Chez has been involved in a number of important and high profile cases in her areas of specialism. These include the Panorama hospital abuse case, undercover policing, redress for political journalists/NUJ and major environmental and political protests. She is known for her ability to co-ordinate large scale claims that combine litigation, campaigning and using the media. One of the most influential lawyers of her generation, she is recognised for pioneering work representing disabled prisoners and vulnerable young people who have been mistreated within the justice system.
Chez uses new legislation creatively in support of those most disadvantaged in society. In private practice she has consistently been recognised as a ‘key individual’ in claims against the police. In the Chambers and Partners legal directory she has been described as a ‘razor sharp, reliable and shrewd’ lawyer who is ‘incredibly down to earth and easy to get on with.’
Chez is a regular speaker at seminars, conferences, public debates and rallies throughout the UK and internationally, on the right to protest, freedom of expression, disability rights and rule of law issues. Her work has featured on Newsnight, BBC News, Radio 4 and in the Guardian, Independent and Private Eye, amongst others, as well in international media:
She trained at leading civil rights firm Christian Fisher, qualifying in 2000 and joining the Action Against Police team, under Sadiq Khan. In 2002 she moved to specialist human rights firm Hickman and Rose, where she became a partner. In 2008 she moved to head the Police Misconduct team at Bindmans LLP. In 2014 she left to focus on consultancy and international work, particularly in relation to the right to protest/freedom of expression, and training on rule of law issues, most notably in Myanmar with the International Senior Lawyers Project. She works with individuals, campaigning and action groups, journalists, unions and other organisations.
Chez is a former chair/co-ordinator (2002-2014) and current member of the Police Actions Lawyer Group (PALG). She is a member of the Legal Action Group (LAG).
LLB: Law (London School of Economics)
LPC (BPP Law School)
A skilled negotiator, Chez has a long history of getting positive results for those she represents. Many of her cases settle at an early stage, with damages, destruction of DNA data/fingerprints/photographs and apologies, often without the need to issue proceedings.
Chez has considerable experience in running complex, large scale, strategic litigation, including succeeding at trial in one of the largest multi-party actions in the UK courts (acting for over 100 claimants, with twelve test cases, relating to the Fairford/Laporte Iraq war protest coach cases).
Her areas of expertise include:
In the Chambers and Partners legal directory she has been described as ‘extremely practical and passionate about getting the result, whilst always remaining completely realistic’.
Her areas of expertise include:
In 2002 she moved to specialist human rights firm Hickman and Rose, where she became a partner. In 2008 she moved to Bindmans to head the Police Misconduct team. She left in 2014 to focus on consultancy and international work, particularly in relation to the right to protest/freedom of the expression, and training on rule of law and related issues, most notably in Myanmar with the International Senior Lawyers Project. She works with individuals, journalists, campaigning and action groups, unions and other organisations.
Chez is a former chair/co-ordinator (2002-2014) and current member of the Police Actions Lawyer Group (PALG). She is a member of the Legal Action Group (LAG).
LLB: Law (London School of Economics)
LPC (BPP Law School)
Chez has been involved in some of the most important and high profile cases in this area, including G20, undercover policing, Fairford/Laporte multi-party action, redress for political journalists/NUJ, Climate Camp, The Thirst (Brixton band, arrested at gunpoint), as well as pioneering work representing disabled prisoners and vulnerable young people who have been mistreated within the justice system. She has a particular interest in strategic litigation and using new legislation creatively in support of those most disadvantaged in the criminal justice system.
In private practice Chez has consistently been recognised as a ‘key individual’ in claims against the police. In the Chambers and Partners legal directory she has been described as ‘extremely practical and passionate about getting the result, whilst always remaining completely realistic’ and ’a razor sharp, reliable and shrewd’ lawyer who is ‘incredibly down to earth and easy to get on with.’
Chez is a regular speaker at seminars, conferences, public debates and rallies throughout the UK and internationally, on the right to protest, freedom of expression, disability rights and rule of law issues. Her work has featured on Newsnight, BBC News, Radio 4 and in the Guardian, Independent and Private Eye, amongst others, as well in international media.