Freshfields takes torture case to House of Lords

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Brick Court Chambers silk Sir Sydney Kentridge QC are acting pro bono for intervenors in this week’s landmark House of Lords appeal on the use of evidence obtained by torture.

Partner Geoff Nicholas is leading the Freshfields team representing the Commonwealth Law Association, the International Commission of Jurists, and the Human Rights Institute of the International Bar Association on the intervention. 3 Raymond Buildings silk Colin Nicholls QC and three juniors from 20 Essex Street are also instructed.

Gareth Peirce of Birnberg Peirce and Birmingham firm Tyndallwoods, instructing Ben Emmerson QC of Matrix Chambers, are acting for 10 former detainees appealing against a Court of Appeal ruling from August 2004. The appeal court decided that the government could use evidence obtained from abroad without checking how that evidence was obtained.

Richard Stein of Leigh Day & Co is instructing Keir Starmer QC and other counsel from Doughty Street Chambers for a second large group of intervenors, including the Law Society.