Landmark complaint issued against UK Lawyers for 'Israel'
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The Public Interest Law Centre and European Legal Support Center have complained to the Solicitors' Regulation Authority, accusing UK Lawyers for Israel of using SLAPPs to intimidate pro-Palestine groups.
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A demonstrator holds a placard during a protest in support of the Palestinian people, in Parliament Square, in London, on August 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A Declassified UK report published on Wednesday recounted how in February 2023, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital quietly removed a display of decorated plates created by schoolchildren in Gaza. The artwork, which had hung in a hospital corridor for more than a decade, featured symbols of peace and calls for an independent Palestinian state.
The removal followed a letter from UK Lawyers for "Israel" (UKLFI), whose director, Caroline Turner, claimed it was in response to patient complaints. However, a freedom of information request later revealed the hospital had received no complaints, and the display was never reinstated.
According to the report, UKLFI has since been linked to a series of campaigns targeting expressions of solidarity with Palestine, including pressuring an NHS trust to ban pro-Palestine badges.
The Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) and the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) have now lodged a 114-page complaint to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), accusing UKLFI of using the law to intimidate civil society groups. The report mentions that the complaint alleges UKLFI operates as an unregulated law firm and calls for Turner’s suspension.
"UKLFI are acting in a manner that chills public participation and intimidates those who stand in solidarity with Palestine," said PILC solicitor Paul Heron. "We will not allow legal threats to shut down the public’s right to speak out on Palestine."
SLAPPs accusations and SRA investigation call
According to Declassified UK, the complaint centers on the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), legal threats designed to silence critics. PILC and ELSC cite eight UK-based organisations targeted by UKLFI since 2022, claiming the actions breach professional conduct rules.
The SRA issued guidance on SLAPPs in 2022, warning against bringing meritless cases, acting oppressively, or pursuing cases for improper purposes. The submission urges the regulator to set a precedent against SLAPPs in the UK legal profession.
One case cited involves the Cornelius Cardew Concerts Trust (CCCT), which planned a "The World Stands with Palestine" concert at London’s Morley College in November 2024. Days before the event, UKLFI sent a letter warning that the concert could breach terrorism, equality, and charity laws. The event was canceled, with CCCT accusing UKLFI of spreading fear and silencing voices through legal intimidation.
According to Declassified UK, the Falastin Film Festival in Scotland also faced pressure. Four days before its 2025 programme, Turner sent an "URGENT" letter to the Scottish Storytelling Centre, calling the event “inherently antisemitic and anti-Zionist” and threatening to involve the Scottish Charity Regulator. The venue went ahead, but organisers said the timing was calculated to cause maximum disruption and stress.
Calls for regulation of UKLFI’s legal activities
Declassified UK revealed that the complaint argues that UKLFI’s structure and activities give the impression of a regulated law firm, despite operating outside the SRA’s oversight. The group’s patrons include a former UK Supreme Court judge and several King’s Counsels.
PILC and ELSC say that UKLFI exploits its unregulated status to conduct legal work in breach of professional standards. The report mentioned that they also highlight an ongoing Charity Commission investigation into UKLFI’s charitable arm.
"As a solicitor, Ms. Turner is not above the SRA’s regulatory framework," Heron said, adding that "We are calling for a full investigation into her conduct and into UKLFI as an organisation that effectively acts as a law firm."
