Civil Liberties and Human Rights

"Garden Court Chambers boasts an impressive selection of silks and juniors offering broad-ranging expertise in the field of civil liberties and human rights."

Chambers UK Bar Guide

"A highly experienced claimant set, Garden Court Chambers regularly handles complex and high-profile human rights disputes, typically against public bodies. Members at the set have expertise across prison law, protest law, immigration detention and inquiries."

Chambers UK Bar Guide

"The clerks are very responsive, organised, friendly and helpful."

Chambers UK Bar Guide

"Recently several members appeared in the Undercover Policing Inquiry, examining the targeting of political activists, grassroots organisations, justice campaigns and politicians by undercover police officers since 1968."

Chambers UK Bar Guide

To contact the Civil Liberties Clerks, please email civillibertiesclerks@gclaw.co.uk or phone

+44 (0)20 7993 7600

Winner UK Bar Awards 2016 Human Rights and Public Law Set of the Year

Garden Court is recognised as one of the leading chambers in the UK specialising in civil liberties and human rights. We are highly ranked in both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners for our expertise in this area of law and we have a large number of individual barrister rankings, including Band 1 rankings.

Over 40 years ago, Garden Court Chambers was founded on a commitment to hold state agents to account and promote fundamental human rights and freedoms. These principles are reflected throughout our work and embodied in our motto, ‘Do right, fear no-one’.

Garden Court Chambers were shortlisted for the Civil Liberties and Human Rights Set of the Year Award 2020 by the Legal 500.

the work we do

We have a proud history of winning contested cases on behalf of claimants in domestic, pan-European and international courts. Our cases have advanced the law and we have overturned great injustices in landmark, often controversial decisions, including the Hillsborough inquests, the suspension of the Detained Fast Track for asylum-seekers and the Supreme Court case on anonymity for detained mental health patients.

We are instructed on high profile cases such as the Grenfell Inquiry, the Undercover Policing Inquiry and the Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry.

Working with our public law barristers, we also bring related judicial review challenges to individual decisions made by public bodies as well as wider public law and human rights challenges to published policy.

Garden Court Chambers won the Human Rights and Public Law Set of the Year Award at the Chambers Bar Awards 2016. Our team includes those who have been shortlisted and won awards such as the Liberty Human Rights Award and the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards.

 

our expertise

Garden Court’s strength lies in our inter-disciplinary expertise. As the largest chambers in London with over 200 barristers, we can offer an unrivalled breadth and depth of related expertise from our core civil liberties practice areas: claims against the police and public authorities, inquests and inquiries, prison law and immigration detention civil claims.

 

our commitment to civil liberties and human rights

Our civil liberties and human rights barristers have long worked with campaigning and other organisations such as INQUEST, Liberty, JUSTICE, Just for Kids Law, and the British Institute of Human Rights. A number of barristers are approved counsel for the Equality and Human Rights Commission. 

In addition, every member of chambers contributes to a ‘Special Fund’, which provides financial support for smaller organisations to carry out legal, campaigning or charitable work in defence of civil liberties, human rights and social justice.

 

Recent notable cases and news

Greenpeace Activists acquitted of protest on roof of former Prime Minister’s home

Owen Greenhall, co-convenor of the Garden Court Protest Law Team, represented all defendants at trial. He was instructed by Mike Schwarz of Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors.

20 September 2024

Protestor Marieha Hussain acquitted of racially aggravated public order offence after holding 'coconut' placard

Our Joint Head of Chambers, Rajiv Menon KC, represented Marieha Hussain, instructed by Birnberg Peirce.

16 September 2024

Louise Hooper contributes to 'The Law of Artificial Intelligence' Second Edition

Our Louise Hooper has contributed to Chapter 4: 'Human Rights' in The Law of Artificial Intelligence, second edition.

12 September 2024

Keir Monteith KC appears on Advancing Racial Equity Podcast: 'Confronting Racial Bias in the Justice System'

Keir Monteith KC of the Garden Court Crime Team spoke to Shereen Daniels in the latest episode of the Advancing Racial Equity Podcast.

11 September 2024

UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 3 public hearings open

Several Garden Court Barristers represent core participants at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry in Module 3.

9 September 2024

Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report finds fire was "culmination of decades of failure"

Members of the Garden Court Chambers Inquests & Inquiries Team were instructed in the Inquiry, including Rajiv Menon KC, Leslie Thomas KC, Allison Munroe KC and Thalia Maragh.

4 September 2024

David Jones assists in securing damages for falsely imprisoned client

David Jones of Garden Court Chambers was instructed by Haroon Karimdad and Bahar Ata of Duncan Lewis Solicitors.

24 July 2024

UK Covid-19 Inquiry publishes first report following Module 1

Members of the Garden Court Chambers Inquests & Inquiries Team are instructed in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, and represented Core Participants in Module 1.

19 July 2024

Steven Galliver-Andrew assists in swiftly securing release of long-term immigration detainee

Steven Galliver-Andrew of Garden Court Chambers was instructed by Satvir Sahota and Maniha Ahmad Khan of Duncan Lewis Solicitors.

16 July 2024

Alex Schymyck assists in securing release of vulnerable individual from immigration detention

Alex Schymyck of Garden Court Chambers represented the client, instructed by Tom Leahy and Gemma Lynch of Duncan Lewis Solicitors.

16 July 2024

Crown Prosecution Service drops charges against King's Cross Three

Rajiv Menon KC, Joint Head of Chambers, represented two defendants, Danae Thomas and Selma Taha, pro bono. Danielle Manson of Matrix Chambers represented the third defendant, Divina Riggon.

10 July 2024

Garden Court barristers deliver opening statements at Undercover Policing Inquiry

Several Garden Court barristers represent core participants at the Undercover Policing Inquiry.

3 July 2024

Inquest into the death of Zara Aleena concludes failures across multiple agencies contributed to her death

Rajeev Thacker of Garden Court Chambers represented the family of the deceased.

27 June 2024

New JUSTICE report finds current government contracting fails to protect the rights of individual service users

A new report, 'Beyond the Blame Game' by JUSTICE, outlines a responsible and rights-centred approach to government contracting. Our Connor Johnston and Una Morris assisted in consulting on this report project.

11 June 2024

Jury acquits Palestine Action activists on defences of Necessity and Protection of Property

Owen Greenhall of Garden Court Chambers and Mira Hammad of Garden Court North represented the defendants, instructed by Lydia Dagostino of Kellys Solicitors.

5 June 2024

HS2 injunction discharged over its northern leg

Stephen Simblet KC, Joint Head of Garden Court Chambers, represented the defendant, instructed by Nicola Hall of Robert Lizar Solicitors, Manchester.

24 May 2024

Friends of the Earth takes legal challenge against anti-protest injunctions to European Court of Human Rights

Friends of the Earth is represented in these proceedings by Stephanie Harrison KC, Stephen Clark and Fatima Jichi of Garden Court Chambers and by Wessen Jazrawi at the law firm Hausfeld.

24 May 2024

Inquest finds inadequate care contributed to death of Frazer Williams who took his life at HMP Guys Marsh

Paul Clark, of the Garden Court Chambers Inquests & Inquiries Team, represented Frazer’s Family, instructed by Maya Grantham of Leigh Day.

23 May 2024

Inquest finds inadequate care contributed to death of Frazer Williams who took his life at HMP Guys Marsh

Paul Clark, of the Garden Court Chambers Inquests & Inquiries Team, represented Frazer’s Family, instructed by Maya Grantham of Leigh Day.

23 May 2024

Greg Ó Ceallaigh KC secures damages for a British national unjustly detained by the Home Office

Greg Ó Ceallaigh KC of the Garden Court Public Law Team represented the claimant, instructed by Haroon Kamidad and Bahar Ata of Duncan Lewis.

22 May 2024

High Court finds government anti-protest legislation unlawful after legal challenge

Bijan Hoshi of Garden Court Chambers acted for the intervener, Public Law Project, led by Tom De La Mare KC and Tom Cleaver of Blackstone Chambers. Counsel were instructed by Herbert Smith Freehills LLP.

21 May 2024

Nick Bano, Ollie Persey and Mia Hakl-Law shortlisted for LALY Awards 2024

Our warmest congratulations to Nick, Ollie and Mia for this outstanding achievement.

20 May 2024

Just Stop Oil Protestor who sprayed New Scotland Yard sign cleared of Criminal Damage

Owen Greenhall is a member of the Garden Court Protest Team. He was instructed by Simon Natas of ITN Solicitors.

17 May 2024

High Court issues declaration of incompatibility finding that provisions in the Police Act unlawfully discriminate against Gypsies and Travellers

The successful claimant was represented by Marc Willers KC and Ollie Persey of Garden Court Chambers. Stephen Simblet KC and Nadia O’Mara of Garden Court Chambers acted for the First Intervener, Friends, Families and Travellers.

14 May 2024

Keir Monteith KC holds inaugural lecture at University of Manchester as Honorary Senior Lecturer

Keir Monteith KC is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Manchester within the School of Social Sciences.

3 May 2024

Dr Susie Alegre's new book 'Human Rights, Robot Wrongs: Being Human in the Age of AI' out today

Dr Susie Alegre, an associate tenant at Garden Court Chambers, has authored 'Human Rights, Robot Wrongs: Being Human in the Age of AI', published by Atlantic Books

2 May 2024

Garden Court barristers speak at 'Art Not Evidence: Issues and Implications of Prosecuting Rap'

Our Keir Monteith KC chaired the sold out event, with our Owen Greenhall and Audrey Cherryl Mogan of the Garden Court Crime and Civil Liberties Teams speaking.

1 May 2024

Peter Wilcock KC makes opening submission at UK Covid-19 Inquiry (Module 2C) Northern Ireland

Peter Wilcock KC, of the Garden Court Inquests & Inquiries team, represents Northern Ireland Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, instructed by Conal McGarrity of P.A. Duffy & Co Solicitors.

1 May 2024

Inquest for Muhammedou Mahrie Kinteh concludes restraint contributed to death

Christopher Williams of Garden Court Chambers represented the family of ‘Pa’, instructed by Kim Vernald of Taylor Rose Solicitors.

26 April 2024

European Court of Human Rights finds Swiss government violated Convention rights in a landmark climate justice ruling

Marc Willers KC and Richard Harvey, both of the Garden Court Chambers Environmental Law and Climate Justice Team, represent the Swiss Senior Women in Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland as part of an international legal team.

9 April 2024

Marguerite Russell features in Channel 4 documentary 'Defiance: Fighting the Far Right'

Defiance: Fighting The Far Right, the landmark Channel 4 documentary series will examine the political and social struggles faced by Britain’s Asian community between 1976 and 1981. The series will cover the Bradford 12's extraordinary trial. Marguerite R

3 April 2024

Inquest into the death of Sabina Rizvi returns a conclusion that she was unlawfully killed

The  Rizvi  family are represented by Rajiv Menon KC & Chris Williams of Garden Court Inquest & Inquiries Team, and solicitor Anna Moore of Leigh Day,  and have been supported by the charity INQUEST.

27 March 2024

The Team

Henry Blaxland KC

Year of Call: 1978

Year of Silk: 2002

Dexter Dias KC

Year of Call: 1988

Year of Silk: 2009

Rajiv Menon KC

Year of Call: 1993

Year of Silk: 2011

Peter Wilcock KC

Year of Call: 1988

Year of Silk: 2012

Stephanie Harrison KC

Year of Call: 1991

Year of Silk: 2013

Marc Willers KC

Year of Call: 1987

Year of Silk: 2014

Leslie Thomas KC

Year of Call: 1988

Year of Silk: 2014

Amanda Weston KC

Year of Call: 1995

Year of Silk: 2018

Stephen Simblet KC

Year of Call: 1991

Year of Silk: 2020

Allison Munroe KC

Year of Call: 1992

Year of Silk: 2020

Nicola Braganza KC

Year of Call: 1992

Year of Silk: 2022

Irena Sabic KC

Year of Call: 2002

Year of Silk: 2023

Joanne Cecil KC

Year of Call: 2005

Year of Silk: 2024

Greg Ó Ceallaigh KC

Year of Call: 2006

Year of Silk: 2024

Patrick Roche

Year of Call: 1977

Christopher Williams

Year of Call: 1988

Helen Curtis

Year of Call: 1992

Rajeev Thacker

Year of Call: 1993

Jacqueline Vallejo

Year of Call: 1997

Emma Favata

Year of Call: 1999

Marina Sergides

Year of Call: 2000

Felicity Williams

Year of Call: 2000

Kate Aubrey-Johnson

Year of Call: 2001

Tim Baldwin

Year of Call: 2001

Maha Sardar

Year of Call: 2002

Abigail Smith

Year of Call: 2003

Jodie Blackstock

Year of Call: 2003

Sarah Hemingway

Year of Call: 2006

Alex Grigg

Year of Call: 2007

Kirsten Heaven

Year of Call: 2007

Richard Reynolds

Year of Call: 2007

Hannah Wyatt

Year of Call: 2008

Thalia Maragh

Year of Call: 2009

Jacob Bindman

Year of Call: 2010

Paul Clark

Year of Call: 2010

Owen Greenhall

Year of Call: 2010

Gráinne Mellon

Year of Call: 2010

Taimour Lay

Year of Call: 2011

Maria Moodie

Year of Call: 2011

Una Morris

Year of Call: 2012

Michael Etienne

Year of Call: 2012

Stephen Clark

Year of Call: 2013

Natasha Shotunde

Year of Call: 2013

Audrey Cherryl Mogan

Year of Call: 2014

Franck Magennis

Year of Call: 2016

Zehrah Hasan

Year of Call: 2016

Luke McLean

Year of Call: 2017

Oscar Davies

Year of Call: 2018

Steven Galliver-Andrew

Year of Call: 2018

Elena Papamichael

Year of Call: 2021

Rachel Schon

Year of Call: 2018

Eva Doerr

Year of Call: 2019

Acland Bryant

Year of Call: 2019

Rehab Jaffer

Year of Call: 2019

Fatima Jichi

Year of Call: 2019

Isaac Ricca-Richardson

Year of Call: 2020

Alex Schymyck

Year of Call: 2020

Harry Harris

Year of Call: 2021

Josephine Fathers

Year of Call: 2022

Anna Morris KC

Year of Call: 2006

Year of Silk: 2023

James Mehigan

Year of Call: 2008

Dr Terry McGuinness

Year of Call: 2009

Dr Peter Dunne

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