Helen Law

Alongside trial work, Helen regularly advises at the investigatory stage and has appeared in criminal cases before the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, Privy Council and European Court of Human Rights. She has particular expertise in fraud, corruption, money laundering and financial crime. She has advised on and appeared in private prosecutions, both for the prosecution and defence. Her recent instructions include: advising private clients and major banks on issues arising from several SFO investigations, including FX,LIBOR and Petrofac; advising on human rights aspects of foreign criminal investigations; junior counsel (led by Clare Montgomery QC) for a defendant in an 8 week fraud and corruption trial; leading counsel (with Anita Davies) for the first defendant in a 6 week fraud trial; junior counsel (led by Tim Owen QC) for three appellants in their appeals against conviction in a case concerning allegations of corruption by SOCA; junior counsel (led by Clare Montgomery QC) for the defence in a historic Troubles murder prosecution of two soldiers for killing an IRA member in 1972.

Her notable earlier cases include: sole prosecution counsel in R v Lord Taylor, the first trial in connection with the parliamentary expenses counsel; junior counsel (led by Clare Montgomery QC) in R v Lord Hanningfield, and in the interlocutory appeal concerning the ambit of parliamentary privilege; junior counsel for the defence (led by Matthew Ryder QC) in an insider dealing case singled out as one of The Lawyer’s top cases of 2012; and sole prosecution counsel in the first case under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 for the abuse of the UK’s last circus elephant.

In addition to her domestic experience, Helen has addressed the International Court of Justice in a genocide case and has been instructed in several cases before the European Court of Human Rights, including appearing as junior counsel in the leading decision on Article 1 jurisdiction.

Helen’s civil and public law practice is focussed on claims against the state in the context of criminal justice or national security. She has appeared in claims at all levels of the domestic courts, as well as in the European Court of Human Rights and the International Court of Justice.

Helen is regularly instructed in criminal justice related public law matters, including challenges to decisions not to prosecute and claims concerning the application of human rights law in the criminal context. Her recent instructions include: junior counsel for two individuals subjected to extraordinary rendition to Libya in a challenge to the DPP’s decision not to prosecute a senior member of MI6 for his alleged involvement; acting (led by Dan Squires QC) for individuals challenging the decision to nominate them for inclusion on the UN financial sanctions list; and successfully challenging the caution administered to a man detained using a spit hood by the British Transport Police at London Bridge station. Her notable earlier cases include acting (led by Helen Mountfield QC) in the first Strasbourg case to find a violation of the UK’s obligations under Article 4 for a failure to criminalise forced labour, and in an interstate claim under the Genocide Convention in the International Court of Justice (with Philippe Sands QC, James Crawford QC and Kate Cook).

Helen is experienced in claims with a national security context, concerning the intelligence services or undercover policing, and is familiar with closed material procedures under the Justice and Security Act 2013. She was instructed (with Danny Friedman QC and Dan Squires QC) for several Libyan claimants in connection with their alleged mistreatment in this country and abroad by the UK intelligence services in conjunction with foreign intelligence agencies, and remains instructed as sole counsel in ongoing connected cases. She was junior counsel in the leading Supreme Court decision on the application of Closed Material Proceedings in the context of criminal judicial review. She has experience of proceedings before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal and in SIAC, including having acted (led by Tim Owen QC) for a young Russian woman accused of espionage in the only such case to be heard by SIAC. She was junior counsel (led by Richard Hermer QC) in the first trial against the Ministry of Defence arising out of the alleged detention and mistreatment of Iraqi civilians during the war.

Helen has extensive experience of claims against the police and other investigatory or prosecutorial bodies, including against SOCA and the CPS. She is regularly instructed in cases concerning serious police failings, including those leading to death or serious injury, and has experience of claims under the HRA, the Equality Act, the Data Protection Act and for misfeasance and malicious prosecution. She acts both for the victims of crime and for those accused of involvement in criminal offences. Her recent instructions in this area include: junior counsel for the ex-wives of the undercover officers in the Undercover Policing Inquiry; junior counsel (led by Karon Monaghan QC) for interveners before the Supreme Court in DSD v Commissioner of the Metropolis, concerning the nature and scope of the Art 3 investigative duty; and acting for individuals and families subjected to or bereaved by domestic violence in their claims for breaches of the investigative and protective duties by their local police forces. Helen regularly represents individuals at mediations and in settlement negotiations, as well as at trial.