Laurie Swain

Full Profile

Laurie has excellent technical knowledge and handles a wide variety of claims against police forces throughout England and Wales, including claims in misfeasance, malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, assault and breaches of the Human Rights Act. Laurie has an excellent record of successfully defending claims at trial or securing discontinuances, strike outs and summary judgments in his clients' favour.

He has represented police forces and their insurers on high profile, complex and extremely sensitive claims, including claims arising from deaths in police custody or domestic violence homicides and the related Article 2 compliant inquests, claims alleging breaches of Article 3 and Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and claims following arrests and prosecutions for high profile murders and Terrorism Act offences involving highly sensitive issues. Laurie is currently instructed to represent the interests of a number of police officers in respect of the ongoing Undercover Policing Inquiry, and he is part of the team advising the Manchester Arena in intimated civil claims arising from the Arena bombing in 2017. Laurie was a central member of the team instructed to represent Operation Resolve at the Hillsborough Inquests.

Laurie handles catastrophic injury claims brought against police forces for significant brain injuries sustained during police custody. Laurie is also proficient in handling EL claims, including stress and harassment claims and claims under the Equality Act.

Experience

• Instructed in high profile inquests and inquiries, including representing a number of police officers in the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI) and as part of the team instructed to represent Operation Resolve at the Inquests into the Hillsborough stadium disaster.
• Part of the team advising the Manchester Arena and their insurer in intimated civil claims arising from the Arena bombing in 2017.
• Advising on a multi-million pound claim for misfeasance in public office, trespass and breach of human rights arising out of search warrants at business premises.
• Instructed in a claim pursued by a female who suffered a stroke whilst in police custody and was not give urgent medical treatment until several hours later. The claim involves complex liability, causation and quantum issues.
• Instructed in multiple claims being intimated for breach of Article 3 ECHR arising from alleged inadequate and/or insufficiently prompt police investigations.
• Advised on a multi-million pound claim pursued by a young male who sustained a serious head injury prior to his arrest and went on to develop a catastrophic brain injury whilst in police custody.
• Assisted in a claim by the family and Estate of a male who died whilst in police custody following the use of force on and restraint of the male whilst being transported to a nearby police station.
• Successfully defended a claim for misfeasance in public office pursued by two claimants who had been convicted of a murder during race-related riots in Birmingham and subsequently imprisoned for 5 years until their acquittal following a re-trial.
• Secured a discontinuance at the conclusion of the claimants' evidence in trial in which two ambulance technicians alleged that the police had operational responsibility for an incident involving a hazardous chemical and had assumed a duty of care over the other emergency services present and breached that duty by allowing them to enter and giving assurances as to their safety once inside the property.