Natalie Lucas, Percy Preston, Maria Munir, Jordan Briggs and Simon Bennett join Doughty Street as Pupils
We are delighted to welcome Natalie Lucas, Percy Preston, Maria Munir, Jordan Briggs and Simon Bennett as they embark on their pupillage journey here at Doughty Street.
About Natalie
Before joining the Bar, Natalie trained and qualified as a solicitor at an international law firm, representing clients in high-value international arbitration and litigation claims. Prior to pupillage, Natalie was a legal officer at REDRESS focused on using sanctions and asset recovery mechanisms to hold human rights violators financially accountable, supporting groups on developing strategic litigation against torture particularly in protest and dissent-related contexts and promoting reparations for victims. In this role, she delivered training on the UK’s financial sanctions framework to civil society groups around the world, supported evidence gathering and led policy initiatives to improve the UK's use of sanctions. Natalie also spent time as a Visiting Professional at the International Criminal Court and has experience in preparing third party interventions before the European Court of Human Rights. Natalie is a general pupil and will build her practice in Administrative & Public Law, Actions against Police and Public Authorities, International Law, Business Crime, and Criminal Law.
Read more about Natalie here.
About Percy
Before joining the Bar, Percy worked as a copywriter, freelance writer, and paralegal at a top media law firm, where he handled media disputes and managed his own caseload. He has also contributed legal analysis on defamation, data protection, and privacy law for publications such as LexisNexisPSL and INFORRM. Percy is a Media and Information Law specialist pupil.
Read more about Percy here.
About Maria
Before joining the Bar, Maria was Associate Director for Community Engagement at an LGBTQ+ charity. They managed partnerships, delivered campaigns and policy on civil rights, education, and health equality, and identified opportunities for strategic litigation. Maria also led a cross-sector response to the Joint Committee on Human Rights COVID-19 Inquiry. Internationally recognised as a Human Rights Defender (‘HRD’) Maria was praised by President Obama for their trans rights advocacy and advised on UN reports on human rights, including as an Expert for the Special Rapporteur on HRDs. They also held leadership roles in various grassroots organisations, conducted fieldwork on migrant workers’ rights in Malaysia, and delivered equalities workshops for diverse audiences, from Amnesty International to solicitors’ firms. As a Detention Action volunteer, Maria also supported individuals in immigration detention. Maria's interests include the intersection of human rights, AI, and digital technology. Maria is a general pupil and will build their practice in Actions Against the Police and Public Authorities, Inquests and Public Inquiries, Immigration, Administrative & Public Law, International Law and Criminal Law.
Read more about Maria here.
About Jordan
Before coming to the Bar, Jordan spent two years working for a leading national law firm, in a team appointed Deputy for over one thousand clients’ property and financial affairs. There, he helped clients with a range of impairments resolve problems with their health and welfare and property and financial affairs, including those relating to accommodation, care, contact with others and estate planning.
Jordan also spent three years representing clients in social security benefits appeals, both in writing for the Citizens’ Advice Bureau and orally for the Free Representation Unit. In these appearances, before the First-tier Tribunal, Jordan secured over £200,000. Jordan is a Court of Protection specialist pupil.
Read more about Jordan here.
About Simon
Before joining the Bar, Simon worked as a Legal Caseworker for the trade union United Voices of the World, representing a membership predominantly of low-paid migrant workers in Employment Tribunal cases, including Equality Act, trade union detriment, and whistleblowing claims. Simon regularly appeared unassisted in the Tribunal, including in multi-day final hearings. He also volunteered for the Free Representation Unit, where he was successful in the Employment Appeal Tribunal. Additionally, Simon has significant experience in education law, having worked as a paralegal at Coram Children’s Legal Centre and as a volunteer for the School Exclusion Project. Simon is an employment specialist pupil.
Read more about Simon here.
For more information on any of our new pupils, please contact our Senior Clerks Sian Wilkins (Civil) and Matthew Butchard (Crime).
