Lawyer who worked on Hillsborough inquest heads up new human rights team
A law firm has taken on a high-profile civil rights lawyer to head up its inquests and inquiries practice.
Leanne Devine has over 20 years’ experience in law and represented bereaved families in the Hillsborough Disaster inquest.
Leanne, who worked with the families for three years, has joined Liverpool firm Broudie Jackson Canter.
The firm, which specialises in civil liberties and social welfare has launched the new practice to secure justice for people whose loved ones have died in custody or in state detention.
Leanne Devine has over 20 years’ experience working in law and will lead the highly experienced team.
She specialises in inquests related to Article 2 (the Right to Life) of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Leanne said: “We are delighted to be consolidating the firm’s deep experience and expertise in inquest law with the launch of this new practice, which will provide people who have lost a loved one with access to specialist legal support when they need it most.
“Broudie Jackson Canter is renowned for our work in human rights and the firm is continuing to grow and thrive, bolstered by our outstanding reputation and the results we are able to deliver for our clients.“
The new team draws on decades of experience working with people who have lost loved ones in police custody, state detention, and while sectioned – either voluntarily or under the care of Mental Health Services.
It includes experienced solicitor Nicola Brook, who has a background in Criminal Defence specialising in serious and complex crimes.
Nicola has worked on cases including Hillsborough and is currently working on the investigations into the Birmingham Pub Bombings and the MEN Arena attack.
High profile human rights solicitor Elkan Abrahamson, who led the firm’s investigation into Hillsborough and also acts for families involved in the Birmingham Pub Bombings Inquest and The Manchester Arena Bombings Inquest will also be part of the new Inquests and Inquiries team.
Leanne added: “As a firm, we are passionate about securing justice for people who have been bereaved in circumstances involving the state
“As individuals challenging the establishment, our clients are often at their most vulnerable and in vital need of expert legal support and advice to understand their rights and the rights of the loved ones they have lost.
“Our team includes highly-experienced expert solicitors who have worked on some of Europe’s biggest human rights cases – but one thing we have in common is our deeply-held commitment and passion for seeking justice for people who may feel they have exhausted all their options and have nowhere to turn.”
The Jackson Lees Group is made up of Broudie Jackson Canter and Jackson Lees. The Group has over 260 employees across six offices in Merseyside and Manchester and is experiencing sustained growth.
