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.
Hugh Tomlinson KC, Matrix
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.
Dan Tench, CMS
Dan is a Partner in the Litigation & Arbitration Group and is Head of Judicial Review & Public Law at CMS.
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.
Matthew Ryder KC, 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.
Emma Cross, CMS
Emma is an Associate in CMS’s Commercial Litigation group, specialising in media, commercial and regulatory dispute resolution. Emma has experience of acting for clients across a range of sectors, with a particular focus on media and technology matters. Emma has also undertaken a commercial secondment to the Global Technology & Sourcing department of a FTSE 100 company.
Prior to joining CMS, Emma read History at Warwick University and completed her legal training at The College of Law and BPP respectively. Emma has also gained an MA in Law with Business.
James Warshaw, CMS
James is an Associate in the CMS Litigation & Arbitration group. He has been involved in a wide range of cases from shareholder disputes through to company investigations. 
James trained at CMS where he also spent 6 months in the Banking Litigation department of a large retail and commercial Bank. Prior to this he read Law at Durham University and completed his LPC with an MSc in Law, Business & Management at The University of Law.
Natalie Haefner, CMS
Natalie is an Associate in the CMS Disputes Practice, specialising in infrastructure, construction and energy disputes. Since qualifying in August 2020, Natalie has assisted with managing and resolving disputes for both the oil & gas industry (for example, joint venture disputes and providing advice on regulatory matters) and the construction
industry (for example, payment disputes and delay and defective work claims).
Natalie trained at CMS where she undertook two client secondments – the first at an international energy company and the second at a large retail and commercial bank.
Prior to joining CMS, Natalie studied Scots Law at the University of Aberdeen and went on to complete the DPLP at the University of Edinburgh.
Jessica Eaton, CMS
Jessica Eaton is an associate in the CMS Disputes Practice, working across the Litigation & Arbitration and Insurance & Reinsurance Groups. Jessica trained with the firm and qu
alified in August 2021.
Prior to joining CMS, Jessica studied English and Human Rights at Columbia University and then Scots Law at the University of Edinburgh. Prior to her legal career, Jessica worked for The Wall Street Journal in New York and The Daily Maverick in Johannesburg. She is from Gaborone, Botswana.
Francesca Knight, CMS
Francesca is an Associate in CMS’s Commercial Litigation group, specialising in media and reputation management. 
Francesca has experience with clients in the technology, media and entertainment sectors.
Prior to joining CMS in 2017, Francesca read History of Art at York University and completed her legal training at BPP London.
Zainab Hodgson, CMS
Zainab is a Senior Associate in CMS’s Litigation and Arbitration Group. Zainab has particular experience in reputation management matters and public international law, and she is the lead Senior Associate involved in steering CMS’s Public International Law Group. 
Zainab has advised sovereign States, their agencies and international organisations in multiple jurisdictions. Zainab has also been seconded to an international development bank.
Prior to joining CMS, Zainab read Law at SOAS University and completed her legal training at The College of Law. Zainab is also an attendee of the Hague Academy of International Law on Public International Law.