Police Law: Mainly Claimant: Best of the UK

Firms

Lawyers

Police Law: Mainly=20 Claimant: Best of the UK (14)

Band 1Bhatt=20 MurphyBindmans=20 LLPBirnberg=20 Peirce & PartnersDeighton=20 GuedallaFisher=20 MeredithHickman=20 & RoseTuckers
Band 2Christian=20 KhanHarrison=20 BundeyHodge=20 Jones & AllenHowells=20 LLP
Band 3Imran=20 Khan & PartnersIrwin=20 MitchellJackson=20 & Canter

Police = Law: Mainly=20 Claimant: Best of the UK (23)

StarFiona=20 Murphy (Bhatt Murphy)
Band 1Raju=20 Bhatt (Bhatt Murphy)Jules=20 Carey (Tuckers)Andre=20 Clovis (Tuckers)Chez=20 Cotton (Bindmans LLP)Jane=20 Deighton (Deighton Guedalla)Daniel=20 Machover (Hickman & Rose)Peter=20 Mahy (Howells LLP)Tony=20 Murphy (Bhatt Murphy)Nogah=20 Ofer (Hickman & Rose)Stefano=20 Ruis (Fisher Meredith)
Band 2Andrew=20 Arthur (Fisher Meredith)Saimo=20 Chahal (Bindmans LLP)Imran=20 Khan (Imran Khan & Partners)Iftikhar=20 Manzoor (Irwin Mitchell)Sarah=20 McSherry (Christian Khan)Gareth=20 Peirce (Birnberg Peirce & Partners)Simon=20 Purchas (Harrison Bundey)Sarah=20 Ricca (Deighton Guedalla)Mark=20 Scott (Bhatt Murphy)Christopher=20 Paul Topping (Jackson & Canter)Keiron=20 Walsh (Tuckers)Marcia=20 Willis-Stewart (Birnberg Peirce &=20 Partners)

Police Law: Mainly = Claimant: Best=20 of the UK (14 Firms)

Band 1Bhatt=20 MurphyBindmans=20 LLPBirnberg=20 Peirce & PartnersDeighton=20 GuedallaFisher=20 MeredithHickman=20 & RoseTuckers
Band 2Christian=20 KhanHarrison=20 BundeyHodge=20 Jones & AllenHowells=20 LLP
Band 3Imran=20 Khan & PartnersIrwin=20 MitchellJackson=20 & Canter

Police Law: Mainly = Claimant: Best of=20 the UK (23 People)

StarFiona=20 Murphy (Bhatt Murphy)
Band 1Raju=20 Bhatt (Bhatt Murphy)Jules=20 Carey (Tuckers)Andre=20 Clovis (Tuckers)Chez=20 Cotton (Bindmans LLP)Jane=20 Deighton (Deighton Guedalla)Daniel=20 Machover (Hickman & Rose)Peter=20 Mahy (Howells LLP)Tony=20 Murphy (Bhatt Murphy)Nogah=20 Ofer (Hickman & Rose)Stefano=20 Ruis (Fisher Meredith)
Band 2Andrew=20 Arthur (Fisher Meredith)Saimo=20 Chahal (Bindmans LLP)Imran=20 Khan (Imran Khan & Partners)Iftikhar=20 Manzoor (Irwin Mitchell)Sarah=20 McSherry (Christian Khan)Gareth=20 Peirce (Birnberg Peirce & Partners)Simon=20 Purchas (Harrison Bundey)Sarah=20 Ricca (Deighton Guedalla)Mark=20 Scott (Bhatt Murphy)Christopher=20 Paul Topping (Jackson & Canter)Keiron=20 Walsh (Tuckers)Marcia=20 Willis-Stewart (Birnberg Peirce &=20 Partners)

Police Law: Mainly Claimant: Best of the UK

1Bhatt=20 Murphy

This relatively small firm retains its position as a leader of the = police=20 law pack, with sources describing it as "committed to doing really=20 high-quality work in this area and incredibly diligent in the way it = prepares=20 and presents cases.=E2=80=9D The team undertakes a wide range of = human rights=20 matters that includes the full spectrum of civil claims relating to the = police,=20 from stop and search cases to those resulting in major injury, as well = as deaths=20 in custody and prisoners=E2=80=99 rights. Recent successes include a = claim involving the=20 repeated sexual assault of a young girl by a police officer and her = professional=20 carers, in which the claimant received substantial damages and an = apology. Since=20 acting on the Victoria Climbi=C3=A9 inquiry, the firm has increasingly = been=20 concentrating on working with children in the criminal justice system = and in=20 immigration detention, as well as children who have been failed by the = state.=20 The firm=E2=80=99s success and excellent reputation is seen as partly = due to the=20 =E2=80=9Cimmensely impressive way it organises itself and runs its = cases.=E2=80=9D=20 Interviewees also comment that the team is =E2=80=9Cresponsible for = much of the=20 ground-breaking work of the past ten years, and will rightly continue to = be=20 so.=E2=80=9D=20 Fiona Murphy =E2=80=9Cisn=E2=80=99t afraid of a big, complex case = - she=E2=80=99s willing to get=20 stuck in.=E2=80=9D Described as =E2=80=9Ca very tactical = lawyer,=E2=80=9D her experience=20 means =E2=80=9Cshe can see both the big picture and the finer = detail.=E2=80=9D She is=20 also =E2=80=9Cexcellent with grieving families.=E2=80=9D = Murphy=E2=80=99s recent highlights=20 include working on R (Hurst) v Commissioner of Police for the = Metropolis, a=20 House of Lords case concerning the requirement of the state to hold a = public=20 investigation into the failure of the police to protect the life of a = victim of=20 crime. She has an admirable track record of obtaining compensation in = numerous=20 police malfeasance cases, and is currently working on several complex = claims=20 against various forces and involving multiple claimants. Tony=20 Murphy joined Bhatt Murphy from Bindmans LLP in November 2007; his = addition=20 to the team will undoubtedly strengthen it even further. =E2=80=9CAt = the top of the=20 tree,=E2=80=9D this =E2=80=9Cbrilliant solicitor=E2=80=9D is = resoundingly praised for his=20 thorough preparation, good judgement and client handling. A central part = of his=20 practice is assisting the families of individuals who die in state = custody. He=20 is currently pursuing a claim on behalf of trafficked children, and = recently=20 secured the criminal conviction of a police driver who caused the death = of a=20 young man during a pursuit; the family also received significant damages = and=20 costs in this case. Raju=20 Bhatt is hailed as =E2=80=9Cthe godfather of police = law,=E2=80=9D with=20 =E2=80=9Cencyclopaedic knowledge and incredible = commitment.=E2=80=9D He is currently=20 acting on a number of cases involving abuse of power or neglect of duty = by the=20 police and other public authorities, such as the ongoing representation = of Banaz=20 Mahmod=E2=80=99s sister in a disciplinary action and claim against the = police arising=20 out of the circumstances of Mahmod=E2=80=99s murder in an honour = killing. Mark=20 Scott focuses on child deaths in custody and the rights of = immigration=20 detainees, particularly children. He acted for the families of = 15-year-old=20 Gareth Myatt, the only child to have died as a result of restraint in = custody,=20 and 14-year-old Adam Rickwood, the youngest child to have died in UK = custody.=20 Following this work, he was involved in a judicial review test case = concerning a=20 challenge brought by a child to the lawfulness of amended rules = permitting the=20 use of force in secure training centres; he is also advising on a number = of=20 claims for unlawful detention under the Immigration Act.

1Bindmans=20 LLP

Famed for its civil liberties work, this firm stands out because = =E2=80=9Cit is=20 committed without being emotional, taking a calm, objective and = analytical=20 approach.=E2=80=9D The police misconduct team offers a = =E2=80=9Cwinning formula of=20 encyclopaedic knowledge of the law combined with perceptive litigation = tactics.=E2=80=9D=20 The group offers representation and advice in cases ranging from=20 disciplinary proceedings against individual officers to compensation = claims and=20 public inquiries. It specialises in aspects of misuse of power, such as=20 harassment, false imprisonment, assault, malicious prosecution, = discrimination=20 and breaches of human rights and data protection; it is also = particularly=20 committed to acting in cases involving death in custody. Following the = recent=20 departure of Tony Murphy to Bhatt Murphy, Chez=20 Cotton has joined from Hickman & Rose to head the department. = She is an=20 expert in all aspects of actions against police forces, and is renowned = for her=20 =E2=80=9Cmeticulous attention to detail and ability to achieve = out-of-court=20 settlements that other solicitors can only dream of - she never fails to = knock a=20 case into winning shape, thanks to her understanding of how a jury will=20 react.=E2=80=9D She recently obtained an out-of-court settlement and = an apology for=20 Marc Vall=C3=A9e, a photojournalist who brought a claim against the = Metropolitan=20 Police for his treatment whilst photographing protesters at the = =E2=80=98Sack=20 Parliament=E2=80=99 protest. Cotton advises prisoners in relation to the = Disability=20 Discrimination Act 1995 and the Prison Service's obligation to meet the = needs of=20 disabled prisoners, and has generally been at the forefront of cases = involving=20 disabled claimants. Saimo=20 Chahal has an =E2=80=9Cunswerving commitment to her clients, and = is fearless when=20 it comes to taking on difficult cases; she always provides a huge amount = of=20 insight and knowledge.=E2=80=9D Chahal is currently acting in R (JL) = v the Secretary=20 of State, a matter involving a prisoner who attempted suicide and was = left with=20 permanent brain damage. The case has reached the House of Lords and has = wide=20 implications for future cases involving attempted suicides in custody. = She is=20 also seeking damages from South Essex NHS Foundation Trust for Anna = Savage,=20 whose mother committed suicide whilst detained as a patient under the = Mental=20 Health Act.

1Birnberg=20 Peirce & Partners

This firm receives praise from all quarters for the high quality of = its=20 work, as well as for its reputation for being =E2=80=9Cunafraid of = big, complex=20 cases.=E2=80=9D The committed and dedicated team handles a number of = noteworthy=20 civil claims against the police, acting in such cases as the Jean = Charles de=20 Menezes shooting. Civil rights lawyer Gareth=20 Peirce is =E2=80=9Cincredibly impressive and determined, with an = enviable and=20 well-deserved reputation.=E2=80=9D Marcia=20 Willis-Stewart is =E2=80=9Cexcellent with clients, and always = goes the extra=20 mile.=E2=80=9D She recently represented the family at the inquest = into the death of=20 Paul Yorke, a homeless man who died in police custody.

1Deighton=20 Guedalla

This small firm of =E2=80=9Cdedicated solicitors doing complex = and challenging=20 work=E2=80=9D continues to maintain a strong presence in the = marketplace. Recent=20 high-profile cases include representing Duwayne Brooks, Stephen = Lawrence=E2=80=99s best=20 friend, in his claims against the Met for wrongful arrest and = negligence.=20 According to barristers, Jane=20 Deighton is =E2=80=9Chugely committed to her clients, and = hard-working,=20 knowledgeable and stimulating to work with.=E2=80=9D In the past = year she=20 represented the family of Anne Marie Bates at the inquest into her death = in=20 custody and acted for the family of Ali Bullaleh, a Somali man who died = in a=20 road traffic accident after being left to make his own way home by = police and=20 paramedics following an assault. Sarah=20 Ricca recently joined the firm from Hickman & Rose: her presence = =E2=80=9Cundoubtedly strengthens the team considerably.=E2=80=9D = Focusing on actions=20 against the police and prison service, Ricca has considerable expertise = in=20 discrimination law within this context. She acted for the family of = Colette=20 Lynch in its action against the police following Lynch=E2=80=99s death = at the hands of=20 her ex-partner, after numerous attempts to file complaints against him = in the=20 days leading up to the attack.

1Fisher=20 Meredith

Fisher Meredith is a =E2=80=9Chigh-quality firm that is = approachable enough to=20 relax clients and put them at ease.=E2=80=9D Its =E2=80=9Csmall = but consistently good=20 police law team=E2=80=9D acts for individuals seeking to bring = claims against the=20 police for matters such as wrongful arrest, false imprisonment, assault = and=20 malicious prosecution. The group has a particularly strong track record = in=20 advising individuals involved in and arrested during demonstrations. = Noteworthy=20 work of late has included actions for false imprisonment against the = Home Office=20 under the immigration rules and securing the destruction of DNA and = fingerprint=20 samples of a man who was arrested on the basis of mistaken identity and = had=20 committed no offence, by threatening an application for judicial review. = Stefano=20 Ruis is =E2=80=9Ca top-quality solicitor who is extremely clever = and=20 approachable, yet realistic, with excellent client care = skills.=E2=80=9D He is=20 currently acting for a number of clients arrested during a peaceful = protest in=20 accordance with the police=E2=80=99s power to require names and = addresses to be given.=20 He also obtained a substantial settlement in a claim against the = Commissioner=20 for assault, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution. Andrew=20 Arthur is =E2=80=9Cnot afraid of complicated cases or difficult = legal points, and=20 has a very calm and diligent approach.=E2=80=9D Recent significant = work for him has=20 included an ongoing judicial review concerning the abolition of the ex = gratia=20 compensation payment scheme for victims of wrongful conviction; he also = won=20 compensation in a civil claim for a seriously ill prisoner who was kept = in=20 handcuffs whilst receiving medical treatment.

1Hickman=20 & Rose

In addition to the criminal law department for which it is = traditionally=20 known, this firm=E2=80=99s police law team receives high accolades from = the marketplace,=20 with barristers commenting that it has =E2=80=9Ca culture of = dedication and=20 commitment that is most unusual and refreshing.=E2=80=9D The = department handles=20 small to very high-profile claims against the police, and provides = =E2=80=9Cdedicated=20 solicitors doing complex and challenging work.=E2=80=9D Acting for = the family of=20 Azelle Rodney, who was shot dead by police, the team persuaded the = Ministry of=20 Justice to seek a change in the law that would allow secret evidence to = be seen=20 at inquests. Daniel=20 Machover leads the civil litigation team and is a significant player = in=20 human rights law in general, with a practice that focuses on = international human=20 rights law, civil actions against the Home Office and police and death = in=20 custody inquests. =E2=80=9CCerebral, assured and experienced in = high-level cases,=E2=80=9D=20 he is said to have a first-class ability to =E2=80=9Cthink = creatively and=20 assimilate the facts of a case swiftly and thoroughly, with a tactical=20 approach.=E2=80=9D Machover also acted for the family of Shahid = Aziz, who was killed=20 by a cellmate in a Leeds prison, and for the families of Harry Stanley = and the=20 aforementioned Azelle Rodney, who were both fatally shot by armed = police. Nogah=20 Ofer =E2=80=9Cworks to a phenomenal level of detail - she can = distil all the=20 information in a really helpful way, and is full of good and creative=20 ideas.=E2=80=9D She acts in a number of large-scale civil actions = against the police=20 arising from malicious prosecutions for murder which resulted in = wrongful=20 imprisonments.

1Tuckers

Operating out of offices in London and Manchester, this = firm=E2=80=99s police=20 actions group sits within the human rights department and works = alongside a=20 prison law team. With a large and loyal client base, it continues to = take on a=20 significant amount of police law work, handling civil claims against the = police,=20 police complaints to the IPCC, judicial reviews and inquests relating to = deaths=20 in custody, amongst other matters. The department is also at the = forefront of=20 police law as it relates to anti-terror legislation. Recent successful,=20 high-profile cases include Lotfi Raissi v Home Secretary, in which a = pilot was=20 wrongly accused of training the 9/11 hijackers: the Court of Appeal = delivered a=20 highly critical judgment of the conduct of the Home Secretary, police = and CPS in=20 terms of their role in the extradition proceedings. It also acted in G = and=20 Others v HM Treasury, successfully challenging the imposition of = financial=20 sanctions on suspected terrorists, and is acting for a number of clients = involved in the May Day litigation currently on appeal to the House of = Lords.=20 Head of the police action team in London, Jules=20 Carey is =E2=80=9Cincredibly efficient and tuned in to this area = of law - he gets=20 some outstanding results.=E2=80=9D He has particular expertise in = cases against the=20 police involving false imprisonment, assault, malicious prosecution and = human=20 rights violations, and also advises on inquests. Andre=20 Clovis is highly respected for his tenacity and excellent results, = leading=20 commentators to note: =E2=80=9CIn terms of getting a client a good = deal, you can=E2=80=99t go=20 wrong with him.=E2=80=9D In one highlight case of the past year, = Clovis represented=20 a youth who was stopped unlawfully by the police and then chased, gassed = with CS=20 gas, truncheoned and struck with a police radio before being arrested = and=20 charged with police assault; the claimant received significant = compensation and=20 officers were disciplined. He is also bringing proceedings against the = police=20 for assault, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution in G & K v = Herts=20 Police, and is representing a claimant whose family had been the victim = of a=20 ten-year campaign of police harassment; in this matter, 12 police = officers have=20 been disciplined and almost =C2=A350,000 in damages paid out to date. = Based in the=20 Manchester office, Keiron=20 Walsh is said to be "unrivalled outside London for his knowledge = of the=20 law - his decades of experience in making claims against the police make = him one=20 of the most formidable claimant solicitors in the North.=E2=80=9D He = is also praised=20 for =E2=80=9Cremaining calm, objective and analytical, even during = the heat of a=20 trial.=E2=80=9D

2Christian=20 Khan

This approachable and accessible firm houses an experienced police = law team=20 with expertise in police complaints, civil actions against the police = and=20 judicial reviews, as well as in other matters relating to the misuse of = police=20 powers. The team is currently acting in a number of inquests into deaths = in=20 prison, such as that of Aeron Blake, who committed suicide in a young = offender=20 institution; it is also pursuing a number of claims against the police = for=20 racial discrimination. Christian Khan is also the lead firm handling the = May Day=20 2001 group action against the Met. Sarah=20 McSherry =E2=80=9Censures she knows cases inside-out and is very = realistic in her=20 assessments.=E2=80=9D She is currently acting in numerous complex = complaints and=20 actions against the police involving racially aggravated assaults, = wrongful=20 arrest and misfeasance. Her recent successes include achieving = significant=20 compensation for a client who was subjected to an unprovoked physical = attack by=20 a police officer, followed by a malicious prosecution.

2Harrison=20 Bundey

As a specialist branch of larger outfit Ison Harrison, this = Leeds-based=20 firm has a national presence in work involving actions against the = police and=20 inquests. It is currently acting for a number of families in death in = custody=20 cases, and is representing a terror suspect in an action relating to his = conditions of detention whilst awaiting trial. The team is also = representing a=20 number of prisoners in claims against the Prison Officers=E2=80=99 = Association arising=20 from industrial action at the end of 2007. Simon=20 Purchas, the contact in this area, is highly regarded for his = determination=20 and experience.

2Hodge=20 Jones & Allen

This highly committed team offers representation and advice on the = full=20 range of civil actions against the police and other public authorities,=20 including race discrimination claims. It also has an expanding practice = dealing=20 with deaths in prison and police custody. The firm=E2=80=99s impressive = workload=20 includes the recent successful mediation of a race discrimination claim = against=20 the Met: the client was stopped and searched a number of times on = suspicion of=20 being in possession of illegal drugs, which was never found to be the = case. The=20 team is also appealing in R (Niazi & Others) v SSHD, which = challenges the=20 abolishment of the ex gratia scheme for miscarriage of justice; it is = also=20 challenging the IPCC=E2=80=99s decision not to uphold a = claimant=E2=80=99s complaint following=20 their criminal conviction being quashed, despite criticisms being made = about the=20 police investigation by the Court of Appeal. Susie Labinjoh and Jocelyn = Cockburn=20 head the team.

2Howells=20 LLP

Specialising in cases with a human rights angle, Howells=E2=80=99 = police law=20 department has particular expertise in actions against the police, = police=20 complaints, deaths in custody and inquests. It has been involved in such = high-profile matters as the Toni Comer case, in which South Yorkshire = Police=20 were caught on CCTV striking the claimant, and which resulted in an = independent=20 investigation by the IPCC. The team also acted for the family of Tania = Moore,=20 who was killed by her ex-partner despite making complaints about him to = the=20 police: six officers were found guilty in the disciplinary hearing, and = when the=20 case progressed to judicial review the decision to hold the disciplinary = hearing=20 in private was found to be unlawful. In addition, the group is currently = acting=20 in S and Marper v UK Government in the ECHR, which concerns the = retention of DNA=20 and fingerprints of unconvicted individuals and is widely considered to = be one=20 of the most important human rights cases of all time. Peter=20 Mahy leads the police misconduct team and is =E2=80=9Ca leader in = cutting-edge=20 police law - he has a real eye for a case.=E2=80=9D

3Imran=20 Khan & Partners

This leading human rights firm is also handling a number of police=20 law-related cases, and was the first to judicially review new laws that = allow=20 detention without trial for those suspected of terrorist offences. Name = partner=20 Imran=20 Khan takes on major cases that highlight inequality and=20 disadvantage.

3Irwin=20 Mitchell

This police law team has years of experience and involvement in = numerous=20 claims against the police and public authorities. Its clients are often=20 protesters, or those who have been wrongfully arrested. Iftikhar=20 Manzoor has a truly nationwide practice and a sterling reputation = for the=20 claims he has pursued against virtually all of the major police forces = in=20 England and Wales. He is currently representing a man who was shot twice = by=20 police with a Taser gun after he went into a diabetic coma on a = bus.

3Jackson=20 & Canter

This Liverpool-based firm's history of involvement in actions = against the=20 police dates back to the 1980s. Its areas of expertise include wrongful = arrest,=20 unlawful imprisonment, malicious prosecution, assault, recovery of = property and=20 human rights. Chris=20 Topping =E2=80=9Chas an impressive caseload and provides an = invaluable service to=20 clients in the North West.=E2=80=9D =

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May 2009

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