What Others Say About Us

Don't take our word for it, read what other people have said about our people, our work and our commitment

Within Leading claimant sets, Tooks Chambers ... is a first tier firm, "Tooks Chambers is excellent in claimant civil liberties, crime and immigration, and is recommended for public law and employment." - Legal 500 (2009)

Actions Against the Police & Inquests

Patrick Roche covers a broad spectrum of work, including criminal defence work, public law and actions against the police, and is considered "an extremely solid professional." He is "a fantastic practitioner with a lot of common sense." Chambers & Partners (2010) Police law

Hugh Southey's practice focuses on public law in the fields of human rights, prison law, crime, mental health, terrorism (including the Special Immigration Appeals Commission), immigration and election law. "He is an excellent advocate" who is particularly well known for his work on judicial reviews and appeared in the high-profile Saunders case. Chambers & Partners (2010) Police law

Tooks Chambers deals with a wide range of matters, including false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, misfeasance in public office, breach of confidence and negligence cases, as well as claims under the ECHR and related human rights claims. It also has expertise across a number of related areas, such as crime, discrimination, immigration and public law. Chambers & Partners (2010) Police law

Crime

The "intensely committed" Michael Mansfield QC of Tooks Chambers is a name known throughout the Bar and well beyond. He has over the years appeared in many of the most contentious and headline grabbing cases to come before the courts. Examples include the Birmingham Six and Angela Cannings, the acquitted ‘cot death' mother to name but two. Chambers & Partners (2010) Crime

Sensational trial attorney" Stephen Kamlish QC is ... praised by sources for "not being afraid of making judges angry while fighting his client's corner to the fullest. " He recently successfully served as defence counsel in R v Dr Mohammed Asha, a case concerning the London Tiger Tiger and Glasgow airport bombing conspiracy. Chambers & Partners (2010) Crime

Stephen Kamlish QC is 'the type of counsel that you could never go wrong with'. Legal 500 (2009) Crime

Peter Wilcock 'is all-round excellent'. Legal 500 (2009) Crime

Michael Mansfield QC specialises in cases with civil liberties features. Legal 500 (2009) Crime

Mentioned in very positive terms are Joel Bennathan QC, Danielle Cooper and Martin Huseyin Legal 500 (2009) Crime

Tooks Chambers is 'an excellent set of chambers with counsel of vast experience, and very efficient clerks'. Legal 500 (2009) Crime

Employment & Equality

Sandhya Drew of Tooks Chambers, "a tough opponent who fights her client's corner while preserving a personable manner." Chambers & Partners (2010) Employment

Jane Russell of Tooks Chambers appeared in Grimshaw (in the EAT); an ex-solicitor, she is noted for 'dedication' 'thorough preparation' and is 'very hardworking'. Legal 500 (2009) Employment

Human Rights & Civil Liberties

"Paul and Jude worked on this case willingly, with great dignity and professionalism, before UNMIK representatives. Such representation, for us, as the victims, was of very great importance and significance, giving us the hope that justice would overcome injustice."
Shaban Xheladini, father of the deceased, Arben Xheladini, writing on behalf of all the families whose relatives were killed or injured by UN operated police at a demonstration in Pristina, Kosovo in February 2007. They were represented by Jude Bunting and Paul Troop

Michael Mansfield QC has earned his excellent reputation through years of instructions in high-profile challenges, and much of his time has been spent on the inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Jean Charles de Menezes. Chambers & Partners (2010) Civil liberties

Hugh Southey acted in an Article 2 case concerning the police practice of conferring following a police shooting. Interviewees describe him as "truly exceptional, with a deep base of knowledge." His practice also includes prisons, immigration, terrorism and mental health. Chambers & Partners (2010) Civil liberties

Amanda Weston is "unstoppable on immigration related-issues," sources enthuse. She was involved in a test case regarding the procedure for challenging refusals of citizenship on human rights grounds. Chambers & Partners (2010) Civil liberties

Adam Straw already has a fine reputation as an intellectually sharp and level-headed advocate. His practice includes inquests, prisons, immigration detention, mental health, community care and public law. Chambers & Partners (2010) Civil liberties

Tooks Chambers is "a modern, progressive set," distinguished by its commitment to its clients and its intellectual prowess. Chambers & Partners (2010) Civil Liberties

Paul Troop covers a wide range of civil liberties and human rights work. Legal 500 (2009) Human rights and civil liberties

Amanda Weston 'has a wealth of experience' and 'a good tactical approach' Legal 500 (2009) Human rights and civil liberties

Hugh Southey 'continues to impress' with his 'analytical ability' and 'success rates' on HRA compatibility cases. Legal 500 (2009) Human rights and civil liberties

Michael Mansfield QC 's international war crimes work stands out. Legal 500 (2009) Human rights and civil liberties

Tooks Chambers wins plaudits for its 'friendly and open clerks' and 'prompt' responses when instructions are accepted. Legal 500 (2009) Human rights and civil liberties

Immigration Law

Abigail Smith makes her debut in the rankings, winning over sources with her "talent for making the management of a case that bit less stressful." Chambers & Partners (2010) Immigration

People like working with immigration, nationality and asylum specialist Glen Hodgetts because he "always gives realistic advice." Chambers & Partners (2010) Immigration

Amanda Weston's administrative and public law practice focuses on human rights and immigration. Sources describe a barrister who is "highly intelligent, instinctive, creative and great fun to work with." Chambers & Partners (2010) Immigration

Hugh Southey, another favourite among peers, who admit that "his capacity for lateral thinking and ability to construct a case from nothing are both outstanding." He maintains a broad public law practice, of which immigration is just one strand; he is also highly regarded for his work in prison law, crime, mental health and terrorism. Chambers & Partners (2010) Immigration

Rebecca Chapman is highly commended for her exquisite skeleton arguments, "inexhaustible creativity" and "clear, calm and persuasive advocacy." She possesses an enviable track record - "she almost always seems to win." Clients struggle to find fault with her .. Chambers & Partners (2010) Immigration

Many commentators regard Tooks Chambers as a natural choice for immigration work. Strength in depth, good service and fine clerking all go hand in hand at this set. Chambers & Partners (2010) Immigration

Glen Hodgetts is a 'bright lawyer with excellent drafting skills'. Legal 500 (2009) Immigration & nationality

Amanda Weston is 'highly recommended'. Legal 500 (2009) Immigration and nationality

Rebecca Chapman 'combines a deep knowledge of the law with a very pragmatic approach' Legal 500 (2009) Immigration and nationality

The 'excellent' Tooks Chambers is praised as 'user-friendly' and members are described as 'very bright and knowledgeable, with a good understanding of business needs' and are also praised for 'meeting deadlines promptly, without fuss or drama.' Headline cases for the 'quick' Amanda Weston include Trevor Smith (aka Busta Rhymes) & RockCorps, in relation to an allegation of unlawful detention. Legal 500 (2009) Immigration and nationality

Mediation

Lawrence Kershen QC is a "calm, alert and facilitative mediator who hides a hard edge." He brings a relaxed style to defamation, finance, professional negligence and personal injury disputes. His background as a trial advocate means he is extremely incisive and he has carved out a major presence in the mediation world. Chambers & Partners (2010) Dispute Resolution: Mediators

Public Law

Hugh Southey of Tooks Chambers focuses on public law and civil liberties, and has particular expertise in matters relating to prisons, crime, mental health, immigration, terrorism cases and election law. He has worked on a host of public law cases in these areas recently, and is hailed by instructing solicitors for his "ability to find novel points in a case." Chambers & Partners (2010) Administrative & Public Law

Hugh Southey of Tooks Chambers merits recognition for his 'imaginative approach' and 'attention to detail'. Legal 500 (2009) Administrative and public law

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