Background:

Lucinda graduated from the University of Leicester with a first class honours degree in law with French law and French Language. In her final year she received the Faculty of Law prize for achieving the highest overall mark in her year. She spent the third year of her degree studying at the University of Strasbourg where she obtained a diploma in French Legal Studies. She was awarded the Bedingfield Scholarship by Gray’s Inn in 2001 and was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in October 2002.

Lucinda accepted tenancy at 5 Essex Court in 2003 and was appointed to the Attorney-General’s “C” Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown in 2007..

Police Law:

Lucinda has extensive experience acting on behalf of the police in civil actions (assault, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, misfeasance and race relations), misconduct, inquests and judicial review. Her civil action experience includes jury actions. Lucinda also has particular interest and expertise in advising the police on operational and policy matters.

Lucinda also acts on behalf of the Independent Police Complaints Commission in civil claims and judicial review.

Recent Police Cases:

Wright v Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Constabulary – a claim for false imprisonment, assault, malicious prosecution and breach of human rights.

Moretti v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis– a jury action for false imprisonment and assault.

Mendy & Mendy v Independent Police Complaints Commission & Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis – representing the IPCC in a claim for judicial review challenging the IPCC’s dismissal of the Claimants’ appeal against the findings of an investigation report into their complaints against Metropolitan police officers.

Junior Counsel for the Respondent in Seal v Chief Constable of South Wales (2007) 1 WLR 1910. The House of Lords held, dismissing Mr Seal's appeal, that a failure to obtain leave under s139(2) Mental Health Act 1983 renders subsequent proceedings a nullity.

Lucinda’s recent police inquest experience includes representing the interests of:

(i) the Chief Constable of Suffolk Police in the inquest into the death of Ian Snelling;

(ii) the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis in the inquest into the death of Brian Elton who died when he was struck down by a police car responding to an emergency call; and

(iii) the Independent Police Complaints Commission in the inquest into the death of Faisal Al-Ani who died in police custody.

Public/Administrative Law

Lucinda undertakes all areas of public law work, including immigration and asylum, prison law, judicial review, human rights, discrimination claims against public authorities, claims against the Parole Board, care standards appeals and inquests.

Lucinda is regularly instructed in claims for judicial review in immigration and asylum law, prison law and claims involving the police (in particular challenges to the outcome of complaints against police).

Recent Public / Administrative Law Cases:

Lucinda is instructed as junior counsel in Seal v UK which is currently being considered by the European Court of Human Rights.

Lucinda was junior counsel for the Home Office in Gichura v Home Office & anor [2008] 1 ICR 1287, [2008] EWCA Civ 697. The Court of Appeal held that there was no reason to exclude services provided to a person held in an immigration removal centre from the ambit of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Inquests:

Lucinda has appeared in a large number of inquests and has particular expertise in Article 2 inquests into deaths in police and prison custody involving serious allegations of lack of care and system failure.

Recent Inquests:

• Counsel for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis in the inquest into the death of Brian Elton who died when he was struck down by a police car responding to an emergency call.
• Counsel for the Ministry of Defence in the inquest into the death of Charlotte Shaw who died when she fell into a river whilst training for the Ten Tors challenge on Dartmoor.
• Counsel for the Independent Police Complaints Commission in the inquest into the death of Faisal Al-Ani who died in police detention following an extensive period of restraint by police officers.
• Counsel for the Ministry of Justice in the inquest into the death of Jaswant Chana who hanged himself in prison.
• Counsel for the Chief Constable of Suffolk Police in the inquest into the death of Ian Snelling who died in a police cell following a massive overdose of prescription drugs.
• Counsel for the Ministry of Justice in the inquest into the death of Michael Flaherty who hanged himself in prison.

Personal Injury:

Lucinda represents and advises Claimants and Defendants (including police forces and government departments) in all aspects of personal injury work, including but not limited to fatal accident claims, road traffic accidents, tripping cases, accidents at work, occupational injury and quantum assessment.

Lucinda is Junior Counsel to The Crown (Common Law – C Panel)

Lectures:

Lucinda provides CPD lectures on all aspects of her practice. Recently she has lectured on judicial review and the positive duty to protect life under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Education:

Nottingham Law School, BVC, 2001-2002

University of Leicester, Law with French Law and French Language (First class) 1997-2001

University of Strasbourg, Diploma in French Legal Studies, 1999-2000

Interests:

Sport and travelling