We have a reputation for securing substantial damages in the most difficult cases and for pursuing innovative points of law to secure the best possible outcome for our clients. We are strongly committed to representing the vulnerable and the marginalised.
Garden Court is recognised as one of the leading chambers in the UK specialising in actions against the police and public authorities. Our barristers are highly ranked in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for police law, including Band 1 counsel.
Our barristers have very considerable expertise in holding the State to account and bringing private law claims against a range of public bodies.
We bring claims against
- All police forces in England and Wales
- The Metropolitan Police Service
- The Prison Service (via the Ministry of Justice)
- The Probation Service
- Private companies such as G4S and Serco
- Local Authorities
- Social Services
- NHS Hospital Trusts
- The Home Office (especially immigration detention)
our expertise
We specialise in pursuing a wide range of civil claims for our clients, including damages claims relating to:
- Post-inquest civil claims including breaches of Article 2 ECHR
- Breaches of Articles 3 & 4 ECHR investigative obligations on behalf of victims of trafficking and sexual offences
- Assault and battery and breaches of Article 3 ECHR
- False imprisonment, unlawful detention and breaches of Article 5 ECHR
- Trespass and breaches of Article 8 ECHR
- Protest cases and breaches of Articles 9, 10 and 11 of the ECHR
- Malicious prosecution
- Misfeasance in public office
- Negligence
- Discrimination claims under the Equality Act 2010 and Article 14 ECHR claims
Given some of the very real difficulties in obtaining public funding, we do our best to provide flexible fee arrangements, including Conditional Fee Agreements.
We also bring related judicial review challenges to individual decisions made by public bodies (such as the IOPD) as well as wider public law and human rights challenges to published policy.
