Equality and human rights

We have a diverse, expert and committed multidisciplinary team with experience and knowledge in all of the key areas of practice that affect and impact on the civil liberties and human rights of individuals, organisations and communities. Infringement of human rights can take on many forms and we are a team that understands the nuances of these cases across different areas of law.

We act for both Claimants and Defendants in discrimination claims and human rights related Judicial Review proceedings. We work collaboratively across our specialist teams on equality and human rights issues that engage more than one area of practice, to ensure the client always has thorough and technically excellent advice.

We recognise the importance of balancing the interests of individuals, organisations and communities whose rights are engaged, and the legitimate policy objectives of public authorities which may justify a degree of interference with those rights.

At Russell-Cooke we recognise that issues relating to human rights and civil liberties can arise anywhere and at any time – sometimes in novel ways. For instance, the development and growing use of AI tools will inevitably introduce new challenges and questions for businesses relating to the rights of their customers balanced with the advancement of their product. This technology also exposes individuals to new methods of surveillance, which can raise issues relating to an individual’s privacy, discrimination and safety.

We can help you with:

• Contentious and non-contentious matters
• Individual human rights/civil liberty challenges 
• Human rights due diligence for businesses
• Government policy
• Discrimination claims
• LGBTQ+ related challenges

Human rights related advice may be required by individuals, businesses, charities or public authorities (including regulators). As a full service law firm, we have a unique ability to combine our multi-disciplinary expertise and bring together our specialists in equality and human rights with recognised experts from across the firm in public law, education law, environmental law, data protection law, criminal law, housing law, employment law, children law and immigration law. We have specialist in-house expertise in relation to LGBTQ+ human rights issues. Whoever the client is, we can offer thorough, compassionate and realistic advice. We also have excellent relationships with eminent counsel practising in this space.

Our notable recent cases include TransActual CIC v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care [2024] EWHC 1936 (Admin).

Industry expertise

• Charities
• Individuals
• Civil liberties organisations
• Businesses 
• Regulators

Here are some comments made about us. 

"Fantastic team, great litigation skills and friendly."
The Legal 500 (2024)

"This is a highly committed team with a strong understanding of the wide and varied aspects of administrative law."
The Legal 500 (2024)

Charges are usually based on our hourly rates plus administrative charges and disbursements. We will provide you with an initial estimate of your likely legal costs and will update this as your requirements or the circumstances of the work change.

We also have a flexible and innovative approach to litigation funding which enables us to offer our clients, in appropriate cases, a series of funding choices tailored to their particular requirements. We are prepared to consider alternative forms of funding in appropriate cases. However, we do not have a contract for civil publicly funded work and do not therefore offer legal aid for Civil disputes.

We would be pleased to discuss your requirements free of charge and tailor a costs proposal accordingly, including whether we could assist you under a Legal Aid contract.