Our office is now closed until 9am on Friday 2nd January. If you have an emergency, please contact our out-of-hours number: 0777 423 8444. We look forward to working with you again in the new year.

In his first case back from almost 2 years of leave, Stephen Knight secured the quashing of an IPP sentence. Mr W had been sentenced to Imprisonment for Public Protection in 2009. He was over 14 years over tariff when Stephen took on his case.

Isabel Bertschinger represented the family of CW at the inquest into his death. The jury found CW’s medical cause of death (cocaine intoxication) was not identified by treating clinicians prior to CW’s death. It appeared in evidence that CW was not asked about drug use

Sophie Walker was instructed in a four-week inquest before Senior Coroner in East London Coroners Court into the death of Giedrius Vasiljevas. Giedrius was fatally shot by a Metropolitan Police firearms officer on the doorstep of his home after he called the police for help.

Rebecca Martin succeeded in appealing against a sentence of imprisonment for public protection. The Applicant received an IPP with a minimum term of 7½ years in 2010 for several armed robberies. He had served long past his tariff expiry date.

Our Crime Practice Group is firmly opposed to any attempt by the government to reduce access to trial by jury and increase sentencing powers in the magistrates’ and youth courts. We stand in solidarity with the vast majority of the Criminal Bar in committing to fight to stop these proposals.

This case was factually complex and garnered significant national media attention due to the tragic circumstances following the complainant’s suicide and the suggestion by some defendants that this matter was an ‘inside job’.

Dharsha Jegatheeswaran's client was charged with one count of religiously aggravated intentional strangulation.

We are looking forward to hearing our member Isabel Bertschinger speak at the Young Legal Aid Lawyers YLAL: 25 Years of the Human Rights Act London event on Tuesday 2nd December. Find out more and book your free tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ylal-25-ye...

Thank you to everyone who attended our immigration conference yesterday, both in person and online.

Rebecca's client received a suspended sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court for an offence of criminal damage. The Crown offered no evidence on a count of interfering with key national infrastructure & not guilty verdicts were entered.

Dharsha Jegatheeswaran represented two co-defendants charged with one count of aggravated trespass, arising from their activities as hunt monitors. On the day of trial, the Crown made an application for adjournment which Dharsha successfully resisted, forcing the trial to proceed.

Emma Stuart King gained a successful outcome in a claim for Judicial Review against a decision to refuse the client, ZR, entry clearance. Continue reading: onepumpcourt.co.uk/news/success...

In the case of R (ZO) v London Borough of Hounslow, Olivia Beach represented the Claimant at an urgent interim relief and permission hearing.

Allan Briddock represented a major delivery company in defending a Civil Penalty for allegedly employing an illegal worker at one of its depots. Despite the company requesting details of the individual encountered at the Objection stage

As the European Convention on Human Rights reaches its 75th anniversary, HRLA is marking this milestone with an in-person event on 11th November, 6-8pm: 'The European Convention on Human Rights: 75 Years On'. At Hogan Lovells, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2FG.

For more information, including the written Opening Statement on behalf of the NPSCPs and Oral Opening Submissions, click here: onepumpcourt.co.uk/news/the-und...

Don't miss our free webinar next Wednesday! Hear Rachel Francis and James Anthony Shaw provide an overview of post-placement and post-adoption contact, key issues in practice and relevant case law. Secure your place now > www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/family-aut...

One Pump Court has secured 32 rankings in the Chambers UK Bar Guide 2026. We’re very grateful to our clients for the incredible feedback they shared with Chambers and Partners. View our rankings and quotes here: chambers.com/law-firm/one...

This #BlackHistoryMonth, we’re proud to amplify the voices shaping the future of our profession. The Young Legal Aid Lawyers YLAL series started with an inspiring conversation between our member Patricia Tueje and YLAL’s Priya Pandya.

We are delighted to announce Ashleigh Herbert has joined our family team. Ashleigh is a specialist family law barrister, her main areas of expertise include financial remedies, private law children matters, care proceedings and domestic abuse.

Mirren Gidda represented the family of Benjamin ‘Ben’ Brown, whose inquest took place from 15 - 25 September at the Inner North London Coroner’s Court. The jury heard that Ben, a talented musician and composer who was sectioned at Homerton Hospital

One Pump Court has secured 33 rankings in the Legal 500 2026 guide. We are delighted with the incredible feedback received. Congratulations to everyone ranked!

Olivia Beach succeeded in a Section 204 appeal, which raised complex issues concerning jurisdiction. The appeal was allowed on the basis that the Local Authority who accepted that the conditions for referral were met, were not involved in the review decision

Eleri Griffiths succeeded in representing the appellant, who has multiple mental and physical health conditions, as well as PTSD relating in part to the Grenfell Fire and autism, following a severe adverse reaction to the accommodation offered due to its restrictive environment.

Maria, Sarah-Jane and Michelle represented the first, second and fourth defendants in a six-handed trial that lasted over three weeks. The case involved the highly publicised protest at the Grand National at Aintree in 2023.

Following a guilty plea on the first day of trial to three counts of being concerned in the supply of class A (cocaine and heroin), he was sentenced to an 18-month Community Order with 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days and 80 hours unpaid work.

Keelin McCarthy represented a small business in a successful appeal against a £45,000 civil penalty imposed for alleged employment of a person who did not have the right to work. The appeal was allowed, penalty discharged, and costs awarded to the restaurant.

Meghan Curran represented the family of Alex Duce in an inquest taking place between 11th and 22nd August 2025. Alex died in hospital of self-inflicted injuries on 16 September 2022, following police forcing entry to her flat and finding her on 11 September 2022.

Sarah-Jane Ewart secured acquittals in a criminal trial in which protestors were charged with public nuisance.

On Tuesday, 23 September, Allan Briddock and Keelin McCarthy will discuss the civil penalty regime. These penalties have risen since April 2024 to a maximum of £60,000 per worker, potentially devastating small businesses. Find out more and secure your free space: www.eventbrite.com/e/civil-pena...

Daniel Grütters represented Bonnie Newton’s family in the inquest into her death, after a 6-year-long battle for answers following her death in an understaffed private mental health hospital.

Keelin McCarthy represented an elderly Indian couple who sought to join their son/sponsor in the UK under the notoriously difficult adult dependant relatives (ADR) route. The Upper Tribunal allowed the appeal, finding that the appellants met all the requirements of the ADR route.

Kitan Ososami appeared in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division after the Single Judge granted leave for an out-of-time application to appeal against sentence.

Ben Bundock was part of the legal team responsible for securing a judgment & order quashing the Foreign Secretary's refusal to provide consular assistance to a family of six Palestinians in Gaza, which they need to leave Gaza & join their British citizen family member in the UK

Over the course of the five-week trial the jury were told that Grace’s client, along with four others, conspired to steal and actioned the thefts of dozens of vehicles in Essex. The group allegedly conspired to steal the cars for onward exportation overseas.

Grace Cowell and Kitan Ososami represented two defendants charged with failing to comply with s.14 Public Order Act conditions.

We are proud to announce that our member Parosha Chandran is the co-author of a comprehensive, free online course published by the Council of Europe to combat trafficking in human beings. Find out more here: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

Divisional Court declare there is no costs jurisdiction in SIAC Reviews. The judgment is available here: caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewhc/admin/2...

Nearly Legal has two new posts up on its blog, discussing two of Daniel’s recent s.204 appeals.

Olivia Beach acted for the successful Claimant in a recent case where the Local Authority’s decision to treat him as an adult so that he was not entitled to support under the Children Act 1989, was irrational. Olivia was instructed by Abigail Briggs and Scott Laing at Bhatia Best Solicitors.

Frank is a second six pupil, accepting instructions in housing, immigration & inquests. Read the HM Coroner’s findings and BBC news coverage here: www.onepumpcourt.co.uk/cases/inques... Frank was instructed by Daniel Cooper of Imran Khan and Partners Solicitors.

Kitan was instructed by Sarah Moulange of Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors. Read the full case information here: www.onepumpcourt.co.uk/cases/r-v-aj/

Mirren Gidda represented the family of Amer Ali Fareed, whose inquest took place between 23 June and 27 June 2025 at Surrey Coroner’s Court. Read the full details of this case and the jury's findings here: www.onepumpcourt.co.uk/cases/inques...

This case first appeared to have strong footings but over time the land moved from initially suspecting the mother to clearing her and returning the child to her at the end of the fact-finding hearing. Read more, including the full judgment here: www.onepumpcourt.co.uk/cases/re-a-c...

My @onepumpcourt.co.uk colleague Ben Bundock was part of the team for the family, instructed by @bindmans.com with Tim Owen KC and Tim James-Matthews of Matrix. Congratulations to all. Judgment here www.judiciary.uk/judgments/be...

Society is not equal. We use the law to level the field. Using fearless advocacy and professionalism, One Pump Court provides access to justice for the vulnerable and disadvantaged and fights poverty, abuse, neglect and discrimination.

Universal credit was denied to the client on the basis that (i) they did not meet the threshold for 'destitution' in AT, and (ii) that they fell out of the scope of AT as she was not exercising EU Treaty rights on the day of 31 December 2020.

For more information and to read the Prevention of Future Deaths Report, click here: lnkd.in/eW35rnGy Isabel was instructed by Iftikhar Manzoor of Hudgell Solicitors.

We are delighted to announce Mirren Gidda has joined our Civil and Public Law Group, Housing and Community Care Group and Inquests and Public Inquiries Team.