Leanne Woods

Public Law

Leanne undertakes a broad range of public law and human rights work for both claimants and defendants in the fields of:

• Health and mental health
• Prisons
• Inquests
• Professional discipline and regulatory proceedings
• Police law

She also has significant experience of dealing with disclosure and public interest immunity issues, including High Court applications.

Selected Cases

• Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis v NHS England: Instructed by the Metropolitan Police in a judicial review of the publication of conclusions reached by NHS England in a serious incident report that criticised the police’s exercise of powers under s.136 Mental Health Act 1983.
• W v Ministry of Justice: Acting for the MoJ in a claim brought for an alleged breach of Article 8 arising out of a prison service decision to prevent contact between a father and son.
• Advising HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services in relation to a number of public law issues and the inspection regime.
• S v Ministry of Justice: Acting for the MoJ in a number of HRA claims arising from alleged discrimination on the grounds of religion.
• X v Google Inc. : Acting for a police force in a High Court application to vary an order for disclosure of information based on the potential prejudice that disclosure would have to the police investigation into serious crime. Application was made urgently and without notice and included requests for anonymity.
• M v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis: Representing the Metropolitan Police in a judicial review challenge to a police decision not to refer a case to the CPS prior to discontinuing an investigation into a rape allegation.