Test case on media access to family courts

Gavin Millar QC and Guy Vassall-Adams are representing the media in a key test case being heard by the President of the Family Division concerning the principles governing media access to hearings involving the children of celebrities. ►►

Outstanding Achievement award for Edward Fitzgerald QC

Doughty Street Chambers is delighted to announce that Edward Fitzgerald CBE QC has been honoured with an LAPG silver jubilee Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year award for Outstanding Achievement. ►►

Compensation for wrongful imprisonment ruled too low

One of the so-called Cardiff Three, Stephen Miller (represented by Heather Williams QC) has had his compensation award for the 4 years spent wrongly in prison ruled "irrationally low" by the Appeal Court ►►

Freedom of expression outweighs right to privacy

In an important decision for open justice, the BBC (represented by Gavin Millar QC and Anthony Hudson) has successfully applied to the House of Lords to lift an anonymity order protecting the identity of a defendant acquitted of rape imposed following an Attorney General's reference to the Court of Appeal and House of Lords ►►

Heather Rogers QC - 'Times Lawyer of the Week'

Heather Rogers QC has been selected as the latest recipient of the 'Times Lawyer of the Week'. To read the interview, click here ►►

Housing benefit qualifies in calculation of right-to-buy sanctions

10 years after secure tenant Colin Hanoman (represented by Richard Drabble QC of Landmark Chambers and Dominic Preston of Doughty Street Chambers) exercised his right to buy, the House of Lords has upheld his assertion that housing benefit received as a 'rebate' should count in adducing the financial penalty local authorities should pay for delaying a tenant's exercise of his right to buy. ►►

Gary McKinnon challenges Home Secretary decision on extradition

An article in The Guardian calls on the new Home Secretary to intercede on behalf of Gary McKinnon (represented by Edward Fitzgerald QC and Ben Cooper) in the High Court to fight extradition to the USA. (Stephen Cragg acted for the National Autistic Society). ►►

Anti-war protestor acquitted of violent disorder

A protestor, represented by Richard Thomas, has been acquitted of violent disorder at a Stop the War demonstration in Parliament Square in 2008. ►►

Law Lords given opportunity to rule on extradition

Edward Fitzgerald QC and John Jones succeeded in having the High Court certify a point of law of general public importance for the House of Lords in the case of Andrew Symeou. (The case of a man accused of manslaughter while on holiday in Greece). ►►

'Right to effective education' vs 'right of access'

Nicholas Bowen QC of Doughty Street Chambers and Shu Shin Luh of 6 King's Bench Walk have been granted leave to appeal on behalf of a profoundly disabled child to challenge Essex County Council's alleged denial of any effective education for 18 months ►►