Courts Martial and Military Law

Members of chambers have specialised in representing members of the armed forces in courts martial and other aspects of military law for many years and have been instructed in the most high profile and serious military prosecutions and public inquiries of recent years.

In Autumn 2018, Mathew Sherratt QC, Fiona Edington and Puneet Rai successfully defended soldiers 1A and 1B, charged with neglect of duty, who supervised a special military test march during which three soldiers died from heat illness in the Brecon Beacons in 2013 – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-45557588

In the summer of 2018 Mathew Sherratt QC, Fiona Edington, Puneet Rai and Catherine Bradshaw also defended soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment charged with gross negligence manslaughter and neglect arising from a fatality on a live firing exercise on the Castlemartin range in 2012 – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-44945232

Historically Geoffrey Cox QC, Jeremy Baker QC, Richard Cross and Fiona Edington defended members of the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment in the country’s first War Crimes Trial in 2006/7, arising out of allegations during Operation Telic, and in 2010/11 Fiona Edington represented Core Participants in the Baha Mousa Public Inquiry, under the chairmanship of Sir William Gage - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-baha-mousa-public-inquiry-report

Court Martial

Members of Chambers frequently appear at all the Courts Martial centres in the UK, Germany and Cyprus and will travel wherever their assistance is needed. They also regularly appear in the Court Martial Appeal Court. They will defend members of the armed forces and their families as well as civilians subject to Service Law in both criminal offences as well as military offences.

Members of Chambers are instructed routinely by solicitors and also by the Armed Forces Criminal Legal Aid Authority (AFCLAA) directly.

Service Inquiries, Service Complaints and administrative/disciplinary matters

Chambers have advised and represented personnel who are involved in Service Inquiries and those who wish to make Service Complaints. Chambers has members who are confident and able to advise in the process from the outset, including Judicial Review and oral Army Board or Service Complaints Oral Hearings, either directly or through instructing solicitors. Members of Chambers are able to advise and assist service personnel with administrative and disciplinary matters

Inquests

Chambers represent members of the armed forces or civilians in Inquests whether the personnel are Interested Parties or family members. Members of Chambers will take instructions from solicitors or directly. Recent inquests include:

• Inquest into deaths of reservists undergoing SAS selection in 2013;
• Inquest arising from a death of a JNCO at Brecon during an AFT in 2016;
• Range deaths at Castlemartin and Folkstone;
• Canoeing death in Cyprus;
• Diving death in Germany.

Personal Injury, Fatal Accident and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) claims

Members of Chambers take personal injury instructions and AFCS claims for personnel who are serving, or have served, and who need to make such claims. Members will take instructions through solicitors or directly. Such instructions include advice, drafting and representation at court and tribunal hearings.