Tooks Expertise Recognised by Chambers UK 2010

In the latest edition of Chambers UK published on the 11th November 2009 Tooks has been recognised as a leading set in Civil Liberties, Crime, Immigration and Police Law. Individual members have been recognised in Administrative and Public Law, Dispute Resolution and Employment.

Members of Tooks are ranked as Leaders at the Bar by Chambers UK 2010 in the following practice areas;

Administrative & 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."

Civil Liberties

Tooks Chambers is "a modern, progressive set," distinguished by its commitment to its clients and its intellectual prowess. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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. "Sensational trial attorney" Stephen Kamlish QC is at the same set and 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.

Also ranked in Crime are Joel Bennathan QC, Peter Wilcock & Tim Moloney.

Dispute Resolution: Mediators UK-wide

Lawrence Kershen QC

Employment

Sandhya Drew of Tooks Chambers, "a tough opponent who fights her client's corner while preserving a personable manner."

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. 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 or 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. 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." People also like working with immigration, nationality and asylum specialist Glen Hodgetts because he "always gives realistic advice." 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."

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. Its recent cases of importance include R (Saunders) v Independent Police Complaints Commission, which dealt with the question of whether Article 2 prevents police officers conferring following a shooting. 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. 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."

For full details of Tooks rankings follow the links below:

Chambers UK 2010 Profile for Tooks Chambers (Link)
Chambers UK 2010 Profile for Tooks Chambers (9MB PDF)

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