Founded over 40 years ago with the aim of ensuring access to justice for all members of the community, 1MCB Chambers is proud of its longstanding commitment to have actions against the police, seeking redress for those who have fallen victim to abuses of police power, including the Guildford Four and parties to the Stephen Lawrence and Bloody Sunday inquiries.
The team has extensive experience across the full range of claims that can be brought following encounters with the police and other public and quasi-public bodies, and is recognised by Legal 500 (2014) for its “niche expertise” in this area. From initial advice, through devising a litigation strategy and drafting persuasive pleadings, to negotiating settlement, to advocacy in jury trials and before the appellate courts, the team prides itself on providing first-class representation at every stage.
The team recognises that there is often considerable overlap with other specialist areas of law, and is able to draw upon its collective expertise across related disciplines, including crime, public law, equality and discrimination, and personal injury. Many team members are also engaged in related judicial review work, including challenges to the issue and execution of search warrants, decisions to caution, refusals to prosecute, and refusals to refer complaints to the IOPC.
Whilst committed to representing legally aided claimants, team members are alive to the constraints of public funding, and as such, some of our practitioners are willing to accept instructions on a ‘conditional fee’ basis where appropriate.
The team is always happy to be approached in order to provide bespoke in-house training to law centres, citizens’ advice bureaux, solicitors’ firms, and charities.