Lizanne Gumbel QC and Justin Levinson are acting for the claimant known as “JGE” in an important case being brought against the Catholic Church. JGE claims to have been sexually abused by a priest (now deceased) whilst resident in a children’s home run by the Church. The key issue to be decided is whether the Church itself can be held liable for the actions of its priest.

Justin Levinson is acting for 11 of the victims of John Worboys, known as the "black cab rapist", who are claiming damages from his motor insurers.  Worboys picked up the unsuspecting women late at night in his taxi.  He offered them drugged drinks and sexually assaulted them in his taxi after they passed out.  The case raises the novel question of whether or not the claimants' injuries arose out of their use of Worboys' taxi.  Judgement on this case is expected shortly.

Martin Forde QC has successfully challenged four GMC decisions in the High Court in the last 8 months.  These include the cases of Dr Casey v GMC, Negin Shamsian v GMC and Dr Michael Jonathan Fish v GMC which Martin won on appeal.  He has also been successful in the Judicial Review of the case of R (on the application of X) v GMC

On 17 April 2012 Abu Qatada was re-arrested and detained.  An urgent hearing before Mr Justice Mitting, sitting as Chairman of the Special Appeals Commission was convened on the same day, to reconsider the bail position in the light of the Home Secretary’s assertion that Abu Qatada may now be lawfully deported.  The judge revoked bail on the basis that deportation might occur within the next few weeks, but would revisit that decision if that is not achieved by the Home Secretary.  The case has generated controversy and debate.   Angus McCullough QC is acting as Abu Qatada's special advocate, having previously appeared in the proceedings before SIAC, the Court of Appeal, and the House of Lords.

Neil Garnham QC and Alasdair Henderson are acting for the Metropolitan Police in the Leveson (phone hacking) Inquiry into the culture, practice and ethics of the press. The Inquiry is currently considering the relationships between the press and the police (Module 2) and will be hearing evidence on these issues until the end of March.

Peter Skelton is acting for the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC) in the Leveson (phone hacking) inquiry. This body, headed by the Mayor of London, was formerly the Metropolitan Police Authority and was responsible for the oversight of the Metropolitan Police Service. 

For the second year running, 1 Crown Office Row has been given a “Platinum Friend in Law” award from both the FRU and the Bar Pro Bono Unit.  The Chief Executives of both organisations called on Philip Havers QC at 1COR to thank him for the set’s support and to present him personally with the award. We are proud to support these organisations both financially and with free legal support.

Marina Wheeler, led by Dinah Rose QC, represented the NHS in the Court of Appeal where the Royal Brompton Hospital sought to quash the consultation into the reconfiguration of paediatric cardiac surgical services in England which resulted in the recommended closure of its service. The Court upheld the consultation as lawful.

Sydney Chawatama successfully represented a claimant at trial in a clinical negligence case arising from the failure to investigate a breast lump correctly which was later diagnosed as cancerous. The defendants then appealed on a matter of fact to the Court of Appeal where Philip Havers QC (acting pro bono) and Sydney successfully resisted their appeal.

Applications are being invited from practitioners of at least 8 years’ call to join our public law group.

After 22 happy years at the Bar, Wendy Outhwaite QC has decided to leave full time practice. Her many friends among the Members and staff at One Crown Office Row wish her well and will miss her cheerful presence. She wishes to express her thanks to all her clients for involving her in so many interesting and important cases over the years. Wendy will continue to pursue her interests in prisons and health policy.

Philippa Whipple QC and Suzanne Lambert represented HM Revenue and Customs and HM Treasury in their successful defence of a judicial review challenge brought by the States of Jersey and Guernsey against the Government’s decision to abolish relief from VAT on goods of small value imported from the Channel Islands into the UK.

Neil Garnham QC, who was Counsel to the Victoria Climbie Inquiry, will appear on the “Crimes that shook Britain: Victoria Climbie” TV broadcast  which will be aired on the Crime and Investigation Network on the 25^th March at 8pm.  This will be available on Sky channel 553 and Virgin channel 237

Four members of 1 Crown Office Row (David Evans, Richard Mumford, Matthew Donmall and Isabel McArdle) formed part of a team acting for the Ministry of Defence in the Atomic Veterans Litigation in which the Supreme Court (which was divided on the issue) has handed down a seminal judgment, agreeing with the MoD’s argument that 9 of the 10 lead cases selected for the preliminary issue of limitation are time-barred and should not be allowed to proceed.

David Balcombe QC and Sarah Lambert successfully represented a woman’s claim against a surgeon who allegedly failed to obtain informed consent during breast re-construction surgery which left the woman who lost her breast to breast cancer with a “grossly uneven chest.” 

The Privy Council is hearing an appeal by a Slovakian businessman, Mario Hoffman, against certain provisional findings made in a report by the Commissioner, Sir Robin Auld, investigating whether there was information that corruption may have taken place in recent years by members of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) House of Assembly.

Philippa Whipple QC is lead Counsel to the Detainee Inquiry which was established to look at whether Britain was implicated in the improper treatment of detainees held by other countries in the aftermath of 9/11.  On 18 January 2012, the Justice Secretary announced that the Inquiry would be brought to a conclusion, in light of ongoing police inquiries. He stated that the Inquiry would provide a report on its preparatory work to date, highlighting themes and issues which might be the subject of further examination and that the Government remained committed to holding an independent, judge-led inquiry once all police investigations had concluded. The Inquiry aims to provide its report to the Prime Minister shortly.

Inner Temple has launched a new work experience scheme to encourage social mobility and diversity.  One Crown Office Row, along with 41 other partnering Chambers, is proud to support this scheme which aims to offer students formal work experience opportunities regardless of their background.

Judgment has now been handed down in the appeal of Professor Walker-Smith.  He challenged the 2010 General Medical Council (“GMC”) Fitness to Practice Panel finding of serious professional misconduct and their decision to remove his licence to practice, after the longest and one of the most complex disciplinary cases brought by the GMC (The Wakefield/ MMR Case).

Cerys Edwards, then still a baby, received very severe neurological injuries in November 2006 when the car in which she was travelling was struck by a speeding Range Rover.  Margaret Bowron QC, acting for the Defendant Insurers, successfully negotiated an inevitably high-value settlement which was based upon a future care package requiring nursing support for Cerys who is permanently ventilated and tube fed.  The importance of finally resolving the claim was considerable to both sides.

We are delighted to welcome Thomas Lawrance to the clerking team.  Thomas joined us on the 20th February 2012 as the 3rd Junior Clerk having previously worked at Hailsham Chambers since 2006.

We are delighted to announce the following new appointments to the Attorney General's Panels – Oliver Sanders to the A panel, Robert Wastell to the B panel and Adam Wagner to the C panel.

On the 5^th January 2012, Martin Forde QC was appointed as the barrister member to the Judicial Appointments Commission.  He filled the vacancy left by Lord Sumption when the latter joined the Supreme Court.

Philip Havers QC represented ‘Martin’ in a High Court Case, where a man suffering from “locked-in” syndrome sought to gain clarity on the legal consequences of professionals advising him on assisted suicide.

Tuesday 31st January saw the start of a three week public inquiry in Kings Lynn to determine whether two windfarm projects should be allowed to proceed. Controversial issues include landscape, birds (many thousands of pinkfooted geese fly over the sites) and a local Iron Age fort. The local council refused the applications. David Hart QC is acting for two local groups based in villages close to the appeal sites, who are seeking to uphold those refusals

Abu Qatada has applied for bail and challenges the continued legality of his detention in proceedings being heard by Mr Justice Mitting, sitting as Chairman of SIAC and a Judge of the High Court