Lucy O'Brien

Director

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Lucy is a Director in the Public Law team at Watkins and Gunn Solicitors where she focuses on Judicial Review, Public Inquiries, Actions Against the Police and Inquests. Lucy represents Haemophilia Wales and Haemophilia Northern Ireland in the Infected Blood Inquiry along with around 350 victims. Lucy graduated from Oxford University in 2005, trained at Gateley Plc and qualified as a Solicitor in 2009. She then went on to Tyndallwoods in Birmingham where she developed a focus on public law and civil liberties work, advising on actions against the police, actions against the prison service and local authorities, inquests (deaths in custody and otherwise including jury inquests), appeals against Local Authority penalties and prosecutions and judicial reviews. Moving on Farooq Bajwa and Co in London in 2011, Lucy advised high profile clients in the News International Voicemail Interception Compensation Scheme (‘phone hacking litigation’). Lucy also acted for the family in the Neasden House Fire Inquest in 2012. Lucy joined Public Interest Lawyers in Birmingham in 2015 to work on a multi-party action against the Ministry of Defence on behalf of 1200 Iraqi civilians, each with allegations of abuse, human rights violations or war crimes. Lucy advised the clients through the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) investigative process. Lucy then joined NASUWT as a Senior Official advising the Union and its members on judicial review, complex employment disputes and trade union law. Notable Cases: R (Aso Mohammed) v Chief Constable of West Midlands Police 2010 EWHC 1228 (Admin) involving the removal of a police caution, the removal of client from the Sex Offenders Register and damages for breach of the Human Rights Act in Judicial Review Proceedings. R (on the Application of Nashika Harrison) v (1) Birmingham Magistrates Court (2) Chief Constable of West Midlands Police (Court Of Appeal A (Civ Div) 2011) involving notifications made by police officers of hearings. The Court of Appeal invited the Lord Chief Justice to consider an amendment to the Magistrates’ Courts (Detention and Forfeiture of Cash) Rules 2002. R (on the application of Williams) v Caerphilly County Borough Council [2019] EWHC 1618 (Admin), [2019] All ER (D) 29 (Jul) involving a successful challenge to the Council's plan to close a local leisure centre due to the Council's failure to give 'proper and conscious consideration' to its duties under the Equality Act 2010.

  • Regulated by: The Solicitors Regulation Authority

  • Regulator ID: 424274

  • Based in Cardiff, South Glamorgan
  • Licensed for 16 years

Accepting new clients via ReviewSolicitors

Lucy is a Director in the Public Law team at Watkins and Gunn Solicitors where she focuses on Judicial Review, Public Inquiries, Actions Against the Police and Inquests. Lucy represents Haemophilia Wales and Haemophilia Northern Ireland in the Infected Blood Inquiry along with around 350 victims. Lucy graduated from Oxford University in 2005, trained at Gateley Plc and qualified as a Solicitor in 2009. She then went on to Tyndallwoods in Birmingham where she developed a focus on public law and civil liberties work, advising on actions against the police, actions against the prison service and local authorities, inquests (deaths in custody and otherwise including jury inquests), appeals against Local Authority penalties and prosecutions and judicial reviews. Moving on Farooq Bajwa and Co in London in 2011, Lucy advised high profile clients in the News International Voicemail Interception Compensation Scheme (‘phone hacking litigation’). Lucy also acted for the family in the Neasden House Fire Inquest in 2012. Lucy joined Public Interest Lawyers in Birmingham in 2015 to work on a multi-party action against the Ministry of Defence on behalf of 1200 Iraqi civilians, each with allegations of abuse, human rights violations or war crimes. Lucy advised the clients through the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) investigative process. Lucy then joined NASUWT as a Senior Official advising the Union and its members on judicial review, complex employment disputes and trade union law. Notable Cases: R (Aso Mohammed) v Chief Constable of West Midlands Police 2010 EWHC 1228 (Admin) involving the removal of a police caution, the removal of client from the Sex Offenders Register and damages for breach of the Human Rights Act in Judicial Review Proceedings. R (on the Application of Nashika Harrison) v (1) Birmingham Magistrates Court (2) Chief Constable of West Midlands Police (Court Of Appeal A (Civ Div) 2011) involving notifications made by police officers of hearings. The Court of Appeal invited the Lord Chief Justice to consider an amendment to the Magistrates’ Courts (Detention and Forfeiture of Cash) Rules 2002. R (on the application of Williams) v Caerphilly County Borough Council [2019] EWHC 1618 (Admin), [2019] All ER (D) 29 (Jul) involving a successful challenge to the Council's plan to close a local leisure centre due to the Council's failure to give 'proper and conscious consideration' to its duties under the Equality Act 2010.

  • Regulated by: The Solicitors Regulation Authority

  • Regulator ID: 424274

  • Based in Cardiff, South Glamorgan
  • Licensed for 16 years

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Lucy O'Brien

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4.8
Excellent
95%
Value for
Money
88%
Success
Rate
94%
Would
Recommend
Communication 4.8/5
Initial Impressions 4.7/5
Approachability 4.8/5
Documentation Accuracy 4.8/5
Legal Knowledge 4.8/5
Value for money 4.8/5
Expertise

Experience

  • Watkins & Gunn Limited

    Associate

    Until Present

Languages spoken

  • English

Opening hours

Monday 09:00–17:30
Tuesday 09:00–17:30
Wednesday 09:00–17:30
Thursday 09:00–17:30
Friday 09:00–17:30
Saturday (Closed)
Sunday (Closed)

Ground Floor, Building 5, Castlebridge, CF11 9AB

Reviews

4.8 /5 17 Reviews
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Max and Susan

Not trustworthy and not competent

Used me as a cash cow to get their fee which was only in their interest not mine and incompetence not bothering to check the defendant had complied and assumed and when we complained got their fee and said bye

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Helen

Highly recommended

Thanks to intervention from Lucy O'Brien and Watkins and Gunn, we finally got our LA to deliver on all aspects of my child's EHCP. Without them, we would still be struggling to be heard. I would definitely recommend them to others in a similar plight. We were kept well informed throughout our time with them and greatly benefited from their knowledge and understanding of the legal system around S.E.N.

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Reply by profile image of Sara Jones

Sara Jones

We are delighted to receive this positive review from you. Your feedback is very important to us. We note the great job that Lucy and the team have done for you and look forward to working with you in the future on any of your legal needs.

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Sarah

Education

Education Provision Advice

After providing an overview of the educational issues that my daughter has been experiencing in school, Lucy immediately set to work. Lucy is very approachable, professional, tenacious and supportive. I have received responses to queries promptly which has been reassuring, and I have been kept up to date with progress. Lucy has been incredibly thorough, efficient and effective. I have used the services of solicitors in the past - without a doubt, my expectations have been exceeded here. Thank you so much!

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Reply by profile image of Sara Jones

Sara Jones

We are delighted to receive this positive review from you. We note the excellent job Lucy has done for you and your daughter. Your feedback is very important to us. We look forward to working with you in the future on any of your legal needs.

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David

Above and beyond, can't praise highly enough.

Long story short: I had a case against a public body where I believe I had been discriminated against due to a protected characteristic. As I had limited funding options available I contacted Lucy just for an initial consultation to gain some general advice and a review of whether she thought my case had any merit. Lucy not only reviewed my case but also drafted and sent correspondence to both the public body involved and to the EHRC (to try and secure funding) and then entered a lengthy email back-and-forth with the public body to try and resolve my complaint without court action. Unfortunately I was 'priced out' of achieving justice as the public body has 'unlimited' funding and they know taking them on it court is not within the means of 'normal citizens'. At all times, Lucy has conducted herself in a highly professional, yet approachable, manner and she has put vastly more time and effort into helping me than 'initial consultation' fee should justify while refusing to bill any more time as she knew I had limited funds. I would highly recommend Lucy to anyone requiring legal advice in any of the areas she is experienced in. While I was 'dissatisfied' with the outcome of my case, this was entirely due to the underhand methods employed by the public body and is in no way a reflection on the service Lucy provided.

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Catherine

Education

Amazing Solicitor 😍

Lucy has been amazing during our problems with LEA. Not only is Lucy a great solicitor but she was fantastic when interacting with my 11 year old daughter, and she is very personable and approachable. She’s ‘on the ball’ and never needed chasing. Lucy’s advice was easy to understand and I was able to trust her to represent us without having to proof read communications. There was never any problems getting hold of Lucy and she was emotionally supportive and reassuring thought the process. I genuinely would never look elsewhere for legal help again.

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