Chambers & Partners 2009
This well-established set has a history of involvement in police law cases dating back to the early 1990s. The police group is made up of practitioners who specialise in a range of matters, including civil claims, disciplinary issues and judicial reviews. Solicitors rave about James Watson QC, with one stating that “he is probably the most intelligent person I’ve ever met.” He acts on civil actions as well as disciplinary matters, judicial reviews, death in custody inquests and employment and pensions law as it relates to the police, and his recent highlights include G v West Yorkshire Police, a judicial review of police powers under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. John Beggs is renowned for his tough advocacy skills: “If you have a case with really heavy facts, and you want somebody to cross-examine it into the ground, he’s your man.” A particular favourite of police forces, “he has a way of communicating with police officers that no other counsel has.” Recent high-profile cases that he has acted in include the investigation into the Assistant Commissioner of the Met’s expenses and the ongoing Yarl’s Wood litigation against Bedfordshire police, which is currently the largest claim against a police authority in the UK. In addition, Beggs has acted in the appeal arising from Raissi v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the May Day litigation appeal from the May Day 2001 protest in Oxford Circus. Gerard Boyle is “a very good jury advocate, thanks to his relaxed style and ability to completely charm juries.” His practice leans more towards police disciplinary work, although he does also take on civil claims and inquests. He acts for a number of police forces, including the Metropolitan Police and forces in West Yorkshire and the Thames Valley, and is particularly experienced at defending claims that involve allegations of racism. Clodagh Bradley acts for forces on civil matters ranging from major public incidents, such as animal rights protests, to less serious matters such as neighbour disputes. Her recent noteworthy cases include an inquest into the death of Roger Sylvester in a psychiatric hospital following restraint by police; she also represented the police force involved in the Hastings fatal shooting. Mark Ley-Morgan is “well liked by officers and judges: he doesn’t take silly points and he doesn't back down.” He works for police forces in heavy cases all over the country, handling the full spectrum of civil claims as well as disciplinary matters, judicial reviews and inquests concerning deaths in custody. Debra Powell is often the first choice for police pensions cases, having acted in a number of related Administrative Court hearings. She is hailed as a national expert on the police side of the argument in this niche area of work. Briony Ballard represents many forces in a variety of matters that include civil claims, judicial reviews and disciplinary cases. She acted for the Metropolitan Police in the claim for wrongful imprisonment and damages brought by the wife and brother of Lotfi Raissi. John de Bono’s workload is now mainly made up of disciplinary cases, although civil claims are still a part of his practice. He recently acted on a lengthy corruption case for Merseyside Police involving two officers accused of offering a prisoner sex or drugs in return for confessing to motoring crimes. George Thomas is “a details man - he leaves no stone unturned in his preparation and is very methodical in his cross-examination.” This “particularly persuasive advocate” acted for the Metropolitan Police in the long-running and widely reported case Austin & Saxby v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, arising from the May Day demonstrations. Amy Street has been identified as a name to watch. She has a significant practice that recently involved acting in Austin & Saxby v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and R (Laporte) v Chief Constable of Gloucestershire. Stephen Morley is a dedicated police law specialist who acts nationally in matters such as civil claims, licensing issues and judicial reviews. Recent work of note includes acting in Warwickshire Police v PCs Cottingham and Hall, which arose from the Colette Lynch murder and was the first ever publicly heard police disciplinary case.
Copyright, Chambers & Partners, www.chambersandpartners.com | |