Leslie Thomas KC

Year of Call: 1988, 2003 (Commonwealth of Dominica), 2008 (Antigua and Barbuda), 2014 (Northern Ireland), 2019 (Ireland) | Year of Silk: 2014

"Leslie is unbelievably clever; he slays in court and clients love him. He gets the results."

Chambers UK, 2024 (Police Law, Band 1)

"Leslie is one of the bravest advocates; he keeps going and never gives up."

Chambers UK, 2024 (Inquests & Public Inquiries, Band 1)

"His pleadings are really good and he has a sterling reputation."

Chambers UK, 2024 (Civil Liberties & Human Rights)

"Leslie is phenomenal: he is a brilliant trial advocate who is excellent with juries. He has great client care and his paperwork is always on time."

Chambers UK, 2023

"He is an amazing advocate in police law."

Chambers UK, 2022 (Police Law, Band 1)

"There is no one in the country to rival Leslie Thomas; he is a good tactician and he is very creative in his cross-examination."

Chambers UK, 2022 (Civil Liberties & Human Rights)

Contact

To get in touch:​ Or you can contact the relevant​ Practice Team Clerks directly and they will be happy to assist with your enquiry.

Share This Page

Email This Page

For solicitors & organisations | For individuals
Logo
Logo
Logo
Logo
Logo
Logo

Leslie is a leading expert in claims against the police and other public authorities, and claims against corporate bodies, with expertise across the full spectrums of civil wrongs, civil litigation, human rights, data and privacy claims.

He is an expert in all aspects of inquests and public inquiries, having represented many bereaved families, in particular where there has been abuse of state or corporate power.

Leslie acts for claimants in judicial review proceedings and other public law proceedings. He regularly acts for clients in the Caribbean region on constitutional law challenges. He has represented claimants in clinical negligence and personal injury claims for the last 20 years. Leslie is ranked in Band 1 in Chambers & Partners and Tier 1 in Legal 500 for Inquests & Public Inquiries and Police Law (Claimant). He is also ranked by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 in Civil Liberties & Human Rights.

Civil Liberties and Human Rights

Overview

Leslie has a UK-wide reputation in civil liberties and human rights. He has acted as counsel and advocate in dozens of high-profile Article 2 inquiries, such as the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse, Carl Sargeant inquiry, the legacy cases involving the Provisional IRA and the Anthony Grainger and Azelle Rodney inquiries. His expertise, adroit handling of sensitive matters and dedication to vulnerable clients are widely acknowledged across the country.

Contact Leslie

Inquests and Inquiries

Overview

Leslie’s UK-wide practice in civil liberties, police law and inquests has made him the go-to specialist for deaths in custody, shootings, pursuits and restraint deaths. As a result of his expertise and adroit handling of sensitive matters, Leslie was instructed in high-profile cases such as the Birmingham Pub Bombing inquest, Kevin Clarke inquest, Sean Rigg inquest, Hillsborough disaster inquest, Mark Duggan inquest, the legacy cases involving the Provisional IRA and Christopher Alder inquest. Leslie’s notable experience in ECHR, judicial review and privacy matters proceedings is widely acknowledged in the marketplace.

Notable Cases

Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.

Christi and Bobby Shepherd Inquest (Thomas Cook Corfu Carbon Monoxide case) [May 2015]
Leslie represented the families of Christi and Bobby Shepherd who died tragically as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning in 2006 whilst on a Thomas Cook holiday with their father and his partner. More information here, here and here.

Eleanor De Freitas Inquest [March 2015]
Leslie represented the family of Eleanor De Freitas at the inquest into her death. More information here.

The Glenanne murders – Elizabeth MacDonald – Inquest
Leslie represented the family of Elizabeth MacDonald who was murdered by the Glenanne Gang in Northern Ireland during the troubles. More information here.

Hillsborough inquests [March 2014]
Leslie represented 11 of the 96 families whose love ones died in the Hillsborough Stadium disaster. More information here.

Arsema Dawit inquest
Arsema Dawit aged 15 was stabbed in excess of 60 times and died in 2008. Leslie and Una Morris represented Arsema’s mother at the inquest into her death which looked at the way the police handled her complaint that she was being harassed by the man who killed her in the weeks before her death. More information here.

Mark Duggan inquest and judicial review
Mark Duggan’s death on 4 August 2011 sparked civil unrest in the United Kingdom. Leslie represented Mark’s family and loved ones. More information here.

[YT:jyVZqX-9tVc]

Azelle Rodney public inquiry
Azelle Rodney was killed having been shot six times by Metropolitan Police Officer, Anthony Long. Leslie represented Azelle’s mother at the public inquiry into the death. In 2013, Sir Christopher Holland, the Chairman, determined that the shooting was an unlawful killing. More information here, here and here.

Medihani v HM Coroner of Inner South District of Greater London
Leslie represented the mother of Arsema Dawit in the judicial review of the Coroner’s refusal to hold an Article 2 ECHR inquiry into the death of a 15-year-old girl stabbed to death by her boyfriend following her reporting her fear of him and threats made by him to the police. The case was reported in The Guardian, The Telegraph and by the BBC.

Sean Rigg inquest, judicial review and civil action
Leslie represented the family of Sean Rigg, who died in 2008 in custody at Brixton Police station following restraint. The case was widely reported by the BBC. More information can be found on the Sean Rigg Justice and Change Campaign website.

Clifford v Hertford Police [2011] EWHC 815 (QB)
Leslie represented the Claimant in successfully claiming damages and substantial costs for malicious prosecution against the police. This case was reported by The Telegraph.

Contact Leslie

Claims Against the Police and Public Authorities

Overview

Leslie’s UK-wide practice in police law this has made him the go-to specialist for deaths in custody, shootings, pursuits and restraint deaths. As a result of his expertise and adroit handling of sensitive matters, Leslie was instructed in a number of high-profile cases Clifford v Hertfordship Police, R (on the application of Lee) v CC Essex Police , the legacy cases involving the Provisional IRA. Leslie’s notable experience in ECHR, judicial review and privacy matters proceedings is widely acknowledged in the marketplace.

Notable Cases

R (Birks) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2014] EWHC 3041 (Admin)
Leslie Thomas QC represented the Second Interested Party, Marcia Rigg-Samuel, in proceedings brought by a police officer in relation to the refusal of the Commissioner to consent to his resignation pending misconduct proceedings arising out of the death of Sean Rigg. The challenge to the decision failed. More information here.

Contact Leslie

Administrative and Public Law

Overview

Leslie has notable experience in public law challenges and judicial review of powers of public bodies such as the police, and he often leads on test cases on human rights, policing and privacy.

Contact Leslie

Public International Law

Overview

Leslie has been representing inhabitants of the island of Barbuda in several challenges against the state including a constitutional challenge against the government of Antigua in relation to the Barbudan’s rights to their land. A judicial review under the Antiguan Planning legislation and he has sought an injunction against the airport authorities in Antigua and Barbuda preventing the construction of an international airport.

Leslie is ranked for General Business Law in the Chambers Global Legal Guide for Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica.

Contact Leslie

Leslie Thomas KC

Notable Cases & News

Garden Court Chambers celebrates 50th Anniversary

This year marks 50 years of Garden Court Chambers winning ground-breaking cases of constitutional importance.

Friday 31 May 2024

UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 3 public hearings open

Several Garden Court Barristers represent core participants at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry in Module 3.

Monday 9 Sep 2024

Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report finds fire was “culmination of decades of failure”

Members of the Garden Court Chambers Inquests & Inquiries Team were instructed in the Inquiry, including Rajiv Menon KC, Leslie Thomas KC, Allison Munroe KC and Thalia Maragh.

Wednesday 4 Sep 2024

Leslie Thomas KC and Liz Davies KC question Dr Simon Case in Module 2 of UK Covid-19 Inquiry

Today, witness Dr Simon Case (Cabinet Secretary) gave evidence for second investigation Core UK decision-making and political governance (Module 2).

Thursday 23 May 2024

Privy Council holds that islanders have standing to challenge construction of runway on Barbuda

Marc Willers KC, Leslie Thomas KC, Stephen Cottle and Thalia Maragh, of Garden Court Chambers’ Environmental Law and Climate Justice Team, represent John Mussington and Jacklyn Frank pro bono, instructed by Theo Solley of Sheridans. Global Legal Action Ne

Tuesday 27 Feb 2024

Garden Court barristers contribute to ‘Achieving Racial Justice at Inquests’ Guide

Achieving Racial Justice at Inquests is a joint guide developed by human rights charities JUSTICE and INQUEST together and in consultation with advisory group members, including our Allison Munroe KC, Leslie Thomas KC, and Thalia Maragh.

Wednesday 21 Feb 2024

Background

Leslie has been with Garden Court Chambers for most of his professional life. He started his legal career in a commercial set of chambers but soon realised his true passion was representing individuals whose civil liberties/human rights had been violated.

As well as his extensive legal practice, he lectures widely to various organisations including coroners, universities, schools, pressure groups and non-profit organisations. Leslie is currently Professor of Law at Gresham College delivering his lecture series Death, The State and Human Rights. He is an advocacy trainer for the Inner Temple and organises and conducts training courses for solicitors, barristers and coroners.

He has previously worked as a lecturer at the University of Westminster, Kingston University London and the Open Universities.

He has a passion for motorcycles and playing the tenor saxophone. He is a competent Russian and French speaker.

Awards

  • Outstanding Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion, Chambers UK Bar Awards (2020)
  • UK Diversity Legal Awards, Winner, BSN Lifetime Achievement (2017)
  • Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards, Winner (2016)
  • Top 100 Lawyers award in the field of ‘Campaigners’, The Lawyer magazine (2014)
  • LLD Honorary Doctorate in Law, Kingston University, for services to civil rights (2013)
  • Lawyer of the Year: Black Mental Health UK Journal (2013)
  • Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards, Winner (2012)

Training and seminars

As well as his extensive legal practice, Leslie lectures widely to various organisations including coroners, universities, schools, pressure groups and non-profit organisations. He is an advocacy trainer for the Inner Temple and organises and conducts training courses for solicitors, barristers and coroners.

In June 2020, Leslie was appointed as Professor of Law at Gresham College. He is the first Black Professor of Law at Gresham College. Watch all his free lectures, across four series, here: Death, The State, and Human RightsRace, Colonialism and Power in the Legal SystemReimagining the LawHard Choices: The Law’s Struggle with Ethical Dilemmas.

Appearances

Leslie features in the highly acclaimed film Injustice by Ken Fero. During the film he was followed on the case of Ibrahim Sey, the first fatality in this country following the introduction and use of CS Spray.

In January 2021, Leslie featured in a BBC Panorama documentary ‘I Can’t Breathe: Black and Dead in Custody’ speaking about police restraint deaths.

He also appeared on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Unreliable Evidence’ programme on ‘Public Inquiries’ presented by Clive Anderson on 25 April 2018.

Leslie Thomas KC was the legal consultant on the BBC Drama ‘Undercover’ (2016) directed by Peter Moffat.

In 2015, his successful case against the Hertfordshire Police was made the subject of the book ‘Fit Up: Fighting to Clear My Husband’s Name’ by Faith Clifford.

In 2014, Leslie received ‘The Lawyer’ (Magazine) Top 100 Award in the field of campaigners. In the same year he was also awarded the title of King’s (Senior) Counsel.

Leslie Thomas KC was the co-executive producer on ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ (2011) directed by Lynn Ramsay.

Education

  • LLB (Kingston)
  • LLD (Kingston)

Professional Memberships

Languages

  • Russian
  • French

We are top ranked by independent legal directories and consistently win awards.

+ View more awards