Raj Chada Named The Times ‘Lawyer of the Week’ for Defending Free Speech Case

Raj Chada, a partner and Head of Crime, Financial Crime & Regulatory team, has been recognised as The Times ‘Lawyer of the Week’ for his successful representation of Trudi Warner, a retired social worker who faced prosecution for contempt of court. Warner was arrested after holding a placard outside a court, informing jurors in a climate protest case that they had the right to acquit based on their conscience. Despite initially lodging an appeal, the case was dropped by the solicitor-general, Sarah Sackman, acknowledging the High Court’s earlier ruling that there was no basis for the charges.

Raj described the prosecution as “absurd,” highlighting the challenges of defending fundamental rights in the face of misguided legal actions. This recognition reflects Raj’s dedication to upholding justice and his long-standing commitment to defending protesters’ rights.

Read more about the case in The Times article here.