Khatija Hafesji has been appointed Editor in Chief of the Human Rights Law Reports – UK Cases, published by Sweet & Maxwell.

She takes over from Eric Metcalfe who was Editor in Chief for eleven years.

Tim Ward KC, who founded the Reports in 2000 and was the first General Editor, said:

“I am delighted that Khatija is continuing the tradition of Monckton involvement in the Reports.  Eric did a fantastic job and I look forward to the Reports going from strength-to-strength under Khatija’s stewardship.”

The first issue of 2026 has been published today and features the following significant judgments:

• The Supreme Court’s decision in Re JR87’s application for Judicial Review [2025] UKSC 40; [2026] HRLR 1, which held that the religious education and collective worship specified by the Northern Ireland Department for Education in its core syllabus was not conveyed in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner and thereby breached A2P1, read with art.9 ECHR.
• The Court of Appeal’s decision in R (L1T Holdings Ltd.) v Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the Cabinet Office [2025] EWCA Civ 1528; [2026] HRLR 2, dismissing the company’s appeal that an order made under s.26 of the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (requiring it to divest its shareholding in another company due to its links with certain Russian nationals) was a disproportionate interference with its A1P1 rights.
• R (Jwanczuk) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] UKSC 42; [2026] HRLR 3, which held that the contribution condition for the receipt of Bereavement Support Payments did not discriminate against the surviving partners of those with a lifelong inability to work through disability. The judgment also provides important guidance on the approach to be taken to decisions made by different appellate courts of the United Kingdom.

Khatija Hafesji is ranked across three practice areas, with a focus on Public Law and Data Protection, Competition, and Procurement. She has a particular interest and expertise in human rights law, particularly cases involving the rights of children. She is a Trustee at the Public Law Project.

Please see The Law Reports, published by Sweet & Maxwell.

Update:

On 26 January, a memorial service was held in Gray’s Inn Chapel for Sir Jeremy Lever KCMG KC, the former head of Monckton Chambers and a much-loved and revered mentor, colleague and friend to many of us.  Here is a collection of the spoken and written tributes from the service.  Jeremy is much missed.

Please see the collection of tributes for Sir Jeremy Lever KCMG KC

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It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that Members of Monckton Chambers announce the death of our colleague and friend, Sir Jeremy Lever KCMG KC, who passed away on 25 August 2025.

Sir Jeremy was distinguished for his enormous contribution to the fields of European Law and Competition Law both as a practitioner and academic. This was recognised by his being awarded one of the highest Orders, a Knighthood of the Order of St Michael and St George. Sir Jeremy was also a Fellow and Senior Dean of All Souls, University of Oxford, for many years and an annual lecture in his name is held in Oxford, organised jointly by Monckton Chambers, All Souls College and the Faculty of Law.

He will be greatly missed, and our thoughts are with friends and family.

 

In its first certification judgment since the Supreme Court’s recent judgment in Evans v Barclays, the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has certified opt-out proceedings brought against Valve Corporation, which operates Steam, the world’s largest PC game distribution platform.

The claim, estimated to be worth up to £656m, alleges that around 14 million consumers have been overcharged for games and additional content on Steam and other platforms as a result of Valve’s abuse of dominance.

The Class Representative alleges, in summary, that Valve has unlawfully imposed: (a) platform parity obligations (PPOs), that restrict publishers’ ability to offer better prices or terms through competing distribution channels, (b) anti-steering and/or tying provisions, that prevent users from purchasing additional content through competing distribution channels, and (c) excessive and unfair commission charges on sales made through Steam.

Valve opposed certification on multiple grounds, in particular alleging deficiencies in the proposed methodologies for establishing liability and loss in relation the PPO and unfair pricing abuses, as well as deficiencies with the proposed class definition. The CAT rejected Valve’s objections and certified the claim.

Before reaching its judgment, the Tribunal of its own motion raised issues concerning the Class Representative’s funding arrangements (following its judgment last year in Riefa v Amazon) and whether the proceedings warranted certification on an opt-out basis (in the light of Evans v Barclays).

On the former point, the CAT accepted the Class Representative’s submission that the facts of Riefa were highly unusual, and moreover (as stated in Riefa itself) that the Tribunal’s comments in Riefa should not be elevated into a set of independent legal tests or rules, and that the Tribunal should be reluctant to venture into an assessment of the commercial terms of the LFA unless they are sufficiently extreme to warrant calling out.

On the latter point, the Tribunal found that Evans did not call into question certification on an opt-out basis, noting that this was a claim brought on behalf of a large class of consumers each of which had suffered moderate losses – described by the Supreme Court as a ‘paradigm’ of where opt-out certification is appropriate.

Julian Gregory and Will Perry were instructed by Milberg London LLP for the Class Representative at the CPO hearing.

Robert Palmer KC was instructed for the Class Representative at an earlier stage of proceedings.

The claim is funded by Bench Walk Advisors.

Every year, The Lawyer Hot 100 recognises a diverse mix of legal professionals who have been the standout lawyers in the UK over the previous twelve months. This year, Antonia Fitzpatrick is listed amongst the 11 “Hot 100” barristers mentioned.

Antonia is described as follows:

“Apple is learning fast to brace itself when Antonia Fitzpatrick appears on the other side. The Monckton junior has already built a reputation in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) for taking on Big Tech, and she is doing so at remarkable speed. Last year, at just five years’ call, she was called on by her senior to make submissions on interest in Rachael Kent v Apple, a claim that ultimately delivered a victory for consumers and sought £1.5bn in damages.

Her march through the CAT continues this year. Fitzpatrick is instructed for the claimants in Elizabeth Helen Coll v Alphabet Inc. and Others, a 14-week showdown in which she will represent 19.5 million UK-based Android users who bought apps and in-app content through the Google Play Store. It is one of the largest class actions currently headed for trial.

She has also been brought onto a cartel competition dispute, the £930m salmon cartel claim, which awaits a case management conference this year. The case adds another heavyweight battle to Fitzpatrick’s already solid portfolio which is defined by big wins in high-stakes competition litigation.

Drawn to competition disputes because of the mix of economics, public impact and sheer scale, Fitzpatrick is being brought in on a myriad of competition cases that are shaping consumer markets. She was previously involved in the interchange fees litigation and is already lined up for future trial three, the date for which is still to be set.

Fitzpatrick has fast become a recognised name in the CAT as a go-to in the billion-pound, large-scale disputes that are shaping the competition legislation landscape.”

Monckton Chambers barristers are pleased to feature in two of the 10 disputes set to be heard in the appeal courts in 2026 as listed in The Lawyer’s top 10 appeals of 2026. Further to the recent article from the Lawyer in relation to their top 20 first instance cases of 2026 this is further evidence that Monckton Chambers is operating at the top table in relation to first instance and appellate litigation.

• Professor Carolyn Roberts v Severn Trent Water and others

Court of Appeal, 11 February (one day)

For the appellant, Professor Carolyn Roberts, Jon Turner KC and Julian Gregory instructed by RPC partners Zoë Mernick-Levene and Jonathan Cary

For the respondents, Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent, Thames Water, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water, Daisy Mackersie instructed by Freshfields partners Mark Sansom, Deba Das and senior associate Liz Forster, and associates Oscar Battell-Wallace, Charlie Fisher and Kelley Macpherson.

 

• The King on the application of Emmanuel School (Derby and others v The Chancellor of the Exchequer and others

Court of Appeal, 20-21 January (two days)

For the appellants, a child and his father from London’s Charedi Jewish community, Khatija Hafesji, instructed by Rook Irwin Sweeney partner Alex Rook and solicitor Jennifer Wright

The Lawyer’s “Top 20 cases of 2026” has been published, highlighting the biggest disputes of the year based on profile and value. Fifteen members at Monckton Chambers feature in three of these cases:

Alex Neill v Sony listed in the CAT in March for 10 weeks:

For the class representative, Alex Neill: Robert Palmer KC, Nikolaus Grubeck, Stefan Kuppen and Charlotte McLean, instructed by Milberg partners Natasha Pearman and James Oldnall, senior associates Hadley Howe Zielonka and Alicia Clark, associates Joel Mitchell, Courtney Sanders, Adriarna Milloy, Maya Ffrench-Adam, trainees Dwight Wilson, Kolade Kayode, and paralegals Isaba Moazzem, Claudia Chan and Amelia Hall

For the defendant, Sony: Daniel Beard KC instructed by Linklaters partners Sarina Williams and Verity Egerton-Doyle, managing associates Alex Hannington, Balaji Subramanian, Rebecca Dickie, Imogen Yates, Stephanie Farrington, Jason Shardlow-Wrest and Maria Papadopoulos, and associates, Annabel Leigh McCullagh, Noelle Huang, Harry Sorenson-Vaz, Anna Veispak, Geneva Hoffman, Dasha Konnova, Harry Vose, Bhavisha Sharma and Will Smith

Coll, Rodger and Epic v Google listed in the CAT in September for 14 weeks:
For the class representative, Elizabeth Helen Coll: Ronit Kreisberger KC and Antonia Fitzpatrick instructed by Hausfeld partners Lesley Hannah, Joanna Christoforou and Daniel Hunt, counsel Sofie Edwards, Kio Gwilliam-Savva and Jonathan Amior, senior associate Shahrina Quader, and associates Hannah McEwen, Jake Henderson, Luise Luetcke and Kazi Elias.

For the claimant in the related case of Epic v Alphabet & others:
Daisy Mackersie, instructed by Norton Rose Fulbright partners Caroline Thomas, Susanna Rogers and Mark Tricker.

For the class representative in the related case of Rodger v Alphabet & others:
Anneliese Blackwood instructed by Geradin partners David Gallagher, Jennifer Reeves, Patrick Teague and Anthony Ojukwu.

For the defendants Alphabet, Google LLC, Google Ireland Limited, Google Commerce Limited and Google Payment Limited (Google Asia Pacific Pte Limited and Google UK Limited are also included as defendants in the Rodger v Alphabet Inc & others proceedings)): Josh Holmes KC, Kassie Smith KC, Jack Williams, Jenn Lawrence and Luke Kelly instructed by RPC partners David Cran, Chris Ross and Rathi Thiagamoorthy, and senior associates Will Carter, Gowri Chandrashekar, Ricky Cella and Tom McCall

Shein v Temu listed in the CAT in November for three weeks:
For the defendant, Whaleco UK: Josh Holmes KC, Nikolaus Grubeck, Cliodhna Kelleher and Charlotte McLean, instructed by Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer partner Stephen Wisking

George Peretz KC and Ian Rogers KC have both been recommended for reappointment to the Welsh Government Panel of King’s Counsel.

George Peretz has been on the panel since 2017 and Ian Rogers since 2012. Candidates for the appointments had to satisfy a number of criteria, including experience of advocacy in the higher courts, experience in constitutional and administrative law, knowledge of the devolution settlement in Wales and of divergences between the law in England and in Wales, experience of working for or against the government or other public bodies and an appreciation of the particular characteristics of government litigation.

Both appointments will be for a period of five years, with effect from 1 February 2026.

The Members and Staff at Monckton Chambers would like to congratulate Sir Christopher Vajda KC who has been knighted in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 for his services to International Law.

Sir Christopher Vajda was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1979, appointed a KC in 1997 and practised at Monckton Chambers until 2012, when he became the judge of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland at the Court of Justice of the European Union from 2012 until the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union in 2020. Sir Christopher returned to Chambers in 2020 as a full member.

The citation from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office states:

‘Christopher Vajda is recognised for his distinguished career as a barrister, arbitrator, legal academic and international judge.  Before 2012, he appeared in around 100 cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union, with more than half representing the UK Government.  Appointed as the UK Judge at the Court in 2012, he gave exceptional service, and thereby enhancing the standing of the UK.  Following the referendum, he ensured that there was no drop in either the quantity or quality of his judicial output, including leading and delivering judgments on some of the most difficult and sensitive cases to come before the Court during his time.  Subsequently, he returned to the UK as a highly sought-after barrister and arbitrator and has continued to contribute to the legal profession through teaching, mentoring, and sponsoring young lawyers across the UK and Europe.’

He is a member of the UK Sports Resolutions panel, the panel of arbitrators at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and of the panel of persons suitable for appointment as Chairpersons for Arbitrations to which the EU is a party. He is also a visiting professor at King’s College, London, the College of Europe in Bruges, Luxembourg University and the Károli Gáspár University in Budapest where he has been awarded an honorary doctorate.

Heads of Chambers Philip Moser KC and Tim Ward KC said: “We congratulate Sir Christopher Vajda on the award of his knighthood.   It is a well-deserved accolade in light of his extraordinary contribution to the law, both as a Judge of the Court of Justice of the European Union and beyond.”

To view the full New Year Honours List, please click here.

Monckton Chambers is pleased to announce that our joint Head of Chambers Philip Moser KC has been re-elected as a Judge of the International Court of Appeal of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

The election took place today at the Annual General Assembly of the FIA in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and is for a further four-year term from 1 January 2026.

The FIA is the governing body for world motor sport. The International Court of Appeal is the final appeal tribunal for international motor sport. It resolves disputes brought before it by or from any of National Sporting Authorities worldwide, or by the President of the FIA. It can also settle non-sporting disputes brought by national motoring organizations affiliated to the FIA.

The annual Lexology Index Awards took place in London on the evening of 26 November 2025.

Drawing upon Lexology’s leading research and after an in-depth assessment of their findings, we are delighted to announce that Monckton Chambers was awarded Chambers of the Year for Public Procurement.

To read more about the awards please click here. Congratulations to all winners!