"We cannot part with this case without paying tribute to the claimants\' legal advisers who although greatly outnumbered by the Secretary of State\'s legal team have persisted with their requests for disclosure skilfully and with commendable determination." (per Lord Justice Scott-Baker in R (on the application of Al-Sweady and Others) v The Secretary of State for Defence [2009] EWHC 2387 (Admin)).
Lord Justice Scott-Baker
Testimonials
Lord Justice Scott-Baker
"We cannot part with this case without paying tribute to the claimants\' legal advisers who although greatly outnumbered by the Secretary of State\'s legal team have persisted with their requests for disclosure skilfully and with commendable determination." (per Lord Justice Scott-Baker in R (on the application of Al-Sweady and Others) v The Secretary of State for Defence [2009] EWHC 2387 (Admin)).
02/10/2009
Chambers and Partners
Administrative and Public Law
"This niche Birmingham firm is well regarded for its work representing individuals in human rights claims. It enjoys a strong reputation for its representation of claimants affected by the \war on terror, having acted for Iraqi civilians and the families of British soldiers killed in Iraq. The firm has expertise in international human rights law and acts for Daoud Mousa and nine others in the Baha Mousa public inquiry."
KEY INDIVIDUALS Philip Shiner leads the team and is considered to be "committed, driven, determined and admirable."
Band 1 (Philip Shiner)
Band 2 (Firm)
Civil Liberties
"This public law firm is renowned for its cutting-edge work defending the human rights of individuals connected to the Iraq war. It recently won success in the landmark ECHR case which condemned the UK government for breaching international human rights law for subjecting two Iraqis to the fear of execution in Iraq."
"KEY INDIVIDUALS Philip Shiner is an outstanding civil liberties solicitor who handles "terrific, ground-breaking cases" and "never gives up fighting for his clients."Dan Carey has emerged as a force in his own right. He is praised for his involvement in significant human rights cases including Al-Sweady, Evans, Al-Haq and the Baha Mousa Inquiry."
Star Rating (Philip Shiner)
Associate to Watch (Dan Carey)
Band 2 (Firm)
10/11/2010
Lord Justice Richards
“We wish to pay tribute to the way the case has been handled by all concerned, albeit after a slow start on the part of the Secretary of State.” (per Lord Justice Richards in R (on the application of Maya Evans) v The Secretary of State for Defence [2010] EWHC 1445 (Admin))
12/10/2011
Michael Fordham QC
Public Interest Lawyers is an extraordinary firm of solicitors, who must be – certainly should be – the pride of the legal profession. Through their tenacity, quality and sheer hard work – often from unpromising beginnings and in dark times for public funding – they have single-handedly been responsible for shining the torchlight of legal accountability in a range of new areas. The work continues unabated. No barrister or judge, here or in Strasbourg, could have come to deal with the sorts of human rights issues which PIL continues to raise, but for their principled and brave pursuit of justice.
PIL demonstrates three further important things. First, how positive and constructive can be the use of public funding in public law cases, in the public interest. It has been hard. But PIL and the LSC have forged a partnership which is second to none, as to the importance of the cases that are brought, their success and their wider impact. Secondly, PIL demonstrates that London does not always lead, and a London-centric focus is neither helpful nor fair. This firm, from what are still sometimes thought of as “the provinces”, is the nation’s leader for human rights application in challenging cases. That PIL is looking, as a Birmingham-based firm. How refreshing for it to be that way.Thirdly, let it not be forgotten that PIL was set up as a new firm of solicitors. This is not the further and continued work of an established firm, set up long ago when times were different. This was an innovation; a leap of faith in the rule of law. It was a boat launched in a sea of uncertainty, which has turned out to be the flagship for public law accountability under the rule of law.
