Chez Cotton

Senior Consultant Solicitor

E: chez@goldjennings.co.uk

Chez specialises in police law, civil actions and inquests, with a broader practice encompassing strategic litigation, judicial review, discrimination law and human rights.  She has a proven track record of achieving successful outcomes for her clients and holding the police, state and public authorities to account.  Known for her tactical thinking and attention to detail, she works tirelessly to protect the rights, freedoms and reputation of her clients and to promote fairness and equality.   

 She has been involved in a number of important and high-profile cases in her areas of specialism.  These include the Panorama hospital abuse case, representing bereaved families at inquests, undercover policing, seeking redress for political journalists and protesters.  She is known for her ability to co-ordinate complex claims that combine litigation, campaigning and using the media.  She is recognised for pioneering work representing disabled prisoners, vulnerable young people and survivors of domestic abuse and violence. 

 Chez uses new legislation creatively in support of those most disadvantaged in society.  In private practice she has consistently been acknowledged 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: 

 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/11/race-equality-chief-tony-sewell-faces-legal-challenge-over-appointment 

 https://www.lag.org.uk/article/209553/human-rights-act-1998–scope-of-potential-claims-for-victims–relatives 

Chez joined Gold Jennings as a Senior Consultant Solicitor in 2019.

Chez trained at leading civil rights firm Christian Fisher, qualifying in 2000.  In 2002 she moved to specialist human rights firm Hickman and Rose, where she became a partner.  In 2008 she moved to Bindmans LLP to head the Police Misconduct team.  In 2014 she left 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 issues, most notably in Myanmar with the International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP).  She works with individuals, bereaved families, campaigning and action groups, journalists, unions and other organisations. She has provided legal training both nationally and internationally.

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 deals with all aspects of abuse/misconduct claims and public law challenges against the police and detaining authorities, arising from the criminal justice system.  She has a significant wider practice including judicial review, discrimination law and human rights, and inquests where she represents bereaved families.  She has considerable experience in areas relating to domestic violence and acting for survivors.  She is known for her tactical thinking, attention to detail and excellent client care. 

 In litigation Chez has a proven track record of achieving successful outcomes.  She is recognised as a skilled negotiating lawyer.  Many of her civil 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, strategic litigation, including winning one of the largest multi-party actions in a UK court (acting for over 100 claimants, with twelve test cases, relating to the  Fairford/Laporte Iraq war protest coach cases). 

Her areas of expertise include: 

  •  Strategic litigation 

 

  • Inquest and Public Inquiry work 

 

  • Civil claims against the police: 

 

  • False imprisonment, unlawful detention and loss of liberty; 
  • Assault and battery; 
  • Malicious prosecution; 
  • Misfeasance and misconduct in public office; 
  • Human rights breaches; 
  • Negligence and failure to investigate; 
  • Discrimination and claims under the equality act; 
  • Trespass to property or goods 

 

  • Judicial review, discrimination law and human rights claims 

 

  • Challenging policing decisions and police powers 

 

  • Privacy rights relating to the misuse and/or retention of data by the State 

 

  • Police complaints 

 

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.’ 

Image to follow

Chez Cotton

Senior Consultant Solicitor

E: chez@goldjennings.co.uk

Chez specialises in police law, civil actions and inquests, with a broader practice encompassing strategic litigation, judicial review, discrimination law and human rights.  She has a proven track record of achieving successful outcomes for her clients and holding the police, state and public authorities to account.  Known for her tactical thinking and attention to detail, she works tirelessly to protect the rights, freedoms and reputation of her clients and to promote fairness and equality.   

 She has been involved in a number of important and high-profile cases in her areas of specialism.  These include the Panorama hospital abuse case, representing bereaved families at inquests, undercover policing, seeking redress for political journalists and protesters.  She is known for her ability to co-ordinate complex claims that combine litigation, campaigning and using the media.  She is recognised for pioneering work representing disabled prisoners, vulnerable young people and survivors of domestic abuse and violence. 

 Chez uses new legislation creatively in support of those most disadvantaged in society.  In private practice she has consistently been acknowledged 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: 

 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/11/race-equality-chief-tony-sewell-faces-legal-challenge-over-appointment 

 https://www.lag.org.uk/article/209553/human-rights-act-1998–scope-of-potential-claims-for-victims–relatives 

Chez joined Gold Jennings as a Senior Consultant Solicitor in 2019.

Chez trained at leading civil rights firm Christian Fisher, qualifying in 2000.  In 2002 she moved to specialist human rights firm Hickman and Rose, where she became a partner.  In 2008 she moved to Bindmans LLP to head the Police Misconduct team.  In 2014 she left 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 issues, most notably in Myanmar with the International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP).  She works with individuals, bereaved families, campaigning and action groups, journalists, unions and other organisations. She has provided legal training both nationally and internationally.

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 deals with all aspects of abuse/misconduct claims and public law challenges against the police and detaining authorities, arising from the criminal justice system.  She has a significant wider practice including judicial review, discrimination law and human rights, and inquests where she represents bereaved families.  She has considerable experience in areas relating to domestic violence and acting for survivors.  She is known for her tactical thinking, attention to detail and excellent client care. 

 In litigation Chez has a proven track record of achieving successful outcomes.  She is recognised as a skilled negotiating lawyer.  Many of her civil 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, strategic litigation, including winning one of the largest multi-party actions in a UK court (acting for over 100 claimants, with twelve test cases, relating to the  Fairford/Laporte Iraq war protest coach cases). 

Her areas of expertise include: 

  •  Strategic litigation 

 

  • Inquest and Public Inquiry work 

 

  • Civil claims against the police: 

 

  • False imprisonment, unlawful detention and loss of liberty; 
  • Assault and battery; 
  • Malicious prosecution; 
  • Misfeasance and misconduct in public office; 
  • Human rights breaches; 
  • Negligence and failure to investigate; 
  • Discrimination and claims under the equality act; 
  • Trespass to property or goods 

 

  • Judicial review, discrimination law and human rights claims 

 

  • Challenging policing decisions and police powers 

 

  • Privacy rights relating to the misuse and/or retention of data by the State 

 

  • Police complaints 

 

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.’