans’ Public Inquiry team. Since joining the Public Law and Human Rights department in March 2019, Brighde has worked on a range of Public Law, Court of Protection and serious medical treatment matters. During her time in the Public Law and Human Rights team, Brighde has been involved in a number of high profile medical treatment and Court of Protection cases. Brighde spent her second seat in the Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury team assisting on a wide range of high-value claims.

Caroline Robinson

Solicitor, Public Law and Human Rights Caroline’s varied judicial review practice includes challenges to immigration detention, decisions concerning asylum support and care and support under the Care Act 2014 and Leaving Care Act 2000. Caroline also acts for charities and NGOs challenging local government funding decisions and in public law proceedings brought on behalf of service users, in particular, challenging cuts to local authority services. Caroline regularly advises and represents teachers, youth workers and other professionals in relation to decisions by the police and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) concerning disclosure of information on criminal records certificates. She also has extensive experience challenging inappropriately administered cautions, particularly on behalf of vulnerable individuals, including young people and victims of domestic violence. Another aspect of Caroline’s practice is representing families at inquests where there are concerns that a public authority (e.g. the NHS, prisons or police) have failed to protect an individual’s life. She also acts in associated civil claims seeking damages under the Human Rights Act and in negligence for bereaved families. In addition to her own caseload, Caroline is often involved in larger cases with the partners in the team, Jamie Potter and John Halford. She is currently instructed with John Halford to challenge the government’s failure to hold a public inquiry into the conduct of the 2016 EU referendum and in judicial review proceedings arising from the disenfranchisement of EU nationals in the 2019 EU Parliament elections.

Catherine Jackson

Associate, Crime, Fraud and Regulatory Catherine defends professionals such as accountants, teachers, lawyers, doctors, politicians, diplomats and journalists accused of criminal acts in the course of their employment and outside of their work. She is known for her ability to secure discontinuance and alternative forms of disposal on behalf of her clients, including in cases where the allegation has been as serious as rape. She has defended a large number of high profile individuals, both male and female, accused of historic sexual offences, most recently in the wake of the #MeToo campaign. Most of these police investigations have resolved without prosecution or publicity. Catherine specialises in acting for parents falsely accused of harming their children. In particular, she has represented parents in alleged ‘baby shaking’ investigations and Court proceedings, including a mother of twins and a mother of triplets, neither of whom were ultimately charged. Through this work she is privileged to have instructed some of the best medical experts in the world. Internationally, Catherine defends in complex multi-jurisdictional fraud cases such as an alleged plot to defraud the Libyan state out of billions of pounds, a ‘fake sheikh’ case with more than a million dollars allegedly embezzled from Saudi Arabian royalty and one of the largest confiscation proceedings ever to be prosecuted with an alleged benefit figure of £50 million. She has successfully defended people accused of facilitating unlawful immigration into the UK by the Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigations Team; and clients investigated by SO15 Counter Terrorism Command and questioned under Schedule 7 Terrorism Act 2006.

Christian Hansen

Solicitor, Housing and Public Law Christian frequently acts for groups of tenants and leaseholders in claims against landlords and freeholders, as well as acting for homeless applicants, and social services users in claims against local authorities. He often acts for vulnerable clients, including those without capacity to litigate. He is frequently instructed by the Official Solicitor. The current focus of much of Christian’s work is enforcing fire safety measures in residential buildings. Since 2019 and continuing through 2020, Christian has been helping several large residents’ groups bring fire safety claims against the freeholders and developers of their buildings, requiring the replacement of unsafe cladding, insulation, and cavity barriers, and claiming significant payments of damages. Christian continues to advise and represent clients across all residential landlord and tenant matters, including possession, eviction, disrepair, harassment, and all tenancy related disputes. He is highly experienced in acting for clients at all court levels. In both 2017 and 2018 he represented clients in the Supreme Court. He is an experienced advocate and has been a duty solicitor on county court housing possession lists for many years.

Elisabeth Attwood

Solicitor and Level 2 Senior Caseworker (Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IASS)). Elisabeth has been working at Bindmans LLP since November 2020. Before joining Bindmans LLP, Elisabeth worked as a paralegal on a voluntary basis for a Law Centre, specialising in providing immigration advice. Prior to that, she spent over ten years working as a commercial litigator in a top ranked London law firm. During her time working in private practice, Elisabeth spent many years volunteering at a Legal Advice Centre providing pro bono legal advice. Her recent immigration practice at Bindmans LLP is predominantly focused on the EU Settlement Scheme. Her current practice also covers appeal work and public law challenges to the Home Office by way of Judicial Review. Elisabeth has experience in working efficiently for clients with complex needs such as homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence and those with complex mental and physical health needs.

Elizabeth Cleaver

Solicitor, Public Law and Human Rights Elizabeth’s areas of practice include mental health, Court of Protection, and inquests. She obtained higher rights of audience in 2016 and regularly conducts her own advocacy before tribunals and the Court of Protection. Elizabeth has extensive experience of representing vulnerable adults and their families. Her practice has included welfare matters, as well as cases involving deprivation of liberty and property and affairs. Elizabeth is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor to represent protected parties. As an Accredited Legal Representative, she is also appointed to act for vulnerable adults directly in welfare cases before the Court of Protection. Elizabeth has in-depth experience of representing those detained under the Mental Health Act at all levels of security. She has a particular interest in forensic cases, and is regularly instructed by those detained under forensic sections, including in high profile matters. Elizabeth seeks to develop long-term relationships with clients and is known for her attention to detail and her persistence in obtaining evidence in support of her clients’ discharge. Besides representing mental health patients themselves, Elizabeth has advised parents, spouses, partners and other family members on their relatives’ rights when detained under the act or voluntarily admitted for care. Elizabeth has acted for patients in civil matters involving unlawful detention and displacement of nearest relatives, and has advised on aftercare issues (such as the adequacy of services offered under section 117 of the Mental Health Act). She is developing a practice in inquests, where her mental health experience is particularly valued in cases involving the death of psychiatric patients. Elizabeth regularly delivers training to lawyers and other professionals on mental health law and the Mental Capacity Act. She also assists in delivering the Mental Health Panel course run by the Mental Health Lawyers Association for prospective members of the Law Society’s Mental Health Accreditation Scheme.

Ella Jefferson

Consultant, Crime, Fraud and Regulatory Ella has an outstanding record representing clients throughout the criminal justice process and has built a very strong reputation as a criminal defence practitioner since qualifying in September 2017. Ella’s diverse practice includes general crime, serious sexual offences, terrorism cases, youth crime and complex fraud and white-collar work, including insider dealing and bribery. In addition to her usual criminal practice, she also has experience in Inquest Law and International Law. Across these practice areas, Ella has represented a broad spectrum of individuals; ranging from a Chief Executive accused of a multi-million-pound fraud, political dissidents and climate change activists to youths and alleged gang members and celebrities involved in violent, drug-related and sexual offences. She has acted for corporations as well as individuals in criminal and quasi-civil matters such as breach of court orders, reporting restrictions and Tree Preservation Orders. Ella has particular interest representing vulnerable women in the criminal justice system and has represented women investigated and prosecuted for offences ranging from child neglect to terrorism.

Emma Varley

Associate, Public Law and Human Rights. Emma specialises in judicial review challenges to decisions of public bodies, including decisions by local authorities, schools and health bodies. Emma has a particular interest in Education Law matters, including judicial reviews in the High Court as well as disputes in the Tribunal involving special educational needs. Emma also represents clients in community care cases and in welfare disputes in the Court of Protection.

Hannah Marshall

Associate, Family and Matrimonial Hannah has established a diverse and busy practice in complex cross-border children disputes, including acting for parents who are applicants and respondents in child abduction and wardship proceedings. Alongside her international practice, Hannah regularly acts for parents in private law cases including cases involving child contact disputes, domestic violence, fact-finding proceedings, declaration of parentage and applications to relocate with children (both within England and abroad). Hannah advises cohabitees, married couples and civil partners on all aspects of relationship breakdown and the financial disputes that may arise as a result. She assists with divorce and financial remedy proceedings, including contested divorces and achieving settlements both in and out of court proceedings. Hannah assists in complex cross-border public law children proceedings, and proceedings to secure the protection of children and vulnerable adults living in this jurisdiction under orders of foreign courts. She works collaboratively with senior members of the team in adoption and surrogacy matters. Hannah regularly acts for both appellants and respondents within Court of Appeal proceedings, resulting in successful outcomes for clients. She is an active member of Resolution and is committed to encouraging clients to reach agreement, where possible, via mediation or arbitration.

Jessie Brennan

Solicitor, Public Law and Human Rights Jessie’s practice covers a wide range of judicial review work, with a focus on the protection and enforcement of the rights of disabled people and those without regularised immigration status in the UK. She often represents families with disabled children and is successful in securing increased packages of support from their local CCG and/or local authorities. In addition, she works with unaccompanied asylum seeking children to challenge age assessments as well as with care leavers to challenge unlawful attempts to withdraw support and otherwise secure proper levels of support. Jessie also represents clients seeking their release from immigration detention and in connected claims for compensation arising out of their unlawful detention under immigration powers. She also often advises clients on the deletion of cautions and other connected information from their police records. Jessie was part of the Bindmans team that won the Solicitors’ Journal Legal Aid Team of the Year Award 2016, and she assisted the Public Law solicitors in the successful procurement litigation that helped force the MoJ U-turn on criminal Legal Aid ‘dual contracts’.

John Halford

Partner and Head of Public Law and Human Rights department. John Halford is a public law specialist. As a litigator, he has focused on judicial review work since 1993, challenging the unfair exercise and abuse of power by public authorities, human rights breaches and discrimination. John represents individuals, campaign and action groups, unions, charities, schools, professional associations and regulators, arts organisations and commercial companies – not only as judicial review claimants but also as interested parties and interveners in cases brought by others that affect their interests, or those of people they represent. He has had a number of notable successes in high profile test cases in the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords and the UK Supreme Court, most recently in the Article 50 litigation, where he represented a group of interested parties. He has European Court of Human Rights experience at Grand Chamber level. John is also a source of decisive and trusted advice on a wide range of complex public law issues. His advisory caseload spans Brexit and other EU law issues, regulatory and licensing, professional disciplinary, procurement, planning, pensions and human rights law matters.

Jon Crocker

Managing Partner at Bindmans and Head of Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury. Jon has a wide range of experience in both personal injury and clinical negligence work, having qualified in 1992 and specialised in these fields since 1994. Jon specialises in complex, high-value claims involving clients who have sustained brain damage and spinal injuries, whether caused by an accident or a mistake during medical treatment. Jon has also handled professional negligence claims against solicitors and counsel in a range of fields, including conveyancing and personal injury. He has a keen interest in trying to improve the lives of those who suffer from a disability, and much of his practice focuses upon clients who have suffered serious head and brain injuries.

Jude Lanchin

Associate, Criminal Defence and Extradition. Jude has a strong reputation for outstanding work in a case range including: murder, firearms, drugs supply and importation, money-laundering and large-scale confiscation, fraud, white-collar/ business crime, perverting course of justice, immigration offences, large-scale protest/public disorder and serious youth crime. Jude is particularly regarded for her tactical skills and her skill and experience in dealing with controversial and difficult clients and cases involving young people. She inspires huge client confidence and is known as an assertive, dedicated and fearless lawyer, with very considerable ability to negotiate the complexities of criminal litigation and practice. She works on both legally-aided and privately-funded cases. Jude has also been involved in a number of media-related projects arising from the disturbances of August 2011 and regularly assists TV researchers on criminal justice matters. She has also carried out consultancy work for Kids Company and is involved in research relating to the position of young people in other criminal jurisdictions. Jude qualified as a solicitor after a career in community-based work. For a number of years, she worked with the young people on the North London Broadwater Farm Estate who were charged after the 1985 riot. She subsequently established and ran a community project in Islington for former prisoners. Jude has maintained her connections with the North London communities where she previously worked and is involved on a voluntary basis with a number of organisations. She has also presented training courses in youth justice, has run sessions with young people in schools and exclusion projects and provided legal advice to drugs organisations.

Jules Carey

Partner and Head of Actions against Police and State. Since becoming a solicitor in 1996 Jules has represented individuals, journalists, politicians and action groups. He is known particularly for his work involving complex claims for false imprisonment, assault, malicious prosecution, discrimination, deaths in custody and judicial review. Jules has a formidable reputation for challenging over-zealous and pre-emptive policing operations, and obtaining full redress for those affected. Whilst success for Jules and his team is often achieved at the pre-litigation stage, he has also had a number of high profile successes in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Karen May

Partner and Head of Education Law. Karen mainly acts for individuals although has also had experience of acting for local authorities and schools. Her specialism is judicial review cases, with a particular focus upon education law and community care law judicial reviews. Karen has acted in many leading education law judicial review cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal, concerning vulnerable children. Instructions are also regularly received from parents of children attending independent schools. These instructions often relate to safeguarding and exclusion matters within the independent sector. Karen’s main focus is acting for vulnerable children and adults. This work has seen her acting for a number of families in relation to special educational needs issues during childhood right through to Court of Protection matters in adulthood. It has also seen her acting in challenges against a wide variety of public bodies in addition to local authorities, such as CCGs and Chief Constables. Karen has also acted in a number of cases concerning breaches under the Human Rights Act 1998 and discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. She has secured favourable financial settlements for clients in a number of these cases. Karen has also recently acted in a case against a police force concerning breaches under the Human Rights Act 1998 in a claim for damages connected with information on an Enhanced DBS Certificate. She has experience of representing a number of clients in relation to what appears on their Enhanced DBS Certificates. As well as providing representation in relation to higher court cases, Karen regularly represents clients in relation to SEN Tribunal cases, admission appeals and exclusion appeals. She is also regularly instructed in relation to disputes about school transport which is a particularly difficult area with a number of public sectors cuts to transport budgets. Karen’s interest in transport cases stems from acting for the claimant in October 2000. Since that time, she has helped many parents secure suitable transport arrangements for children with special educational needs.

Karma Hickman

Associate, Immigration, Asylum and Nationality team. Karma has experience across the field of immigration and nationality law. She undertakes work in a broad range of areas, assisting individuals, organisations and businesses with the following matters, among others: Family-based visas, including partners, parents and children Citizenship and nationality applications for adults and children Applications for indefinite leave to remain/settlement Appeals, judicial review and administrative reviews Entry clearance Sponsor licences and skilled worker visas Global talent applications EUSS and European applications Human rights cases and applications outside the Immigration Rules Asylum claims based on political views, religious beliefs and sexual orientation Karma has a keen interest in applications involving children, particularly surrogacy and intercountry adoption cases. She writes for the leading immigration news website, Free Movement, and is responsible for the site’s courses on surrogacy and Article 8 law. She also delivers regular training for other immigration and family lawyers through MBL Legal Seminars. Topics include surrogacy, the EU Settlement Scheme and British Nationality law.

Kate Goold

Partner, Crime, Fraud and Regulatory. With almost 30 years’ experience as a criminal solicitor, Kate has extensive expertise in defending complex and serious crime and extradition including all aspects of business crime and fraud, money laundering, restraint and confiscation and cross-border investigations. She is particularly well regarded for her skill in dealing with politically sensitive, high profile, and controversial cases and has recently seen success in University Disciplinary proceedings. Kate has a broad extradition practice and has successfully challenged applications for extradition, many of which are politically sensitive, to both Category 1 and Category 2 territories. She advises on Interpol Red Notices and Mutual Legal Assistance Requests and liaises closely with US Attorneys in negotiations with the DOJ and defending related SEC actions where appropriate. Kate is also frequently instructed by those in the public eye whose reputation is everything. She fully understands the additional burden that press intrusion places on both the individual and prosecuting agency and is expert at navigating clients through the media storm. Kate regularly provides advice pre-charge and during investigations brought by a range of prosecuting agencies, with regards to police powers, production orders, search and seizure, securing evidence and publicity. She has provided evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee regarding pre-charge bail and suspect anonymity, and also advises media organisations with regards to reporting restrictions and protection of journalistic material and sources. Kate is a forceful defender of an individual’s rights and regularly draws on the Human Rights Act to ensure those rights are protected. She is widely respected for her sensitivity, tactical skill, attention to detail, her ability to tackle complex forensic issues and her thorough and determined pursuit of disclosure and defence leads.

Katie Wheatley

Partner, Head of Crime, Fraud and Regulatory. Katie has vast experience in many areas of criminal law. She acts for and advises individual clients and organisations about a range of criminal and regulatory law issues, including investigations and prosecutions. Katie advises in connection with investigations and prosecutions for allegations of serious fraud financial and business crime, including conspiracy to defraud, bribery and corruption, insider dealing and money laundering. She also acts for and advises employees, directors trustees and organisations in connection with allegations and investigations and prosecutions of business crime, including corporate manslaughter, gross negligence and unlawful act manslaughter, Health and Safety breaches, theft and assault. She advises in connection with individual liability for allegations of criminal misconduct in the workplace and criminal liability of organisations for the acts of their employees. Katie also has special expertise in private prosecutions. She has established a particularly strong reputation for advising journalists and media organisations, especially in investigations relating to their work, including arrests, searches, production orders, protection of journalist material, whistleblowing and allegations of breaches of the Official Secrets Act, whistle-blowers or undercover operations which have attracted police interest or attention. She regularly advises about the intersection of the criminal law with the work of journalists and acts in respect of investigations and prosecutions for breach of court reporting restrictions. Katie also acts in criminal cases involving allegations of serious general crime including murder and manslaughter. She has special experience in advising in connection with allegations that relate to end of life decisions such as encouraging and assisting suicide and 'mercy killings.' She acts for individuals and organisations who are designated Interested Parties at Inquests in circumstances where a person’s death is unexplained or is believed to have occurred as a result of a criminal act. In addition, Katie acts for landlords in criminal and regulatory cases involving allegations of breaches of regulations relating to properties, including houses of multiple occupations, fire safety, planning and tree preservation.

Krishna Santra

Partner, Employment team. Krishna acts for organisations and individual clients, providing pragmatic and strategic advice in relation to a range of employment issues. Krishna has experience advising SMEs in different sectors, including retail, hospitality, sports, telecommunications, construction/civil engineering, education, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, automotive, information technology and finance. She provides in-house training to managers, senior executives, directors and HR practitioners. She is regularly instructed to advise and/or act on behalf of employers and employees on contentious and non-contentious issues and has particular expertise in the following: Disputes involving the misuse of confidential information, solicitation of customers or clients and post-terminations restrictions. Advising businesses on all employment aspects of corporate transactions to include consultation under TUPE, undertaking due diligence and drafting warranties and indemnities. Defending high value and complex discrimination claims. Drafting contracts of employment and handbooks. Advising on disciplinary and grievance issues. Advising businesses on restructuring/reorganisation and redundancy.

Laura Hobey-Hamsher

Partner, Public Law and Human Rights. Laura is particularly well known for her work in personal welfare matters, including where there is a deprivation of liberty, and issues relating to an individual’s capacity to marry, and/or capacity to consent to sexual relations. She is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor, advocates and family members in both the Court of Protection and the High Court, often in cases where there have been allegations of physical and/or sexual abuse. Laura has also earned a reputation for acting for families in serious medical treatment cases, regarding both the provision and withdrawal of treatment. She has extensive experience of cases encompassing property and affairs, the role of the media, civil claims, and considering the interplay between the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Court of Protection, and competing jurisdictions. She has a growing practice acting for families in inquests into the deaths of psychiatric patients.

Liz Barratt

Partner and Head of Immigration. Liz has a wide-ranging practice covering all aspects of immigration, EEA, nationality and asylum law, and is well known for her work with unaccompanied children and vulnerable clients. She is regularly instructed by NGOS and local authorities in relation to children in care, and has experience in public law. She has acted in cases before the First Tier and Upper Tribunal, the Administrative Court, Court of Appeal and Court of Justice of the European Union.

Maeve Lucey

Solicitor in our Family and Matrimonial team, cross qualified as a solicitor in Ireland. Maeve has experience in all areas of private family law, with particular expertise in divorce and the financial implications of couples separating. She has particular experience in cases involving multiple assets including properties in this jurisdiction and overseas, family businesses and the associated intricacies often involved. She is also experienced in matters involving interveners. She also advises clients in the financial disputes which may arise following the separation of unmarried couples, including financial arrangements which might need to be made for any children. Maeve’s other area of expertise is private children matters, and advising parents in relation to child arrangements. She also frequently advises clients in relation to issues concerning domestic abuse and the associated court proceedings, and well understands the careful and sensitive approach needed. She takes a pragmatic and sensible approach to cases and always attempts to settle out of court where appropriate. She is known for her compassionate and professional approach to client care and has received positive testimonials for the support she has provided to clients throughout her cases.

Maud Davis

Associate, Family and Matrimonial. Maud specialises in children law, representing children in complex care cases. She is an experienced advocate and deals with hearings at all levels, including the Court of Appeal.

Megan Owen

Solicitor, in the Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury team. Megan joined the firm as a paralegal in the Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury team in September 2018. She commenced her training contract in September 2019, spending 12 months in her first seat, Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury. She then spent six months in her second seat, Housing, where she worked mainly on two large multiparty fire safety cases. Megan qualified as a solicitor in March 2021. Megan co-works cases with a partner, she regularly acts for adults and children who have suffered catastrophic life-changing injuries. In the last two years, Megan has assisted on claims which have settled for an aggregate total of over £30 million (on a capitalised basis). Recent cases include high-value settlements for two lower limb amputees and a seven-figure settlement for an adult who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury.

Megan Rothman

Solicitor, Family and Matrimonial team. Megan specialises in children law and represents clients in a wide range of public and private family matters. Megan has particular expertise in public law care proceedings, representing parents and other family members. She has experience working on complex matters, including those involving domestic abuse, drug and alcohol misuse, mental health, non-accidental injury, deprivation of liberty (DOLS), cases with an international element and immigration issues. Megan also works with parents who seek advice about child in need, child protection and PLO proceedings. She also advises parents in private disputes about where a child lives and who they spend time with, including those that involve serious allegations of domestic abuse and fact-finding hearings. She also deals with private disputes where there is social services involvement with the family. Megan also has an interest in adoption matters.

Melissa Arnold

Partner, Family and Matrimonial Melissa qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer in 2012 specialising exclusively in the field of family law. Melissa advises clients on all aspects of family law with a particular emphasis upon the financial disputes which may arise as a result of a relationship breaking down. Melissa has experience advising clients who have multiple assets and complex financial circumstances. Melissa also advises and assists clients with disputes surrounding arrangements for children, and has extensive experience in cases which involve allegations of domestic abuse. She has a particular interest in the financial disputes which may arise following the separation of unmarried couples, including financial arrangements which might need to be made for any children. Melissa is known for her compassionate and professional client care and has frequently received positive testimonials from clients for the support she has provided throughout their case.

Monika Sobiecki

Partner, Media and Information. Monika is a specialist Data Protection and Cybersecurity barrister. She has a wealth of experience in all aspects of data and information law and is passionate about the protection of digital rights. Monika has worked for individuals, public and private sector organisations. She has advised government bodies; research institutions; charities; universities and global companies; including in the Manufacturing, Retail, Fintech, Biotech, Aviation and Space sectors. She has handled a number of high profile and international cyber incidents; people (individually and collectively) pressing for compensation for loss of their data; difficult and complex data subject rights requests and Freedom of Information Act (FOI) requests made by journalists and campaigners. On the advisory side, Monika has helped to build a privacy framework from the ground up for organisations as varied as well-known charities, universities, government bodies and multinational companies. She has been involved in advising on a range of issues including: GDPR audits; vendor management; biometrics and facial recognition; cyber and data incident frameworks (alongside technical experts); direct marketing compliance; cookies and other adtech; joint controllership; and the development and deployment of artificial intelligence.

Paul Ridge

Partner in the Public Law team and Head of Housing and Property. As well as individuals Paul regularly advises charities and organisations in regulatory matters and disputes. He represents individuals, campaign and action groups, charities, schools and religious organisations. His aim is often to deal with issues swiftly, economically and without litigation. He has experience of mediation and ADR, but where needed Paul litigates. He has a string of cases through the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Paul regularly acts for family members and the Official Solicitor in the County Court, High Court and Court of Protection. He is currently acting for a large number of residents and survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

Rachel Harger

Solicitor, Actions Against Police and State team. Rachel works on a wide range of claims including false imprisonment, assault, malicious prosecution, misfeasance in public office, discrimination, misuse of private information and breaches of the Human Rights Act and Data Protection Act. She regularly represents bereaved families during inquests and other related proceedings where individuals have died whilst in police custody or under the care of mental health services. She has expertise in bringing urgent judicial review challenges on behalf of individuals who are being detained under immigration powers and facing removal from the UK and she often represents vulnerable adults who are victims of torture and trafficking. Rachel also has a particular interest in asserting individuals’ rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly under Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

Roberta Haslam

Partner, Immigration, Asylum and Nationality. Roberta has a particular interest in asylum and human rights claims, including unaccompanied minors and victims of trafficking. Her broad practice also includes advising on family based applications, such as children, partners, dependent relatives, and applications based on domestic violence, applications under EEA law, and nationality. Roberta also advises on challenges to deportation and the legality of detention. She represents applicants at both the application stage and at appeal in the First-Tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal. She regularly brings judicial review challenges before the Upper Tribunal and Administrative Court, and has also obtained significant damages on behalf of people unlawfully detained by the Home Office.

Rosaleen Wyllie

Solicitor, Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury team. Rosa has assisted the partners within the team on a variety of complex matters including fatal accident claims, birth injury claims and cases where clients have sustained brain and spinal injuries. Rosa also works on professional negligence claims including those against solicitors, accountants and surveyors.

Shelly Pastakia

Solicitor, in the Wills, Trusts and Estates team. Prior to May 2023, Shelly worked within our Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury team. She has acted for those injured in a wide range of personal injury cases, claims arising from road traffic accidents and accidents at work. Shelly assisted on claims for those who have suffered catastrophic injuries including head injury and amputation cases. Shelly has also some experience working on claims arising from clinical negligence including injuries sustained at birth and due to surgical errors.

Shirin Marker

Solicitor, Public Law and Human Rights team. Shirin represents clients in a wide range of public and international law matters, with a particular interest in challenges relating to migrant rights, national security and data protection. Shirin is experienced in bringing judicial review and civil claims against the state on a range of domestic and international law matters. She represents victims of trafficking, false imprisonment, arbitrary detention, torture and extraordinary rendition. She also specialises in bringing appeals before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), on behalf of individuals deprived of their British citizenship. She has participated in roundtable meetings in relation to Syrian returnees and in 2023, provided written evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee Inquiry on the State Handling of Hostage Situations. Shirin also regularly challenges decisions by the police and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) concerning disclosure of information, police record deletion requests, appeals before the Information Tribunal and civil claims for data protection breaches. She is a Trustee of PBI International (UK).

Siobhan Kelly

Partner, Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury. Siobhan is passionate about helping vulnerable claimants recover compensation where they have sustained an injury or condition through no fault of their own, often with life changing and devastating consequences. She has a wide range of experience of acting for claimants in cases involving serious injuries or death. Cases include brain injuries arising from medical treatment and road traffic accidents, mismanagement of vascular conditions and severe orthopaedic injuries. Siobhan also regularly acts for people who have been detained in immigration detention centres where the health care that they have received has caused their health to deteriorate often resulting in a catastrophic illness. Siobhan is presently a trustee Headway North West London, her local brain injury charity who provide support and services to people who have suffered an acquired brain injury. She is also offers support to the London Irish Centre and sits on their Welfare Committee.

Tamsin Allen

Partner and Head of Media and Information Law. Tamsin manages a wide-ranging media practice with an emphasis on defamation and privacy, whistleblowing, information and data protection, copyright and human rights. She works closely with crime, employment, family, public law and actions against the police to provide a seamless reputation and crisis management service. Tamsin has acted for Christopher Wylie, the Cambridge Analytica whistleblower, since Autumn 2017, as well as Shahmir Sanni who exposed criminal offences inside the designated campaign to leave the EU (Vote Leave), and Carole Cadwalladr in a libel claim brought against her by Leave EU founder, Arron Banks. Tamsin set up the Claimant Group in the hacking litigation against News Group Newspapers and has represented very large numbers of high profile people in phone-hacking claims. She is experienced in public inquiries and represented Core Participant Victims in the Leveson Inquiry. She now represents a number of Core Participants in the Undercover Policing Inquiry and the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. She also provides advice to publishers and NGO’s and charities on publication risks, GDPR and in litigation; including Mirror Group, the National Union of Journalists, Animal Aid, LUSH, Amnesty International, The New Statesman, Greenpeace, Index on Censorship and many others.

Tanya Goldfarb

Senior consultant and Head of our Business Immigration team. Tanya has over 25 years’ experience in UK immigration law and nationality law, and is highly regarded for her broad business immigration expertise that spans all corporate and private client matters. Tanya acts for a wide range of clients, from multinationals, to start-ups, to SMEs, and advises on the prevention of illegal working, risk management strategies and sponsorship. Advising clients across all sectors, her considerable expertise includes assisting with points-based system applications, Global Talent Visa applications and right to work compliance. Tanya also assists clients with complex matters where high-level strategic planning is needed. With substantial experience and interest in the creative sector, Tanya acts for a broad spectrum of clients in the industry, from individuals to production companies, and is known for her innovative and practical approach. Tanya is a seasoned and skilled speaker, and is often invited to present to clients and practitioners across the UK and elsewhere.

Tayab Ali

Partner, Crime, Fraud and Regulatory Law. Tayab’s practice encompasses criminal and civil/public law in both the UK and international jurisdictions. He is routinely retained by high profile, high net worth clients seeking to protect their reputations against false public and criminal allegations. Tayab has acted in some of the most high profile and complex criminal trials over the last two decades. He has represented clients in the Supreme Court, European Court of Human Rights as well as at international political and legal institutions including the United Nations, the International Criminal Court and the African Commission of Human and Peoples’ Rights. He has also made important contributions to public debates on counter-terrorism legislation, the prosecution of international crimes and the use of torture. He has provided evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees on behalf of his clients, and advised a number of UK and foreign members of parliament, ministers, political parties and former governments. He is an internationally recognised and highly respected solicitor.

Theodora Middleton

Solicitor, Public Law and Human Rights Theodora represents clients in challenges to the decisions and actions of public authorities. She acts in both public law matters, such as judicial reviews and complaints, and in civil claims against public bodies. Theodora has wide-ranging public law experience, and a particular interest in strategic challenges. She has worked with various campaigners including market traders fighting the redevelopment of their market, and communities fighting cuts to local bus services. She has an interest in criminal record disclosure, and assisted with a Supreme Court intervention challenging the lawfulness of the current disclosure regime. She also assisted in obtaining the first licence for medicinal cannabis for a child with severe epilepsy. Theodora is accredited as a Senior Caseworker in immigration and asylum, and specialises in cases at the intersection of immigration and public law, for example representing individuals who have been unlawfully detained by the Home Office, or those who have been refused adequate support while they await the determination of their asylum claims. She represents a number of individuals who were wrongly accused by the Home Office of cheating on a TOEIC English language test, in both public law challenges and immigration matters. Theodora is also experienced in community care matters, including support under the Care Act 2014, support for care leavers, and support for families with no recourse to public funds.

Will Whitaker

Associate, Public Law and Human Rights Will has represented a large number of vulnerable individuals and their family members in the Court of Protection. He is adept at advancing the interests of his clients, particularly those involved in disputes regarding health and social care. He has successfully guided many individuals through proceedings dealing with a range of issues relating to mental capacity, deprivations of liberty, provision of care, and medical treatment. He has obtained redress for clients bringing civil claims related to Court of Protection proceedings, often under the Human Rights Act. He will bring claims for judicial review where needed to protect the rights of his clients or their family members, and ensure they are provided with the standard of care that they are entitled to. Will also acts in inquests for families who have lost loved ones in difficult circumstances. He regularly deals with large multi-party actions in the Court of Protection, in public law settings, and in other jurisdictions, and is currently representing a number of residents and survivors of the Grenfell Tower Fire in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Will has significant experience of helping people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes. He often defends those faced with possession proceedings, makes claims for unlawful eviction, and challenges homelessness decisions. Will often works with vulnerable individuals in this context, and has expertise in managing cases which involve a crossover between housing and the Court of Protection. Will also works with asylum seekers and other migrants to get them access to support and housing, and has frequently battled to safeguard the interests of people who have suffered domestic abuse in relation to their housing. He also represents clients in relation to other issues involving civil liberties and public law. He has helped those defending civil proceedings brought against them relating to protest, individuals who have been subjected to discrimination, and members of the public who have had wide-ranging problems with local government. Will has a developing practice in advising charities and third sector organisations in relation to a wide range of legal issues, including where disputes have arisen by those running the charity. He has steered charities through court proceedings and mediation in the past.

Yagmur Ekici

Partner, Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury. Yagmur advises and represents individuals in a wide range of personal injury and medical negligence cases. She has a particular interest in head injuries, psychological trauma, complex orthopaedic injuries, fatal accident cases and tricky quantum issues. She also works with the partners at Bindmans on a number of personal injury and clinical negligence cases involving death and catastrophic injuries at birth.

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