MEET:
Helen Law
“One of the most able advocates of her generation."
Legal 500, 2024
Helen is an experienced criminal trial advocate with complementary expertise in advising on and litigating criminal justice and human rights issues in civil and public law proceedings. She has extensive experience of dealing with sensitive cases and vulnerable clients.
Alongside regular trial work, Helen 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.
Her recent instructions include:
- Sole counsel for a serving MP, Apsana Begum, charged with housing fraud, acquitted at trial (Snaresbrook Crown Court);
- Junior counsel for Soldier A, accused of murdering an IRA member in 1972, in the first of a series of historic murder prosecutions relating to the Troubles, prosecution evidence excluded and trial collapsed (Belfast Crown Court);
- Sole counsel for defendant in +£3m drugs conspiracy (Burnley Crown Court);
- Junior criminal counsel for the appellant before the Supreme Court concerning the meaning of capacity to consent under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and its interrelation with the same concept under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (A Local Authority v JB);
- Leading counsel in a £3m boiler room fraud (Southwark Crown Court);
- Advising foreign individuals and entities on human rights aspects of foreign criminal investigations;
- Advising a major UK company on an internal investigation concerning domestic and cross-border issues;
- Advising private clients and major banks on issues arising from several SFO investigations, including FX, LIBOR and Petrofac;
- Junior counsel for three appellants in their appeals against conviction in a case concerning alleged SOCA corruption and the US NSA PRISM surveillance program (R v Knaggs & Ors [2018] EWCA Crim 1863);
- Sole counsel for former Afghan government advisor charged with immigration smuggling offence, acquitted at trial (Canterbury Crown Court).
Helen’s civil and public law practice is focused on claims against the state in the context of criminal justice or national security. She is experienced in the operation of Closed Material Proceedings under the Justice and Security Act 2013 and has appeared before both the Investigatory Powers Tribunal and SIAC. 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:
- R (Noorzai) v MOD; R (Saifullah) v MOD – junior counsel for the Claimants in judicial reviews concerning alleged SAS involvement in extra-judicial killings in Afghanistan;
- R (Belhaj) v DPP [2019] AC 593 – junior counsel for the Claimants in a judicial review of the decision not to prosecute a senior member of MI6 for his alleged involvement in extraordinary rendition, culminating in the leading case on the inapplicability of the Justice and Security Act 2013 closed material procedures to challenges to prosecutorial decisions;
- Q v MI6 & ors – junior counsel for the Claimant in a civil damages claim for the alleged involvement of an MI6 officer in false imprisonment and mistreatment;
- Kamoka & Ors v MI5, MI6 & ors – junior counsel for multiple Claimants in civil damages claims for the alleged involvement of UK intelligence services in serious and sustained misconduct in the UK and abroad;
- Al-Waheed & Alseran v MOD [2019] QC 1251 – junior counsel for the 2 lead Claimants in civil damages claims against the MOD for detention and mistreatment in Iraq
Helen has extensive experience of claims against the police and other investigatory or prosecutorial bodies, including SOCA, the CPS and the Armed Forces RMP and RNP. She is regularly instructed in cases concerning serious investigative failings, including those leading to death or serious injury, and has experience of claims under the HRA, the Equality Act, the Data Protection Act, misuse of private information, misfeasance and malicious prosecution. She acts both for the victims of crime and for those accused of involvement in criminal offences. Helen regularly represents individuals at mediations and in settlement negotiations, as well as at trial, and has extensive experience in advising on strategic litigation in this field.
Her recent instructions in this area include:
- Junior counsel for the ex-wives of the undercover officers in the Undercover Policing Inquiry;
- Junior counsel for interveners before the Supreme Court in DSD v Commissioner of the Metropolis [2019] AC 196, concerning the nature and scope of the Art 3 investigative duty.
- Counsel for a young black man subjected to a spit hood at London Bridge station, in successfully challenging his police caution;
- Acting for multiple individuals and families subjected to or bereaved by domestic or sexual violence in their claims for breaches of the investigative and protective duties.
In addition to her domestic experience, Helen has litigated before both the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. Her notable cases include:
- Serbia v Croatia (Genocide Convention) – junior counsel for Croatia, including oral submissions before the ICJ;
- Al-Saadoon v UK – junior counsel for the applicants in a case concerning Article 1 jurisdiction and the UK’s obligations when handing over detainees to the Iraqi authorities;
- Al-Jedda v UK (Grand Chamber) – junior counsel for the applicants in the leading case on the application of Article 5 in armed conflict;
- CN v UK – junior counsel for the applicant in the first case to find a breach of the UK’s duty under Article 4.
Helen is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to my clients, including advice and representation services, Helen needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes her client’s personal data and the personal data of others who feature in the matter upon which she is instructed. To read Helen’s privacy notice in full, please see here.
"Helen is simply superb. She has an incredible mind, she is strategic, and she is an amazing advocate."
"Helen is a fabulous courtroom advocate who has always had authority in the courtroom way beyond her year of call. She is so clear and persuasive."
"Helen is a phenomenal advocate with an incredible intellect, who is someone who has the personal touch." "Her input before the trial was invaluable and she was very good with clients in conference."
"Helen is exceedingly clever, hugely efficient, and her advocacy is excellent. She is incredibly strategic, anticipating issues and problems far in advance and ensuring the claimant legal team is prepared for anything."
"She is a brilliant barrister: fiercely intelligent, hard-working and responsive to the needs of clients and instructing solicitors. She is an impressive advocate and demonstrates extraordinary commitment to the work she does and the clients she represents." "She is fearless. She argues her point really effectively and gets brilliant results."
"A fantastic jury advocate who is also good at technical legal writing." "She is really making her mark at the criminal Bar."
"Helen is unafraid to take really creative approaches to complex legal cases. She is just an incredibly precise legal thinker who is empathetic with clients, yet perfectly pragmatic as well."
"Delightful to work with and always goes the extra mile. She is very good at articulating potentially pivotal points and is a fearless advocate."
"Extremely responsive, with outstanding abilities."
"One of the most able advocates of her generation. Her knowledge across the areas of her practice are formidable and she puts this to excellent use in her advocacy."
"Helen is very astute, pleasure to work with, excellent drafting skills, very responsive."
"She is a fantastic jury advocate." "She is very good with clients." "She has got a brilliant mind and is extremely dedicated."
"Her preparation is second to none, her cross-examination skills are fantastic. A barrister who really gets the case and will do a fantastic job."
"Extremely responsive, with outstanding abilities."
"Helen has a knack for getting to the heart of the issues." "She is incredibly generous with her time, she is a very, very good strategic thinker and she is passionate about the issues affecting clients."
"She's an astute and quick-witted advocate with excellent analytical skills and the ability to empathise with clients and explain legal issues clearly to them."
"A superb advocate who does the groundwork, engages with the client and works collaboratively to great effect."
"Tenacious and very bright. She is keen to take on challenging cases and push at the boundaries of the law where appropriate” “She is persuasive, determined and gets excellent results."
"Fantastic with clients, a real fighter and someone who is willing to push the boundaries of law. She adopts a sensible litigation strategy and is good at punching down the other side and identifying the pressure points in an opponent’s case."
"A dream junior… Very professional and responsive. A joy to work with."
"Fine junior with a varied caseload consisting of public, civil and criminal law."
"An extremely thorough advocate and a brilliant tactician."
"She is fantastic on the advice side and with clients, and is also excellent on her feet."
"A formidable trial advocate."
"Outstanding on her feet."
"A skilled cross-examiner with the ability to construct a very persuasive legal argument."
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:
+44 (0)20 7404 3447
“One of the most able advocates of her generation."
Legal 500, 2024
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Crime
- Corporate and Business Crime
- Fraud and Financial Crime
- Proceeds of Crime and Asset Forfeiture
- Serious Crime (including terrorism) and Trial Advocacy
- Investigations
- Public International Law
- Public Law
- Civil Liberties and Human Rights
- Police, Inquests and Prison
- Private International Law
Helen Law
Contact Helen: helenlaw@matrixlaw.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7404 3447
Contact Helen's Practice Team (Team T): TeamT@matrixlaw.co.uk
Helen is an experienced criminal trial advocate with complementary expertise in advising on and litigating criminal justice and human rights issues in civil and public law proceedings. She has extensive experience of dealing with sensitive cases and vulnerable clients.
Crime and Investigations
Alongside regular trial work, Helen 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.
Her recent instructions include:
- Sole counsel for a serving MP, Apsana Begum, charged with housing fraud, acquitted at trial (Snaresbrook Crown Court);
- Junior counsel for Soldier A, accused of murdering an IRA member in 1972, in the first of a series of historic murder prosecutions relating to the Troubles, prosecution evidence excluded and trial collapsed (Belfast Crown Court);
- Sole counsel for defendant in +£3m drugs conspiracy (Burnley Crown Court);
- Junior criminal counsel for the appellant before the Supreme Court concerning the meaning of capacity to consent under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and its interrelation with the same concept under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (A Local Authority v JB);
- Leading counsel in a £3m boiler room fraud (Southwark Crown Court);
- Advising foreign individuals and entities on human rights aspects of foreign criminal investigations;
- Advising a major UK company on an internal investigation concerning domestic and cross-border issues;
- Advising private clients and major banks on issues arising from several SFO investigations, including FX, LIBOR and Petrofac;
- Junior counsel for three appellants in their appeals against conviction in a case concerning alleged SOCA corruption and the US NSA PRISM surveillance program (R v Knaggs & Ors [2018] EWCA Crim 1863);
- Sole counsel for former Afghan government advisor charged with immigration smuggling offence, acquitted at trial (Canterbury Crown Court).
Civil And Public Law
Helen’s civil and public law practice is focused on claims against the state in the context of criminal justice or national security. She is experienced in the operation of Closed Material Proceedings under the Justice and Security Act 2013 and has appeared before both the Investigatory Powers Tribunal and SIAC. 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:
- R (Noorzai) v MOD; R (Saifullah) v MOD – junior counsel for the Claimants in judicial reviews concerning alleged SAS involvement in extra-judicial killings in Afghanistan;
- R (Belhaj) v DPP [2019] AC 593 – junior counsel for the Claimants in a judicial review of the decision not to prosecute a senior member of MI6 for his alleged involvement in extraordinary rendition, culminating in the leading case on the inapplicability of the Justice and Security Act 2013 closed material procedures to challenges to prosecutorial decisions;
- Q v MI6 & ors – junior counsel for the Claimant in a civil damages claim for the alleged involvement of an MI6 officer in false imprisonment and mistreatment;
- Kamoka & Ors v MI5, MI6 & ors – junior counsel for multiple Claimants in civil damages claims for the alleged involvement of UK intelligence services in serious and sustained misconduct in the UK and abroad;
- Al-Waheed & Alseran v MOD [2019] QC 1251 – junior counsel for the 2 lead Claimants in civil damages claims against the MOD for detention and mistreatment in Iraq
Police Law
Helen has extensive experience of claims against the police and other investigatory or prosecutorial bodies, including SOCA, the CPS and the Armed Forces RMP and RNP. She is regularly instructed in cases concerning serious investigative failings, including those leading to death or serious injury, and has experience of claims under the HRA, the Equality Act, the Data Protection Act, misuse of private information, misfeasance and malicious prosecution. She acts both for the victims of crime and for those accused of involvement in criminal offences. Helen regularly represents individuals at mediations and in settlement negotiations, as well as at trial, and has extensive experience in advising on strategic litigation in this field.
Her recent instructions in this area include:
- Junior counsel for the ex-wives of the undercover officers in the Undercover Policing Inquiry;
- Junior counsel for interveners before the Supreme Court in DSD v Commissioner of the Metropolis [2019] AC 196, concerning the nature and scope of the Art 3 investigative duty.
- Counsel for a young black man subjected to a spit hood at London Bridge station, in successfully challenging his police caution;
- Acting for multiple individuals and families subjected to or bereaved by domestic or sexual violence in their claims for breaches of the investigative and protective duties.
International Law
In addition to her domestic experience, Helen has litigated before both the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. Her notable cases include:
- Serbia v Croatia (Genocide Convention) – junior counsel for Croatia, including oral submissions before the ICJ;
- Al-Saadoon v UK – junior counsel for the applicants in a case concerning Article 1 jurisdiction and the UK’s obligations when handing over detainees to the Iraqi authorities;
- Al-Jedda v UK (Grand Chamber) – junior counsel for the applicants in the leading case on the application of Article 5 in armed conflict;
- CN v UK – junior counsel for the applicant in the first case to find a breach of the UK’s duty under Article 4.
Helen's Privacy Notice
Helen is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to my clients, including advice and representation services, Helen needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes her client’s personal data and the personal data of others who feature in the matter upon which she is instructed. To read Helen’s privacy notice in full, please see here.
DIRECTORY RECOMMENDATIONS
"Helen is simply superb. She has an incredible mind, she is strategic, and she is an amazing advocate."
"Helen is a fabulous courtroom advocate who has always had authority in the courtroom way beyond her year of call. She is so clear and persuasive."
"Helen is a phenomenal advocate with an incredible intellect, who is someone who has the personal touch." "Her input before the trial was invaluable and she was very good with clients in conference."
"Helen is exceedingly clever, hugely efficient, and her advocacy is excellent. She is incredibly strategic, anticipating issues and problems far in advance and ensuring the claimant legal team is prepared for anything."
"She is a brilliant barrister: fiercely intelligent, hard-working and responsive to the needs of clients and instructing solicitors. She is an impressive advocate and demonstrates extraordinary commitment to the work she does and the clients she represents." "She is fearless. She argues her point really effectively and gets brilliant results."
"A fantastic jury advocate who is also good at technical legal writing." "She is really making her mark at the criminal Bar."
"Helen is unafraid to take really creative approaches to complex legal cases. She is just an incredibly precise legal thinker who is empathetic with clients, yet perfectly pragmatic as well."
"Delightful to work with and always goes the extra mile. She is very good at articulating potentially pivotal points and is a fearless advocate."
"Extremely responsive, with outstanding abilities."
"One of the most able advocates of her generation. Her knowledge across the areas of her practice are formidable and she puts this to excellent use in her advocacy."
"Helen is very astute, pleasure to work with, excellent drafting skills, very responsive."
"She is a fantastic jury advocate." "She is very good with clients." "She has got a brilliant mind and is extremely dedicated."
"Her preparation is second to none, her cross-examination skills are fantastic. A barrister who really gets the case and will do a fantastic job."
"Extremely responsive, with outstanding abilities."
"Helen has a knack for getting to the heart of the issues." "She is incredibly generous with her time, she is a very, very good strategic thinker and she is passionate about the issues affecting clients."
"She's an astute and quick-witted advocate with excellent analytical skills and the ability to empathise with clients and explain legal issues clearly to them."
"A superb advocate who does the groundwork, engages with the client and works collaboratively to great effect."
"Tenacious and very bright. She is keen to take on challenging cases and push at the boundaries of the law where appropriate” “She is persuasive, determined and gets excellent results."
"Fantastic with clients, a real fighter and someone who is willing to push the boundaries of law. She adopts a sensible litigation strategy and is good at punching down the other side and identifying the pressure points in an opponent’s case."
"A dream junior… Very professional and responsive. A joy to work with."
"Fine junior with a varied caseload consisting of public, civil and criminal law."
"An extremely thorough advocate and a brilliant tactician."
"She is fantastic on the advice side and with clients, and is also excellent on her feet."
"A formidable trial advocate."
"Outstanding on her feet."
"A skilled cross-examiner with the ability to construct a very persuasive legal argument."