Chambers & Partners Bar Award nominations

Doughty Street Chambers is delighted to announce that it has been shortlisted for Human Rights & Public Law Set of the Year in the upcoming Chambers Bar Awards and three of its barristers have also been nominated : Heather Rogers QC for Silk of the Year and Anthony Hudson for Junior of the Year, both in the Defamation category, and Stephen Cragg for Junior of the Year in the Human Rights & Public Law category - click here for full details

Kenyan Court of Appeal rules mandatory death penalty for murder unconstitutional

The Kenyan Court of Appeal has ruled that the mandatory death penalty for murder is unconstitutional. The appellant's counsel in Kenya, Tim Bryant and William Wameyo, were assisted by Joe Middleton and his colleagues Saul Lehrfreund and Parvais Jabbar at the Death Penalty Project. ►►

Former Bosnian leader wins extradition fight

Former member of Bosnian Presidency, Ejup Ganic (represented by Edward Fitzgerald QC and John RWD Jones), has won his fight against extradition to the Republic of Serbia ►►

No-notice removals policy declared unlawful

The High Court has quashed the Home Secretary's policy of giving little or no notice of removal to certain categories of asylum-seekers such as unaccompanied children and those deemed to be at risk of suicide or self-harm. Charlotte Kilroy, together with Dinah Rose QC, represented the successful claimant, Medical Justice ►►

Privy Council quash Belize murder conviction

The murder conviction of Kirk Gordon (represented by Paul Bogan and Lucy Corrin) has been quashed by the Privy Council. A verdict of manslaughter was substituted and the case remitted to Belize for sentence. ►►

Firefighter's right to freedom of expression under Article 10 was violated

The Manchester Employment Tribunal has held that the Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority's dismissal of Firefighter, Christopher Bennett (represented by Paul Draycott), was unfair because it violated his right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights 1950. ►►

Damages can be sought under the Human Rights Act for failure to educate

The UK Supreme Court has ruled that a breach of Article 2 Protocol 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights can be justiciable and sound in damages where a child is denied access to education available within the domestic system, however inadequate, to meet the child's educational needs. The Appellant, A, represented by Nicholas Bowen QC and Shu Shin Luh, and supported by the interveners in the case - the National Autistic Society (represented by Ian Wise QC and Stephen Broach), is a profoundly disabled and severely autistic young man who suffers from epilepsy and has serious learning difficulties. ►►

UK - no opt-out from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

The Master of the Rolls has given a judgment in the case of Saeedi recording the Home Secretary's acceptance that the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights could be directly relied upon in the UK. The Court also acceded to the application made on behalf of Mr Saeedi (represented by Dinah Rose QC, Mark Henderson and Alison Pickup) and supported by the interveners in the case - Equality & Human Rights Commission (represented by Geoffrey Robertson QC and Jonathan Cooper), Amnesty International and AIRE Centre (represented by Simon Cox) ►►

Philippa Eastwood joins Doughty Street Chambers Crime Team

Doughty Street Chambers is delighted to announce that Philippa Eastwood has joined Chambers as a member of the Crime Team. Philippa arrives with a well established practice and an impressive history of work. To view a full profile, click here

Henrietta Hill - Times Lawyer of the Week

Henrietta Hill has been named Times Lawyer of the Week in light of her representation of a woman firearms officer, PC Barbara Lynford, being awarded a record amount of damages in a sex discrimination case. ►► (Click here to read Times Online)

Supreme Court rules that gay men and lesbians forced to hide their sexuality are refugees

In an important judgment, the Supreme Court has allowed the appeals of two gay asylum-seekers ('HJ', represented by Laura Dubinsky). The Court overturned a decision of the Court of appeal which held that a gay man was not a refugee if he would on return to his home country, conceal his sexuality and so avoid persecution. ►►

Ben Chataway joins Doughty Street Chambers Housing Team

We are delighted to announce that with effect from Monday 28th June, Ben Chataway will be joining the well established Housing & Social Welfare team at Doughty Street Chambers ►►

Seven peace activists cleared by jury after anti-war protest at arms factory

Seven peace activists who caused 180,000 of damage after breaking into an EDO MBM arms factory in Brighton were found not guilty by a jury after they argued that they were legally justified in doing so because they were seeking to protect civilian life and property during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2009. (One of the activists was represented by Steven Powles). ►►

Mark Henderson picks up 'Legal Aid Barrister of the Year' award 2010

Mark Henderson has been named 'Legal Aid Barrister of the Year' 2010. This highlights what a fantastic year Mark has had, the judges remarking on the exceptional quantity and quality of the nominations for the award this year ►►

7/7 inquests to probe whether the bombings were 'reasonably preventable'

Doughty Street barristers Patrick O'Connor QC and Caoilfhionn Gallagher, representing bereaved families and survivors of the London 7/7 bombings, have received judgment from the coroner, rejecting MI5 and the Home Secretary's submissions that these inquests should not explore alleged intelligence failings ►►

Court of Appeal rejects secrecy in civil claims

A closed material procedure involving secret hearings cannot be introduced into a civil claim for damages brought by former Guantánamo Bay detainees against the intelligence services as this would breach common law principles of fair trial and open justice. Richard Hermer QC and Charlotte Kilroy acted for the claimants, Guy Vassall-Adams for the media intervenors ►►