Joel Bennathan QC

Joel Bennathan QC has defended in virtually every major terrorist trial in recent years. He has also acted in cases of murder, fraud and armed robbery. A significant part of his work consists of appeals to the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords and the European Court of Human Rights, including a large number of referrals by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. In the last two years Joel has had convictions for murder and terrorist offences overturned in the Court of Appeal, has won a landmark decision in the House of Lords and has argued against the excessive use of the statements of absent witnesses in the European Court.

Outside the criminal field, Joel has considerable experience in litigating the effects of crime in the civil courts, having acted for numerous claimants in actions against the police and in a successful High Court action suing for murder. He is now representing torture victims seeking justice against the United Kingdom for its alleged complicity in their illegal detention and torture abroad.

Extradition law: Joel has written and broadcast about the Extradition Act 2003, opposing the special status given to the USA. He has recently concluded an appeal seeking to prevent an extradition to the United States on the grounds of breaches of his client's human rights.

Chambers & Partners describe Joel as the counsel of choice for many solicitors due to his "calm authority and approachability". So impressed was one source that he called Bennathan "the most intelligent man I have ever met".