WE ARE A HUMAN RIGHTS
LAW FIRM
working AGAINST injustice
working AGAINST the abuse of power
working FOR the vulnerable
WHO WE ARE
Conrathe Gardner LLP is a cutting-edge human rights law firm which helps clients challenge the lawfulness of actions taken by public authorities and the Government. Our lawyers have brought significant challenges against the State across a number of key areas. These include a challenge to the Government’s response to the COVID pandemic and challenges to the police in relation to the breach of their duty of impartiality and the overreach of police guidance concerning free speech. We have also acted on a stream of cases relating to the treatment of gender dysphoria. Our lawyers have brought several landmark cases which have related to the State’s actions/policies concerning gender ideology including
Miller v College of Policing, Bell v Tavistock and Smith v Northumbria Police.
​WHAT WE
DO
Our lawyers have represented clients in significant challenges against the State that have resulted in measurable impact across a variety of sectors.
HEALTHCARE
We provide advice in public law challenges in relation to the lawfulness of actions by the State in the provision of medical treatment.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
Free Speech has been noted by one eminent judge as the ‘lifeblood of democracy’. It encompasses speech that people may find offensive.
EDUCATION
Our education practice is concerned with the potentially unlawful actions of schools, Local Authorities and central government.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
POLICE
We regularly advise on legal challenges against the police on issues relating to free speech, overreach and impartiality.
DISCRIMINATION & EQUALITY
We represent people who have been discriminated against or harassed because of their beliefs.
PUBLIC & ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
This area concerns the decision-making and polices of public bodies and private bodies that work on behalf of the State.
Our work for people of faith, their communities, and faith-based organisations, covers their relationship with the State, violation of their beliefs and matters of conscience.
CASE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
TRIAL OF PUBERTY BLOCKING DRUGS ON CHILDREN
We acted for three claimants, Bayswater Support Group, Keira Bell and James Esses, in a challenge to decisions of the Health Research Authority and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approving the PATHWAYS clinical trial of puberty blockers for children and young people with gender incongruence. The trial is recruiting up to 226 participants, including children as young as 10. The claimants contended that the regulators had failed properly to apply the statutory safeguards governing clinical trials involving minors, failing, in particular, adequately to consider evidence concerning potential harms associated with puberty blockers and the degree of benefit required under law. The litigation attracted significant national and international attention.
After a two-day permission hearing the Court refused permission for judicial review, concluding that none of the grounds of challenge had a realistic prospect of success. It held that many of the issues raised involved matters of scientific, clinical and regulatory judgment which Parliament had entrusted to specialist regulators.
The claimants respectfully disagree with the Court's conclusions and remain concerned about the adequacy of the safeguards applied in relation to the trial and about broader questions regarding the protection of children participating in clinical research. The case nevertheless provided an important opportunity for public scrutiny of the PATHWAYS trial, generated extensive disclosure of regulatory material, and raised significant issues about the approach of courts to decisions made by specialist regulators. Recruitment to the trial has now commenced.