Descent Into Authoritarianism? Undermining the Role of Defence Lawyers: The Rajiv Menon KC Case

Garden Court North Chambers, Garden Court Chambers, One Pump Court and Nexus Chambers are pleased to come together to co-host ‘Descent Into Authoritarianism? Undermining the Role of Defence Lawyers: The Rajiv Menon KC Case’.

The event is online only at 5:30-7:00PM on Wednesday 22 July, 2026. Register to attend by clicking here.

Garden Court North’s Pete Weatherby KC will chair the event, which will examine the unprecedented prosecution of Garden Court Chambers’ Rajiv Menon KC for alleged contempt of court. Read our full statement in solidarity with Rajiv here.

At the event on Wednesday, we will bring together speakers from across the human rights legal world, including Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, Riel Karmy-Jones KC, Baroness Shami Chakrabarti, Lord John Hendy, Michael Mansfield KC, Marcia Willis Stewart KC, Gareth Peirce, Raju Bhatt, Henry Blaxland KC, Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC, Keir Monteith KC, Jane Deighton, Deborah Coles, Matt Foot, Akiko Hart and Sarah-Jane Ewart, with a special message from Ed Fitzgerald KC.

The event will examine the targeting of lawyers as a hallmark of authoritarianism, and the tradition and importance of fearless advocacy in controversial cases. We will also explore the chilling effect of bringing contempt proceedings regarding comments made in a closing speech and the constitutional importance of jury independence.

When: 22 Jul 2026
Start time: 17:30
End time: 19:00