1MCB is delighted to announce that its members have once again been recognised by Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide 2024 in their respective fields.
Iain Edwards is ranked in Band 1 for International Criminal Law.
Anna Watterson is ranked in Band 4 for Social Housing.
Michael Sprack is ranked as Up and Coming for Social Housing.
Michael Sprack contributed to Protect’s groundbreaking Environmental Whistleblowing Toolkit launched on 06 October 2023. The toolkit was designed to protect whistleblowers, reduce the risk of victimisation and increase the effectiveness of reporting environmental concerns.
The Environmental Whistleblowing Toolkit is a practical and legal guide to identifying and raising environmental concerns. Drafted with help from trade unions, lawyers, NGOs and journalists, it offers guidance on whistleblowing in the workplace to help raise concerns safely and with maximum impact.
1MCB is pleased to announce that six members continue to be recognised as leading juniors in the 2024 edition of Legal 500, across five practice areas: crime, employment, international criminal law and extradition, immigration and social housing.
Salma Lalani maintains Tier 2 ranking for Crime, described as “a very sound tactician and lawyer. She is very industrious and has a conspicuous ability to develop a rapport with clients. She displays a sound level of confidence and articulacy in her presentation of arguments and in questioning.”
Soraya Bauwens also maintains Tier 4 ranking for Crime, described as “an exceptional lawyer. She is strategic, diligent and is able to highlight the technical challenges in investigations.”
Michael Sprack is recognised in Tier 4 for Employment, described as “a junior whose advocacy is clear and to the point, and a skillful cross-examiner.”
Iain Edwards maintains Tier 1 ranking in International Criminal Law and Extradition, described as “an assured presence on any team, and particularly in court, and brings a wide range of experience to international criminal law work, which is deployed to expert effect.”
Bernadette Smith maintains Tier 1 ranking in Immigration (including business immigration).
Amritpal Bachu is recognised in Tier 4 for Social Housing, described as “diligent, thorough and very knowledgeable of housing law. He thinks very quickly on his feet and is able to deal with unexpected turns in cases with ease.”
Michael Sprack is also recognised in Tier 4 for Social Housing.
To find out more about instructing Salma, Soraya and Iain, please contact Adam Brosnan, Senior Crime and International Crime Clerk.
To find out more about instructing Michael, Bernadette and Amritpal, please contact Tim Markham, Senior Civil and Family Clerk.
1MCB is delighted to announce that Loïs Mbu has won the award for Junior Clerk of the Year at the Legal 500 Bar Awards 2023 on 03 October 2023.
Loïs joined 1MCB in January 2023 as a junior criminal clerk.
The Legal 500 Bar Awards seek to recognise sets as wholes as well as individuals: barristers at all levels of seniority, clerks, other chambers’ professionals, and arbitrators.
A complaint has been filed against Türkiye before the United Nations Human Rights Committee on behalf of four Iraqi citizens, all Yazidi, regarding airstrikes carried out by the Turkish airforce against a civilian hospital, the Sikenye Medical Clinic, in Sinjar, Iraq. The airstrikes in August 2021 resulted in the killing of eight civilians and severely injured many others.
The complaint was lodged by the Accountability Unit and Women for Justice, a female-led Yazidi NGO, with the assistance of a team of international lawyers, including Soraya Bauwens of 1MCB Chambers, and Tatyana Eatwell and Aarif Abraham of Doughty Street Chambers.
It is the first complaint of its kind to be brought before an international body on the issue of Turkish airstrikes against the Yazidi, and follows a two-year investigation. There have been no formal investigations into the airstrikes, or accountability for the killing and serious injury to civilians.
Air strikes by the Turkish air force in Sinjar are ongoing, resulting in continuing insecurity in the region and hampering the return of survivors of the Yazidi genocide to their homeland.
News of the complaint has been widely reported on, including in The Guardian and on Radio 4 Today.
More information about the complaint can be found here.
Soraya was a contributing author to the 2022 report launched in the UK Parliament on ‘State Responsibility and the Yazidi Genocide’ by the Yazidi Justice Committee, available here.
Ranjeet Dulay represented a man found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity following a trial at Warwick Crown Court.
Ranjeet’s client was charged with several offences arising out of a five-day siege of his house in Coventry in 2022, after barricading himself inside his home with his young child and threatening to shoot police who had initially attended to carry out a welfare check.
Specialist officers were called to the scene, including armed response units, to negotiate with him over the course of the five-day stand-off. Roads, homes, local businesses and amenities were shut off whilst negotiators and armed response units were on the scene for days.
Following trial, Ranjeet’s client was found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity, and the judge disposed of the case by way of hospital order.
The common law defence of ‘insanity’ requires expert evidence from at least two medical practitioners and for the jury to reach a ‘special verdict’.
Ranjeet was instructed by Barry Akilo at Rodman Pearce Solicitor.
The case was widely reported on, including in The Guardian, Sky News and The Coventry Telegraph.
Ignatius Fessal secured an acquittal for his client following an eight-day trial at Croydon Crown Court, where the defendant faced a 16-count indictment alleging possession of firearms.
Ignatius was instructed by Tahir Ali from Wainwright & Cummins LLP Solicitors.
Philip Romans’ client was acquitted of rape following a seven day trial at Maidstone Crown Court.
Philip was instructed by Ola Yusuf of Taylor Rose MW.
1MCB is delighted to announce that Loïs Mbu has been shortlisted for Junior Clerk of the Year at the Legal 500 Bar Awards 2023. Loïs joined 1MCB in January 2023 as a junior criminal clerk.
The Legal 500 Bar Awards seek to recognise sets as wholes as well as individuals: barristers at all levels of seniority, clerks, other chambers’ professionals, and arbitrators.
The winners will be announced on 03 October 2023.
The shortlist can be viewed here.
1MCB Chambers is seeking to appoint a full time Fees Clerk as soon as possible to join our friendly working environment. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and self-starting Fees Clerk to support chambers with leading criminal and civil barristers.
To find out more about the role and how to apply, please visit our Staff Vacancies page.
1MCB Chambers extends its congratulations to Ife Thompson, who has been shortlisted in the Legal Aid Newcomer category of the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) awards.
Award winners will be announced at a ceremony on 12th July 2023.
Ranjeet Dulay successfully represented a defendant accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm. Her client admitted throwing a punch which resulted in significant facial injuries to the complainant. The defendant’s case was that he made a pre-emptive strike in self defence. The defendant was acquitted of this serious charge after a trial at Croydon Crown Court.
Ranjeet was instructed by Clint Ambrose of Cambrose Solicitors.
