About UKSC Blog
This blog was conceived and created in spring 2009 by the authors below, who are solicitors and barristers specialising in litigation and with an interest of the work of the UK Supreme Court. If you have any queries or comments regarding the blog or its contents then please do not hesitate to contact any of the authors.
Anthony Fairclough
Matrix Law
Following a law degree, Anthony worked as editor of the ‘Revised Laws of the Falkland Islands’ and ‘Falkland Islands Law Reports’ and as assistant to the Islands’ Law Revision Commissioner. He moved to London and LexisNexis Butterworths as a technical writer on ‘Halsbury’s Statutes of England and Wales’. He joined Matrix in 2005.
As Legal Information Manager at Matrix, Anthony is responsible for the development of Matrix’s online strategy, library, legal information and research services. He also manages Matrix’s internal legal current awareness updates.
Dan Tench
Olswang
Dan is a Partner in the Litigation & Arbitration Group and is Head of Judicial Review & Public Law at Olswang.
Dan specialises in administrative law (including judicial review), human rights law, commercial litigation, media law (including defamation, contempt, copyright and data protection) and sports law.
Dan is an experienced administrative law practitioner. He has acted on a wide range of administrative law matters including advising Wimbledon Football Club on its successful review of the refusal of the Football League to grant permission to relocate to Milton Keynes and acting for the betting exchange, Sporting Options, on its successful judicial review of the Levy Board.
In media law, Dan acts for a number of national newspapers, for businesses and individuals in defamation, breach of confidence and other reputation management matters as well as in film and broadcasting disputes. He has particular experience in advising on Internet disputes.
Dan regularly writes for and appears in the national media including The Guardian, The Times, Radio 4 and Channel 4 News. He is on the panel of experts for timesonline.co.uk.
Hugh Tomlinson QC
Matrix Law
Hugh has a wide-ranging practice in both private and public law. He is a noted specialist in media and information law including defamation, confidence, privacy and data protection. His practice also includes advisory work and litigation in the freedom of information field.
He is the joint author of the leading practitioner texts on the law of human rights and on civil actions against the police. Hugh is highly rated by the directories in libel and civil liberties. He is a regular participant in Council of Europe human rights judicial training seminars.
In addition to his media and human rights work, Hugh is regularly instructed in substantial commercial, professional negligence and construction disputes. He acts as an ICC arbitrator and is an accredited mediator.
Laura Coogan
Olswang
Laura is an Associate in Olswang’s Litigation and Arbitration Group.
Laura studied Politics at university before going on to complete her legal studies at the College of Law, Guildford.
After completing her training contract at Olswang, she qualified into the Litigation Group in September 2009. Since qualifying, Laura has worked on a number of matters covering the media, finance and telecommunications industries.
Matthew Ryder QC
Matrix Law
Matthew specialises in serious and complex crime. His practice also focuses on related civil litigation including regulatory matters; claims against the police; public law claims and claims under the Human Rights Act.
A widely experienced trial and appellate advocate, Matthew has appeared as leading counsel in a number of major cases. He has particular expertise in prosecutions under the Terrorism Act 2000; serious fraud; and complex civil challenges in the High Court.
He was educated at Cambridge University (LLB) and Columbia University, New York (LLM) and is also qualified at the New York Bar.
He has written and lectured extensively on police powers, telephone intercepts, investigatory powers and abuse of process. He is also expert in the use of digital technology in the preparation and presentation of complex trials.
Cathryn Hopkins
Olswang
Cathryn is an Associate in Olswang’s Commercial Litigation and Arbitration Group.
Cathryn has a first class honours degree in Music from King’s College, University of London and spent time working in the music publishing and TV industries before going on to study law at BPP Law School, London.
Cathryn completed her training contract at Olswang, qualifying into the Litigation Group in September 2011.
Anita Davies
Matrix Law
Anita Davies is a legal information officer at Matrix Chambers and recently completed the BPTC at City Law School. Before doing the law conversion course in 2009 she worked for a number of human rights organisations, including the United Nations Relief Works Agency, as a public information officer. She studied history at Cambridge University.
Fiona Bruce
Olswang
Fiona is an Associate in Olswang’s Commercial Litigation and Arbitration Group.
Fiona studied Law at the University of Leeds and went on to complete her legal studies at the College of Law in York.
Fiona trained at Olswang, qualifying into the Commercial Litigation and Arbitration Group in September 2008. Since qualification, Fiona has worked on a number of matters in the media, technology and finance sectors.