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Hugh Southey QC
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Hugh Southey KC

"He is extremely diligent, studious on the paperwork, and his advocacy has been great."

Chambers & Partners 2024
Called: 1996
Silk: 2010
Called (Northern Ireland): 2010
Called (Ireland): 2023

Hugh Southey has led at all levels up to and including the Supreme Court as well as in the Privy Council, European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. In particular he has led in 26 hearings before the Supreme Court. These hearings have covered topics as diverse and important as European Union citizenship, the system of disclosure of criminal convictions and the extent of the common law right to a fair hearing.

Hugh specialises in public law in a wide range of fields including human rights, immigration, crimeextraditionmental health, terrorism (including TPIMs and the Special Immigration Appeals Commission), inquests, discrimination, privacy and elections. Hugh litigates public law and human rights arguments both in judicial review proceedings and civil claims. Hugh also appears in criminal appeals and Court of Protection matters.

Hugh advises a range of clients including national institutions, corporate clients, trades unions and individuals.

Hugh has litigated and advised in a number of jurisdictions outside England and Wales including Northern Ireland, Ireland, the United States of America, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos.

Hugh is an A-Panel member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Panel of Preferred Counsel.

Hugh is a Deputy High Court Judge and a Recorder who sits in the Crown Court. He is also an Acting Justice of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands and was formerly an Assistant Justice of the Supreme Court of Bermuda.

Hugh is called in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Hugh is an author of Judicial Review: A Practical Guide (LexisNexis) as well as founding editor of the United Kingdom Human Rights Reports.

Since being called to the Bar Hugh has written regularly on public law and human rights. He recently wrote (with Amanda Weston, Jude Bunting and Raj Desai) Judicial Review: A Practical Guide (3rd Edition). He also edited (with Lord Justice Fulford) the United Kingdom Human Rights Reports. He wrote (again with Lord Justice Fulford) A Criminal Practitioners Guide to Judicial Review and Case Stated. He wrote chapters in Human Rights in the Investigation and Prosecution of Crime and Judicial Review: Law and Practice.

16 October 2019 – Justice Human Rights Conference – Human Rights and Criminal Justice

26 September 2019 – IBA Seoul – ‘Stateless children: orphanage tourism’

8 November 2018 – Matrix – Sports immigration following Brexit

24 May 2018 – Human Rights Lawyers Association – Immigration detention

21 March 2017 – Defence Extradition Lawyers’ Forum – Extradition and Immigration Law

Admitted as a solicitor in 1991 but transferred to the Bar in 1996. As a solicitor Hugh headed the immigration and crime department at Glazer Delmar and assisted the firm to become one of the first firms to obtain a Legal Aid franchise.

ILPA, Association of Prison Lawyers, Administrative Law Bar Association, Mental Health Lawyers Association, Human Rights Lawyers Association, Legal Action, Liberty, Justice, Amnesty International.

Hugh is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to my clients, including advice and representation services, Hugh needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes his client’s personal data and the personal data of others who feature in the matter upon which he is instructed. To read Hugh’s privacy notice in full, please see here.

Hugh is regulated by the Bar Standards Board and accepts instructions under Standard Contractual Terms. To find out more information on this and the way we work at Matrix, including our fee transparency statement, please see our see our service standards. Hugh is registered for direct access.

DIRECTORY RECOMMENDATIONS

"He is extremely diligent, studious on the paperwork, and his advocacy has been great."

Chambers & Partners, 2024, Administrative & Public Law

"Hugh is a key player in human rights law. He is completely on top of the facts and knows the case law inside out."

Legal 500, 2024, Administrative Law and Human Rights

"I think he is just absolutely top-drawer in every respect. A brilliant lawyer who is straight as a die, both with opponents and courts. Ferociously hard-working; a stellar act."

Chambers & Partners, 2024, Civil Liberties & Human Rights

"Hugh is excellent."

Chambers & Partners, 2024, Immigration

"Hugh is an excellent silk and one of the best in the field. He is incredibly knowledgeable about all things immigration related and has unrivalled experience on the claimant side in arguing some of the most cutting edge cases of the day."

Legal 500, 2024, Immigration (Including Business Immigration)

"Wonderfully supportive and approachable. Completely on top of the facts and knows the case law inside out."

Legal 500, 2024, Police Law: Mainly Claimant

"I would particularly praise Hugh for his client service. He is always approachable and supportive. He makes the law and litigation exciting." "A thoughtful and clever advocate."

Chambers & Partners, 2023, Police Law: Mainly Claimant

"He's is reliable, efficient and very good with clients. He also understands the benefits of working well with those who instruct him." "He has encyclopaedic knowledge and is a determined advocate."

Chambers & Partners, 2023, Administrative & Public Law

"He is the go-to barrister for complex multi-party human rights claims."

Chambers & Partners, 2023, Civil Liberties & Human Rights

"Very well liked by solicitors and is instructed in a huge number of cases."

Chambers & Partners, 2023, Immigration

"A go to barrister who gets right to the heart of the issues. Formidable with his opponents."

Legal 500, 2023, Administrative & Human Rights

"Not afraid to take difficult cases and pursue them to the absolute end."

Legal 500, 2023, Immigration

"Hugh is very creative with his ideas and legal arguments and operates at a high level of legal thought. He is always up to date with the latest developments in domestic law but also drawing on developments internationally."

Legal 500, 2023, Police Law: Mainly Claimant

"A go-to barrister who gets right to the heart of the issues. Formidable with his opponents, and excellent with clients. Someone you definitely want on your side."

Legal 500, 2023, Inquests & Inquiries

"One of the leading practitioners in prison law. Vast experience and encyclopaedic knowledge of the cases in that field. An engaging advocate to whom the court will listen."

Legal 500, 2022, Administrative & Public Law (Including Elections)

"An incredibly thorough analyst of material who provides very clear and precise written work."

Legal 500, 2022, Immigration (Including Business Immigration)

"Hugh’s breadth of experience in criminal justice issues gives him a unique perspective and very diverse knowledge base."

Legal 500, 2022, Civil liberties and human rights (including actions against the police)

"He is a very creative lawyer who is fearless, and fights relentlessly for clients. He is very impressive and rated highly." "Produces high-quality work quickly and thoroughly, in a very compelling and persuasive way. He is very experienced and hard-working, and is well respected by the judiciary."

Chambers & Partners, 2022, Immigration

"He is a very creative and fearless lawyer who fights relentlessly for his clients." "Hugh is very sharp, always on top of his brief and is very responsive."

Chambers & Partners, 2022, Civil Liberties & Human Rights

"He's very creative and fearless, and will fight relentlessly for his clients." "The most approachable and down-to-earth silk you will come across."

Chambers & Partners, 2022, Administrative & Public Law

"He is quite creative and bold in the points he takes."

Chambers & Partners, 2022, Police Law: Mainly Claimant

"An incredibly thorough analyst of material and very clear and precise written work."

Legal 500 2021

"Sharp, responsive and always on top of his brief."

"Brilliant; he is such a specialist in what he does, he’s logical in court and he’s fantastic with the clients."

Chambers & Partners 2021
Matrix Chambers
24 HOUR ASSISTANCE
+44 (0)20 7404 3447
Hugh Southey QC
Called: 1996
|
Silk: 2010
|
Called (Northern Ireland): 2010
|
Called (Ireland): 2023

"He is extremely diligent, studious on the paperwork, and his advocacy has been great."

Chambers & Partners 2024

MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE

  • Community Care Law
  • Crime
  • Health and Safety
  • Proceeds of Crime and Asset Forfeiture
  • Protest Law
  • Regulatory Offences
  • Sanctions
  • Discrimination and Equality
  • EU Law
  • Extradition and Mutual Assistance
  • Healthcare, Mental Health and Mental Capacity
  • Civil Liberties and Human Rights
  • Immigration, Asylum and Free Movement
  • Inquests and Inquiries
  • Investigations
  • Police Law
  • Prison Law
  • Public International Law
  • Public Law
  • Sports Law
  • Police, Inquests and Prison
  • Health and Social Care (including welfare benefits)
  • Commercial Public Law
  • Competition and EU

Hugh Southey KC

Contact Hugh: hughsouthey@matrixlaw.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7404 3447

Contact Hugh's Practice Team (Team X): TeamX@matrixlaw.co.uk


Hugh Southey has led at all levels up to and including the Supreme Court as well as in the Privy Council, European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. In particular he has led in 26 hearings before the Supreme Court. These hearings have covered topics as diverse and important as European Union citizenship, the system of disclosure of criminal convictions and the extent of the common law right to a fair hearing.

Hugh specialises in public law in a wide range of fields including human rights, immigration, crimeextraditionmental health, terrorism (including TPIMs and the Special Immigration Appeals Commission), inquests, discrimination, privacy and elections. Hugh litigates public law and human rights arguments both in judicial review proceedings and civil claims. Hugh also appears in criminal appeals and Court of Protection matters.

Hugh advises a range of clients including national institutions, corporate clients, trades unions and individuals.

Hugh has litigated and advised in a number of jurisdictions outside England and Wales including Northern Ireland, Ireland, the United States of America, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos.

Hugh is an A-Panel member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Panel of Preferred Counsel.

Hugh is a Deputy High Court Judge and a Recorder who sits in the Crown Court. He is also an Acting Justice of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands and was formerly an Assistant Justice of the Supreme Court of Bermuda.

Hugh is called in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Hugh is an author of Judicial Review: A Practical Guide (LexisNexis) as well as founding editor of the United Kingdom Human Rights Reports.

Publications

Since being called to the Bar Hugh has written regularly on public law and human rights. He recently wrote (with Amanda Weston, Jude Bunting and Raj Desai) Judicial Review: A Practical Guide (3rd Edition). He also edited (with Lord Justice Fulford) the United Kingdom Human Rights Reports. He wrote (again with Lord Justice Fulford) A Criminal Practitioners Guide to Judicial Review and Case Stated. He wrote chapters in Human Rights in the Investigation and Prosecution of Crime and Judicial Review: Law and Practice.

Speaking Events and Training, Seminars

16 October 2019 – Justice Human Rights Conference – Human Rights and Criminal Justice

26 September 2019 – IBA Seoul – ‘Stateless children: orphanage tourism’

8 November 2018 – Matrix – Sports immigration following Brexit

24 May 2018 – Human Rights Lawyers Association – Immigration detention

21 March 2017 – Defence Extradition Lawyers’ Forum – Extradition and Immigration Law

Other Relevant Information

Admitted as a solicitor in 1991 but transferred to the Bar in 1996. As a solicitor Hugh headed the immigration and crime department at Glazer Delmar and assisted the firm to become one of the first firms to obtain a Legal Aid franchise.

Memberships and Societies

ILPA, Association of Prison Lawyers, Administrative Law Bar Association, Mental Health Lawyers Association, Human Rights Lawyers Association, Legal Action, Liberty, Justice, Amnesty International.


Hugh's Privacy Notice

Hugh is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to my clients, including advice and representation services, Hugh needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes his client’s personal data and the personal data of others who feature in the matter upon which he is instructed. To read Hugh’s privacy notice in full, please see here.


DIRECTORY RECOMMENDATIONS

"He is extremely diligent, studious on the paperwork, and his advocacy has been great."

Chambers & Partners, 2024, Administrative & Public Law

"Hugh is a key player in human rights law. He is completely on top of the facts and knows the case law inside out."

Legal 500, 2024, Administrative Law and Human Rights

"I think he is just absolutely top-drawer in every respect. A brilliant lawyer who is straight as a die, both with opponents and courts. Ferociously hard-working; a stellar act."

Chambers & Partners, 2024, Civil Liberties & Human Rights

"Hugh is excellent."

Chambers & Partners, 2024, Immigration

"Hugh is an excellent silk and one of the best in the field. He is incredibly knowledgeable about all things immigration related and has unrivalled experience on the claimant side in arguing some of the most cutting edge cases of the day."

Legal 500, 2024, Immigration (Including Business Immigration)

"Wonderfully supportive and approachable. Completely on top of the facts and knows the case law inside out."

Legal 500, 2024, Police Law: Mainly Claimant

"I would particularly praise Hugh for his client service. He is always approachable and supportive. He makes the law and litigation exciting." "A thoughtful and clever advocate."

Chambers & Partners, 2023, Police Law: Mainly Claimant

"He's is reliable, efficient and very good with clients. He also understands the benefits of working well with those who instruct him." "He has encyclopaedic knowledge and is a determined advocate."

Chambers & Partners, 2023, Administrative & Public Law

"He is the go-to barrister for complex multi-party human rights claims."

Chambers & Partners, 2023, Civil Liberties & Human Rights

"Very well liked by solicitors and is instructed in a huge number of cases."

Chambers & Partners, 2023, Immigration

"A go to barrister who gets right to the heart of the issues. Formidable with his opponents."

Legal 500, 2023, Administrative & Human Rights

"Not afraid to take difficult cases and pursue them to the absolute end."

Legal 500, 2023, Immigration

"Hugh is very creative with his ideas and legal arguments and operates at a high level of legal thought. He is always up to date with the latest developments in domestic law but also drawing on developments internationally."

Legal 500, 2023, Police Law: Mainly Claimant

"A go-to barrister who gets right to the heart of the issues. Formidable with his opponents, and excellent with clients. Someone you definitely want on your side."

Legal 500, 2023, Inquests & Inquiries

"One of the leading practitioners in prison law. Vast experience and encyclopaedic knowledge of the cases in that field. An engaging advocate to whom the court will listen."

Legal 500, 2022, Administrative & Public Law (Including Elections)

"An incredibly thorough analyst of material who provides very clear and precise written work."

Legal 500, 2022, Immigration (Including Business Immigration)

"Hugh’s breadth of experience in criminal justice issues gives him a unique perspective and very diverse knowledge base."

Legal 500, 2022, Civil liberties and human rights (including actions against the police)

"He is a very creative lawyer who is fearless, and fights relentlessly for clients. He is very impressive and rated highly." "Produces high-quality work quickly and thoroughly, in a very compelling and persuasive way. He is very experienced and hard-working, and is well respected by the judiciary."

Chambers & Partners, 2022, Immigration

"He is a very creative and fearless lawyer who fights relentlessly for his clients." "Hugh is very sharp, always on top of his brief and is very responsive."

Chambers & Partners, 2022, Civil Liberties & Human Rights

"He's very creative and fearless, and will fight relentlessly for his clients." "The most approachable and down-to-earth silk you will come across."

Chambers & Partners, 2022, Administrative & Public Law

"He is quite creative and bold in the points he takes."

Chambers & Partners, 2022, Police Law: Mainly Claimant

"An incredibly thorough analyst of material and very clear and precise written work."

Legal 500 2021

"Sharp, responsive and always on top of his brief."

"Brilliant; he is such a specialist in what he does, he’s logical in court and he’s fantastic with the clients."

Chambers & Partners 2021