Barrister Profile

Main Areas of Practice

Administrative Law or Judicial Review
Criminal Law
Employment Law
Human Rights

Biography

Experience of administrative law and judicial review including cases addressing issues as varied as treatment of prisoners and criminal suspects, housing law, and public sector employment.

Experience dealing with those mistreated by the criminal justice system, including claims against the Chief Constable and Minister for Justice, and cases of wrongful arrest and unlawful imprisonment, failure to return seized property, and the law on questioning suspects generally.

Strong interest and experience in employment law and in particular public sector employment issues. Frequent experience in a variety of other fields including criminal, family and domestic cases, data protection and freedom of information issues and a wide range of civil claims.

Qualifications

2009; European Masters Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation, EIUC, Venice, Italy

2007; General and Specialised Courses in Human Rights Law and European Union Law European Academy of Law, European University Institute, Florence

2007; Certificate in Professional Legal Studies, Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Queen’s University, Belfast

2005; Law BA Hons, University of Cambridge (Girton College)2009; Funded Placement, European Union Delegation to China and Mongolia, Beijing, China - Work on rule of law and good governance projects, including those with multi-million euro funding. Projects included training human rights lawyers generally, and training key professionals on international law principles

2008; Stagiaire, Research Division, European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg, France - Research and report writing on issues raised in ongoing cases. Particular focus on conflict related cases and Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention

2006; UN accredited Electoral Observer to the Palestinian Legislative Council Elections

Experience

I have a strong academic background and professional experience in Human Rights including at the European Court of Human Rights, at the EU Delegation to China and with a variety of local and international NGOs. My background in human rights and conflict related issues has made me ideally qualified for conflict related cases, whilst my experience has provided me with particular understanding of the most appropriate remedies for victims, including judicial reviews, civil claims or seeking fresh Article 2 compliant inquests.

My work at prestigious intergovernmental institutions has provided experience dealing with professionals, politicians and senior diplomats. This experience has been used in practice at the Bar in dealing with a wide variety of clients. This also prepared me well for my work as an external consultant for both local and international NGO’s, providing advice on conflict related issues with both legal and political overtones.