UK legal regulator dismisses complaints against UK Lawyers for Israel patrons
A legal regulator that oversees barristers has declined to investigate complaints against three senior barristers who serve as patrons of UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI).
Earlier this year, the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) and the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC) filed a joint complaint on behalf of several charities and campaign groups to the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
The complaints targeted Lord David Pannick KC, Lord Anthony Grabiner KC, and Stephen Hockman KC, arguing that their association with UKLFI gave the pro-Israeli group’s legal threats against Palestine solidarity activists legitimacy.
Their names feature on the bottom or top of legal threats sent by UKLFI to individuals and organisations holding events or activities related to solidarity with Palestine that it deems antisemitic or problematic.
But documents given to Middle East Eye show that the legal regulator told the groups it would not pursue the complaint further because of “insufficient evidence” against the senior barristers.
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“For the purposes of our assessment, we agree that the Barrister is a named Patron of UKLFI, but do not consider that the Barrister has breached the provisions of the BSB Handbook,” the BSB said in its outcome letter to the legal group.
“In reaching our decision, we have considered that whilst the Barrister is a named Patron on the official letterhead for UKLFI, there is no evidence that the Barrister is the author of the letters sent out on behalf of UKLFI.”
The regulator added that “it is not unusual for organisations to highlight the professional standing of their patrons”.
The BSB told Middle East Eye that it did not comment on individual cases.
In a joint statement, PILC and ELSC described the BSB’s response as “unconvincing” and vowed to challenge the outcome.
The legal groups argued that the senior barristers’ professional prestige, used by UKLFI, acts as a form of “lawfare” designed to deter lawful democratic activity and political expression.
“We reiterate our clients’ concerns around the use of distinguished barristers’ names and professional status on UKLFI correspondence, which lends authority to legal threats and contributes to the suppression of lawful Palestine solidarity activity," said PILC and the ELSC.
“Campaigners deserve to trust that legal regulators will adequately scrutinise harmful deployments of the law; we will persist in our efforts to ensure accountability for our clients.”
Under the BSB’s regulations, a review can be triggered if there is new evidence, a procedural error, or if the original decision was incorrect.
PILC and ELSC said they believe they have sufficient grounds to appeal and are preparing to submit further evidence to the regulator against the senior barristers.
'A chilling environment'
Founded in 2011, UKLFI describes its mission as "countering the delegitimisation of Israel" and opposing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
It is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee and operates alongside a registered charitable arm, UKLFI Charitable Trust.
UKLFI's work frequently involves sending legal complaints or warning letters to institutions and individuals involved in pro-Palestine activity.
The group has previously described its patrons as “some of the most distinguished members of the legal profession in the United Kingdom”.
ELSC said UKLFI appeared 128 times in its Britain Index of Repression database, which documents what it describes as the systematic repression of Palestine solidarity activism across Britain.
The groups argue that the cumulative effect has been the creation of a “chilling environment” in which individuals and organisations withdraw or modify lawful Palestine-related activity due to fears of legal escalation.
Last year, ELSC and PILC submitted a separate complaint to the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) against Caroline Turner, a director for UKLFI.
The complaint alleged Turner had violated the SRA's Principles and Code of Conduct, including through the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (Slapps), which are legal threats designed to deter free expression on matters of public interest.
According to the groups, between January 2022 and May 2025, UKLFI sent at least eight threatening letters to individuals and organisations engaged in Palestine solidarity work.
The letters, shared with complainants by recipients, allegedly show a pattern of "vexatious and legally baseless" correspondence aimed at silencing campaigners, academics, and civil society groups.
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