What others say

Chambers UK 2008

Chambers UK ranks Public Interest Lawyers 2 in the UK (Best of UK (Band 2)) for Administrative and Public Law, Civil Liberties and Environmental Law.

Phil Shiner is accredited with "Star performer" status in Civil Liberties and ranked 1 for Administrative & Public Law and Enviornmental law.

 

Civil Liberties

“Constantly looking for cases that push forward human rights law and challenge the government,” this compact practice has had a “huge impact.” Although the firm’s focus is narrow, with much of its activity related to the war in Iraq, there was no doubt about the “ground-breaking nature” of the work it carries out. For example, the team is acting on behalf of Iraqi civilians in the case of Al-Skeini, a test case that will establish whether the ECHR applies to actions of UK soldiers wherever they are serving abroad.”

"Philip Shiner does the hardest and most controversial cases - and does them brilliantly.” Commentators are struck by his “willingness to take work on, even though it may be unpopular.””

“In R (Gentle and others) v the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State for Defence, the firm assisted on a case on behalf of the mothers of two British soldiers who were killed while serving in Iraq. They questioned the legality of the war and accordingly raised the issue of the breach of the soldiers’ right to life under Article 2 of the ECHR. The firm is also assisting Peace Tax Seven, a group which has commenced a judicial review action based on Article 9 of the ECHR, objecting to paying the percentage of their taxes spent on military activities.”

Administrative and Public Law

“This “extremely important” firm has securely established its reputation as a group that “consistently looks for cases that push the envelope in human rights terms, both at home and abroad.” It has carried out a bulk of war and peace-related work over the past year, including testing the legality of the war in Iraq in R (Gentle and others) v the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State for Defence. It also represented Diana Elias, who was detained during the Second World War in Stanley Camp in Hong Kong and denied compensation paid to other prisoners of war under the government's Far Eastern Prisoner of War scheme in 2000. The firm is also acting for Peace Tax Seven, a group which has commenced a judicial review action objecting to paying the military percentage of their taxes."

"“One of a kind” solicitor Phil Shiner is the lynchpin of the practice and the subject of widespread admiration from the market. “Committed, passionate and bright,” he has a reputation for doing cutting-edge work that has made a significant impact on human rights. “He works so hard on his cases - he’s not afraid to be faced with a wall and he will fight on,” say admiring peers.”

Environment

“Led by the “excellent and knowledgeable” environmental and human rights expert Philip Shiner, this team was involved in a number of high-profile cases including an action of two claimants against Tamworth Borough Council for its adoption of the Tamworth Local Plan 2001-2011 and its allocation of the Anker Valley, the last significant remaining greenfield site in the Tamworth area, for the development of 800 houses. Its workload includes compulsory purchase matters, disputes and judicial reviews in connection with the government-sponsored Pathfinder scheme on urban regeneration, environmental impact assessments, farming and the application of the Waste Framework Directive. It successfully represented two individual members of the Derker Community Action Group in a judicial review of the planning permissions granted by Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council under the Pathfinder scheme allowing the demolition of their homes as well as those of 257 individuals and families in the Derker ward of Oldham.”

 

Chambers Guide 2007

 

On human rights law

“This firm impresses with its tireless commitment to human rights both at home and abroad. Expanding in the international arena, the team is currently acting in cases on behalf of Iraqi civilians who have been killed during the occupation of Iraq. The team represents Ali Al-Jedda, a terror suspect with dual nationality held in Basra.”

“Star Philip Shiner is admired for his “ground-breaking work on fantastically important Iraqi human rights cases.” Never one to shy away from the most difficult and controversial of cases, it is agreed that he is “making law at the highest of levels.” Shiner was recently successful acting for the appellant in Al-Skeini v Secretary of State for Defence in the Court of Appeal, which concerned using the HRA to bring about accountability for the treatment of civilians in occupied territory.”

On adminstrative and public law

“The firm has intensified its focus on international human rights. Alongside its work on the House of Lords’ consideration of Iraq-related cases such as Al-Skeini, the team has extended its operations to include public law matters brought in Palestine, Colombia, Australia and Zimbabwe. Leading for the claimant in the case of Al-Jedda underscores the team's commitment to human rights in Iraq, in its exploration of the rights of a British national detained by British forces in Basra without charge.”

“Phil Shiner is without doubt the driving force of the practice, and is praised by clients for his “fantastically important cases” and achievement in “making law at the highest levels.””

On environmental law

“Public Interest Lawyers’ work in the environmental sector is complemented by its wide-ranging human rights practice. Judicially reviewing decisions relating to waste sites such as landfills, incinerators and transfer stations on behalf of claimant groups lies at the core of the practice. The team achieved a successful outcome for Herefordshire Waste Watchers in a judicial review relating to a waste transfer station. Heading the practice is the “incredibly tenacious” Philip Shiner, regarded as a “lateral thinker” who is “not afraid of a battle.””

LEGAL 500

On administrative and public law

The 2003 Legal 500 entry read as follows:

“In Birmingham, Public Interest Lawyers has a claimant practice with a national client base. Practice head Phil Shiner is described as “very creative, hardworking and tenacious - a good guy to have on your side”. A highlight of 2002 was securing a headline-grabbing victory for CND in R (CND) v The Prime Minister, when CND was granted a pre-emptive capping of costs at £25,000, since there were issues of genuine public importance in its challenge to the legality of a war in Iraq.”

Al Skeini Court of Appeal judgment 2005

Lord Justice Brookes commented in paragraph 141 of the judgment:

“All that it is then necessary to say before leaving this appeal is that in my view the claimants’ lawyers, and particularly their solicitor, Mr Phil Shiner, have rendered a valuable public service in bringing forward their clients claims and prosecuting them with such conspicuous skill and vigour”