Human Rights
Human Rights
Human rights issues are an important element of many of our clients' cases, both judicial reviews and civil claims for compensation and other remedies. We are recognised as one of the leading human rights firms in the UK by The Times Best Law Firms, Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners: "Deighton Pierce Glynn is first-rate. They achieve amazing things for their clients and are absolutely fearless" (Chambers and Partners respondent, 2025).
Our solicitors have extensive knowledge of the Human Rights Act 1998 and other international human rights law instruments. We are also experienced in litigating human rights issues across a very wide range of courts and tribunals up to and including the UK’s Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights. We argue our clients' cases in the most efficient way, combining judicial review and monetary remedies where appropriate.
Our solicitors are instructed by individuals who have experienced human rights abuses, and we also advise and represent a wide range of organisations including leading NGOs in strategic litigation. Our solicitors are regularly asked to deliver training on a wide range of human rights issues, both in the UK and beyond.
Some of the highlights of our human rights work include leading cases on:
- Police duties to protect victims of domestic violence.
- Deaths in custody and the obligation to prevent self-inflicted deaths.
- The withdrawal, denial and discriminatory limitation of citizenship and residency rights.
- UK protection schemes for former Afghan military employees.
- Unlawful detention and the conditions of detention.
- Government surveillance of electronic communications.
- UK government failures in relation to accommodation, financial and health support to migrants.
- Unlawful interference with public protest rights.
- Foreign state immunities in relation to torture; trafficking; and serious human rights breaches.
- UK government duties in relation to military cooperation with foreign states with poor human rights records.
- Discrimination in relation to civil partnerships; pension entitlements; and disability rights.
- Public authority duties to victims of human trafficking.