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|  Court Challenge to EU referendum | |
| Stuart Wheeler was today granted permission to launch a High Court challenge into whether the government should hold a referendum on the EU’s Lisbon Treaty. |
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| Human Rights "apply to UK troops" | |
| A claim to quash the inquest into the death of Private Smith in Iraq. The coroner conceded that the inquest should be quashed. The coroner and Secretary of State for Defence conceded on a limited basis that Private Smith was subject to UK jurisdiction including because he was on a military base when he died. |
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| House of Lords ruling concerning Iraq war | |
| The House of Lords gave judgment today in R(Gentle and Clarke) v Prime Minister and others [2008] UKHL 20. |
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| Othman (Jordan) v SSHD [2008] | |
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| AS & DD (Libya) v SSHD & Anor [2008] | |
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| Civil action begins against Omagh suspects | |
| The civil action against five Real IRA suspects accused of carrying out the 1998 Omagh bombing has begun. |
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| Hague court acquits Kosovo ex-PM | |
| After a trial before the International Criminal Tribunal in the Hague, Ramush Haradinaj, the former Prime Minister of Kosovo, was on the 3 Apr 2008 acquitted of all charges against him, including those of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ben Emmerson QC and Rod Dixon of Matrix Chambers represented Mr Haradinaj. |
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| Death-row appeals | |
| On 21 Feb 2008 the Privy Council quashed the convictions of Patrick Robateau and Leslie Pipersburgh who had each been sentenced to death in Belize for four murders and one attempted murder. |
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| Two landmark judgments handed down by the Court of Appeal | |
| On 1 February 2008, two landmark judgments were handed down by the Court of Appeal concerning prisoners and the Parole Board. |
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| Iraq and the law: what went wrong? Podcast by Rabinder Singh QC | |
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| Met guilty over De Menezes shooting | |
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| The House of Lords gave judgment today in a series of appeals relating to the legality of ‘control orders’ | |
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| Legal 500 2007 / 2008 Directory Recommendations | |
| Matrix members received 74 recommendations in 17 practice areas. |
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| UN Law of the Sea - Guyana Suriname Dispute | |
| Philippe Sands QC and Blinne Ni Ghralaigh acted for Guyana in arbitration proceedings brought under Part XV of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. |
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| 7 Sep - Parole Board not sufficiently independent to be "court" | |
| The High Court held that the Parole Board was not sufficiently independent of the Secretary of State in order to carry out functions as a court for the purposes of ECHR, art 5(4). |
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| 7 Aug - Climate protesters banned from disrupting airport | |
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| House of Lords holds that HRA applies to British forces outside UK | |
| The House of Lords gave judgment today in a set of test cases Al-Skeini & Others v. Secretary of State for Defence. By a majority of 4-1 the House of Lords upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal, that in principle the Human Rights Act does apply to UK public authorities when they act outside the territory of the UK in relation to a person who is within the “jurisdiction” of the UK within the meaning of Article 1 of the ECHR. |
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| Government attempt to deport terrorist suspects to Libya on the basis of diplomatic assurances fails | |
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| House of Lords Judgment in Hurst, Jordan and McCaughey | |
| Judgment has been given in these three important cases concerned with the scope of inquests and related maters with respect to those who died before 2nd October 2000. |
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| 21 March - Landmark proportionality decision | |
| This judgment has finally achieved clarity in this difficult area of law. |
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| 16 Feb - SSHD v E | |
| 'E' today successfully resisted the imposition of a control order based on a 12 hour curfew and other obligations preventing meetings outside the home or visitors to the home without consent. |
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| Feb 9 - Breaking News | |
| Matrix is delighted to announce the appointment of Sam Grodzinski and Kieron Beal to the Attorney General’s A Panel, and Eleni Mitrophanous to the B Panel.
These appointments consolidate Matrix’ strong team who undertake Government work, and gives effect to Matrix’ core value commitment to practice diversity. We congratulate them and wish them every success. |
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| Feb 8 - Matrix members in consumer damages claim for football shirts cartel | |
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| Feb 5 - A new legal front against terrorism | |
| A federal judge in New York refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by families of suicide bombing victims whose perpetrators were members of specially designated terrorist groups named by the U.S. government. |
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| 2 Feb Care transfer no breach of human rights | |
| The proposed transfer of a care home from public to private control would not breach the residents’ rights to respect for family life guaranteed by article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. |
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| Jan 12 - Judges quash murder conviction after 14 years | |
| A man jailed for life in 1993 for the gangster-style killing of a retired science teacher had his conviction quashed today by the court of appeal. |
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| 21 Dec Prince Charles wins journals privacy battle | |
| The Prince of Wales had an “overwhelming” case for the protection of his private journals three of the country’s top judges have ruled. |
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| 12 Dec - Banks' £30 penalty on £4.50 service | |
| Banks are imposing a mark-up on current account penalty charges of up to 1,100 per cent. |
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| 13 Dec - House of Lords rule in favour of RAF Fairford Protestors | |
| R (Laporte) v Chief Constable of Gloucestershire [2006]
Extent to which police may take action to prevent a breach of the peace - whether action reasonable & proportionate - HRA 1998 - right to peaceful assembly - anti-war demonstration at RAF Fairford.
Ben Emmerson QC & Rabinder Singh QC were involved in this case. |
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| 13 Dec - Rabinder Singh QC receives Liberty/JUSTICE Human Rights Lawyer of the Year Award | |
| Rabinder Singh QC received the Award for 'his outstanding commitment to human rights. For his extraordinary intellect and advocacy of the rule of law’. |
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| Matrix directory recommendations | |
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| 10 Nov - Coroner verdict on Iraq death | |
| Matrix member Jessica Simor acted for the family of Pte Jason Smith, who died in August 2003 in Al Amarrah after his body temperature soared to 41.1C. |
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| 2 Nov - 'Unjustifiable discipline' - key case | |
| James Laddie acted for Mrs Massey in her claim for compensation against the trade union on whose National Executive Committee she used to sit. |
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| SSHD v K (FC); Fornah (FC) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2006) | |
| Rabinder Singh QC and Nicholas Blake QC were involved in this case concerning the law relating to social group persecution within the meaning of the Refugee Convention. |
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| Terry Lloyd Inquest Verdict (2006) | |
| ITN journalist Terry Lloyd found by coroner to have been unlawfully killed by American foces in Iraq.
Danny Friedman represented ITN in the inquest into Mr Lloyd's death. |
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| Secretary of State for Defence v Elias (2006) | |
| The Court of Appeal today (10 Oct 2006) gave judgment in Secretary of State for Defence v Elias in favour of the respondent, Mrs Elias. |
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| Albion Water Ltd & Anor v Water Services Regulation Authority & Ors (2006) | |
| Rhodri Thompson QC and John O'Flaherty score another landmark competition law victory in the water industry. |
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| R v Dunlop (2006) | |
| Tim Owen QC, Hugh Tomlinson QC and Alex Bailin appeared in the first 'double jeopardy' case. |
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| 16 August - Pardon for WW1 Soldiers | |
| The Ministry of Defence that more than 300 soldiers who were shot for military offences during World War One will receive formal pardons. |
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| S and Others v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2006) | |
| Rabinder Singh QC in this victory for Afghans in Government’s failed appeal |
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| JJ v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2006) | |
| Raza Husain and Danny Friedman acted for two of the six men who have successfully challanged the legality of their control orders in the Court of Appeal. |
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| Wilkinson v Kitzinger & Ors (2006) | |
| Karon Monaghan and Helen Mountfield acted in this challenge to non-recognition of a same-sex Canadian marriage. |
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| GNER v Office of Rail Regulation (2006) | |
| Matrix barristers Rabinder Singh QC, Rhodri Thompson QC, Jessica Simor and Helen Mountfield acted in an EC challenge to railway charging regime |
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| R (Gentle & Ors) v Prime Minister & Ors (2006) | |
| Rabinder Singh QC appeared for the families of four soldiers killed on duty in Iraq who are seeking a judicial review of the government’s decision not to hold an independent inquiry into the invasion of Iraq. |
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| J v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2006) | |
| Nicholas Blake QC represented 'J', an Iranian homosexual. The Court of Appeal held that a person could not be refused asylum on the basis that he could avoid otherwise persecutory conduct by modifying his behaviour. |
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| KK v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2006) | |
| Raza Husain and Danny Friedman acted for two of the six men who have successfully challanged the legality of their control orders before the Administative Court. |
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| GG v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2006) | |
| Rabinder Singh QC successfully represented nine Afghans denied leave to enter UK. |
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| Inquest of James Miller (2006) | |
| Danny Friedman acted for the family of James Miller, a British cameraman shot dead in the Gaza Strip. |
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| Villalba v Merrill Lynch (2006) | |
| Thomas Linden was lead counsel for Merrill Lynch in an appeal brought by former investment banker Stephanie Villalba. |
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| Albion Water v Director General of Water Services | |
| Rhodri Thompson QC and John O'Flaherty appeared for Albion Water in the first successful appeal brought against OFWAT before the Competition Appeal Tribunal |
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| The Deepcut Review | |
| The independent report in to the deaths at Deepcut, conducted by Nicholas Blake QC, has been published |
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| R (Begum) v Headteacher and Governors of Denbigh High School (2006) | |
| Cherie Booth QC and Eleni Mitrophanous appeared in this House of Lords concerning exclusion from school on the grounds of refusal to follow uniform requirements. |
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| R v Sion Jenkins (2006) | |
| Sion Jenkins was acquitted of the murder of his foster daughter Billie-Jo, after a second re-trial in which the jury failed to reach a verdict. Julian Knowles defended Mr Jenkins. |
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| Cancer drug judicial review (2006) | |
| Bristol Primary Care Trust has been ordered to pay for the cancer fighting drug herceptin for a nurse with breast cancer. Jessica Simor is acting for the Claimant. |
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| Galloway damages appeal ruling (2006) | |
| Heather Rogers acted for Mr Galloway in The Telegraph's appeal against the award of libel damages to George Galloway MP. |
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| 21 December - HRA can apply outside UK | |
| Court of Appeal holds that Human Rights Act can apply to British authorities outside territory of UK.
The Court of Appeal today gave judgment in R (Al-Skeini & Others) v. Secretary of State for Defence |
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| Kyprianou v Cyprus (2005) | |
| Kyprianou v Cyprus (App No. 73797/01) ECtHR
Case raising Articles 6 and 10 of the ECHR |
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| 14 December - 50th member to join Matrix | |
| We are delighted to announce that established junior Lorna Skinner will be joining Matrix in January 2006, to strengthen our Media and Information law team. |
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| A & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2005) | |
| Judgment given in A & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department; A & Ors (FC) & Anor v Secretary of State for the Home Department (conjoined appeals) |
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| 16 November - Prof Chinkin joint ASIL award | |
| Professors Christine Chinkin and Hilary Charlesworth have been jointly selected by the American Society of International Law (ASIL) to receive the 2006 Goler T. Butcher Medal. |
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| 28 November - Bomber's family acquitted | |
| Acquittals in R v Parveen Sharif; R v Zahid Sharif |
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| British Salt and NCSW Merger Clearance | |
| The Competition Commission has reversed its Provisional Finding regarding the merger between British Salt and New Cheshire Salt Works. |
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| Jersey Produce Marketing Organisation Ltd v States of Jersey and anor (Case C-293/02) (2005) | |
| European Court of Justice has declared the Jersey Potato Export Marketing Scheme illegal, following a challenge by potato marketing organisations. |
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| R v Secretary of State for the Home Department ex parte Limbuela (2005) | |
| R v Secretary of State for the Home Department ex parte Adam;
R v Secretary of State for the Home Department ex parte Limbuela;
R v Secretary of State for the Home Department ex parte Tesema |
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| R (Greenpeace Ltd) v Secretary of State for Environment Fisheries and Rural Affairs (2005) | |
| Rhodri Thompson QC appeared for the Secretary of State in R (Greenpeace Ltd) v Secretary of State for Environment Fisheries and Rural Affairs |
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| Harris v Secretary of State for Defence - WWI 'shell-shock' case review | |
| Harris v Secretary of State for Defence |
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| Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust v Charlotte Wyatt - 21 October | |
| Court's non-ventilation decision over-turned in the case of chronically-ill toddler Charlotte Wyatt. |
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| Recommendations in Chambers & Partners, 2006 | |
| Chambers and Partners UK guide 2006 ranks Matrix as a set in 13 different practice areas |
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| Re. Kwame Wiredu - Inquest into death in custody (2005) | |
| Alison Macdonald represented the son of Mr Wiredu, who died of a heart attack in Stoke Newington police station, at this inquest. |
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| Matrix member, David Wolfe, appointed to the Legal Services Commission | |
| David Wolfe has been appointed as a non-executive member of the Legal Services Commission |
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| Hatfield rail crash corporate manslaughter and health & safety prosecution | |
| Alex Bailin of Matrix was part of Network Rail’s legal team in the corporate manslaughter and health & safety prosecution arising from the Hatfield rail crash, which concluded today. |
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| Hirst v The United Kingdom (No.2) - Prisoners' voting rights | |
| CASE OF HIRST v THE UNITED KINGDOM (NO. 2)
Rabinder Singh QC in Grand Chamber judgment about whether prisoners should be given right to vote under ECHR |
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| Lesbian couple married in Canada - UK rights | |
| Karon Monaghan is instructed by Liberty in the case of a British lesbian couple, married lawfully in Vancouver, seeking legal recognition by British government of their same-sex marriage. |
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| The Countryside Alliance v Attorney General (2005) | |
| Rabinder Singh QC and Kate Cook represented the RSPCA in a challenge brought by the Countryside Alliance and others to the Hunting Act 2004. |
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| Burke v GMC (2005) | |
| David Wolfe acted for the DRC, in the case of Burke v General Medical Council. |
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| Polanski v The Conde Nast Publications Ltd (2005) | |
| Heather Rogers was instructed to act for Roman Polanski in his successful libel action against Vanity Fair magazine. |
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| Zardad (2005) | |
| Anthony Jennings QC represented Mr Zardad in both his first and second trial, and Anthony Jennings QC and Alison Macdonald appeared in the preliminary hearing of the international law arguments. |
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| ECJ food supplements challenge (2005) | |
| The challenge brought by the healthfood industry to the common EC rules for marketing of food supplements has finally been rejected by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg. |
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| R (Elias) v Secretary of State for Defence [2005] EWHC 1435 | |
| The High Court today (7 July 2005) gave judgment in R (Elias) v Secretary of State for Defence [2005] EWHC 1435 (Admin). |
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| July 2005 - Matrix wins "Chambers of the Year" | |
| Matrix was the winner of the category of “Chambers of the Year” at The Lawyer awards ceremony on 28 June 2005, defeating Blackstone Chambers and 1 Essex Court, among other nominees. |
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| Joined cases Dansk Rørindustri A/S, Henss/Isoplus group (Isoplus Fernwärmetechnik Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH, Isoplus Fernwärmetechnik Gesellschaft mbH, Isoplus Fernwärmetechnik GmbH), KE KELIT Kunststoffwerk GmbH, LR AF 1998 A/S, Brugg Rohrsysteme GmbH, LR Af 1998 (Deutschland) GmbH, ABB Asea B | |
| Rhodri Thompson QC acted for the EC Commission in this successful defence of cartel fining decision |
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| Harry Kewell v (1) Gary Lineker, (2) Jon Ryan (3) The Telegraph Group Limited (2005) | |
| Heather Rogers represented Gary Lineker in the case of Harry Kewell v (1) Gary Lineker, (2) Jon Ryan (3) The Telegraph Group Limited. |
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| Singapore Batam waste dispute (2005) | |
| Kate Cook and Philippe Sands QC have assisted the Government of the Republic of Singapore in resolving a dispute relating to a shipment of material from Singapore to Indonesia which took place last year. |
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| Alabaster v (1) Barclays Bank (2) Secretary of State for Social Security (2005) | |
| Karon Monaghan appeared in this Court of Appeal concerning comparator provisions of the Equal Pay Act 1970 in maternity related equal pay claim |
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| Defendants acquitted in “Ricin” trial - April 2005 | |
| Defendants acquitted in “Ricin” trial. Matrix barristers Ben Emmerson QC, Matthew Ryder and Danny Friedman appeared on behalf of two of the acquitted men. They were instructed on behalf of Birnberg Peirce solicitors. |
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| Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police v Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd | |
| Channel 5 were able to show a documentary about Manchester gangsters following the last minute overturning of an injunction by the Court of Appeal at a late night sitting on Tuesday 22nd March. |
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| R (on the application of Begum) v Denbeigh High School | |
| A landmark judgment on the right to education and freedom of religion was handed down by the Court of Appeal on 2 March 2005. The case concerned a school's uniform requirement, and the exclusion of a student following her failure to meet these requirements. |
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| Bowman v Fels [2005] EWCA Civ 226 | |
| Bowman v Fels [2005] EWCA Civ 226
A judgment of considerable significance to the legal profession was handed down on 8th of March 2005, in which the court considered the scope of the money laundering provisions under Part 7 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. |
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| R (on the application of Al-Skeini and Others) v Secretary of State for Defence - application of Human Rights Act to British forces in Iraq | |
| The Divisional Court today gave judgment in R (on the application of Al-Skeini and Others) v Secretary of State for Defence. |
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| Law Lords rule that foreign terrorist suspects cannot be held without trial in the UK | |
| 16 December 2004 - The House of Lords have today ruled that the indefinite detention without trial of foreign terrorist suspects is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The Lords allowed an appeal by nine men who had been held in prison (some, for three years) under Part IV of the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 (ATCSA) which was introduced after September 11. |
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| Nicholas Blake QC to conduct independent review of Deepcut evidence | |
| Nicholas Blake QC of Matrix has been asked by the Ministry of Defence to review the information currently available relating to the deaths of four young soldiers at Princess Royal Barracks Deepcut in 1995 and 2001 and to report. |
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