Climate activists in frame for £1m costs of protest bans run up by UK’s biggest law firm

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="el" dir="ltr" prefix="content: http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/ dc: http://purl.org/dc/terms/ foaf: http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/ og: http://ogp.me/ns# rdfs: http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema# schema: http://schema.org/ sioc: http://rdfs.org/sioc/ns# sioct: http://rdfs.org/sioc/types# skos: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core# xsd: http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema# "> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-116310079-1"></script> <script>window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments)};gtag("js", new Date());gtag("config", "UA-116310079-1", {"groups":"default","anonymize_ip":true,"allow_ad_personalization_signals":false});</script> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/themes/custom/emc2/favicons/favicon.ico" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.e-mc2.gr/el/news/climate-activists-frame-ps1m-costs-protest-bans-run-uks-biggest-law-firm" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Climate activists in frame for £1m costs of protest bans run up by UK’s biggest law firm" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Banners at Euston station in London during a protest against HS2 in 2021. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters Britain’s biggest law firm has sought more than £1m from climate protesters to cover the cost of court orders banning them from protesting, an investigation has found." /> <meta name="description" content="Banners at Euston station in London during a protest against HS2 in 2021. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters Britain’s biggest law firm has sought more than £1m from climate protesters to cover the cost of court orders banning them from protesting, an investigation has found." /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.e-mc2.gr/news/climate-activists-frame-ps1m-costs-protest-bans-run-uks-biggest-law-firm" /> <link rel="icon" sizes="16x16" href="/themes/custom/emc2/favicons/favicon-16x16.png" /> <meta name="image_src" content="" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Climate activists in frame for £1m costs of protest bans run up by UK’s biggest law firm" /> <link rel="icon" sizes="32x32" href="/themes/custom/emc2/favicons/favicon-32x32.png" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Banners at Euston station in London during a protest against HS2 in 2021. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters Britain’s biggest law firm has sought more than £1m from climate protesters to cover the cost of court orders banning them from protesting, an investigation has found." /> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.e-mc2.gr/news/climate-activists-frame-ps1m-costs-protest-bans-run-uks-biggest-law-firm" /> <meta name="twitter:image:height" content="744" /> <meta name="twitter:image:width" content="1240" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.e-mc2.gr/sites/default/files/2024-08/DE%20-%20new_66.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.e-mc2.gr/sites/default/files/2024-08/DE%20-%20new_66.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1240" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="744" /> <meta property="og:updated_time" content="2024-08-24T07:33:52+03:00" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2024-08-24T06:42:21+03:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2024-08-24T07:33:52+03:00" /> <meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 8 (https://www.drupal.org)" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="viewport" content="initial-scale=1, shrink-to-fit=no, width=device-width" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="und" href="https://www.e-mc2.gr/news/climate-activists-frame-ps1m-costs-protest-bans-run-uks-biggest-law-firm" /> <title>Climate activists in frame for £1m costs of protest bans run up by UK’s biggest law firm | e-mc2.gr</title> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/modules/contrib/ajax_loader/css/throbber-general.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/ajax-progress.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/align.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/autocomplete-loading.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/fieldgroup.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/container-inline.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/clearfix.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/details.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/hidden.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/item-list.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/js.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/nowrap.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/position-container.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/progress.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/reset-appearance.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/resize.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/sticky-header.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/system-status-counter.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/system-status-report-counters.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/system-status-report-general-info.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/tabledrag.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/tablesort.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/tree-child.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/views/css/views.module.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/responsive_menu_breakpoint.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/libraries/mmenu/dist/jquery.mmenu.all.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/modules/contrib/responsive_menu/css/responsive_menu.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/modules/contrib/ajax_loader/css/chasing-dots.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/modules/contrib/back_to_top/css/back_to_top.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/modules/contrib/better_exposed_filters/css/better_exposed_filters.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/themes/custom/emc2/js/owl.carousel/assets/owl.carousel.min.css?shsshy" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/themes/custom/emc2/css/emc2.css?shsshy" /> <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Roboto:300,400,500,700,900|Roboto+Condensed:400,700&subset=greek-ext,latin" rel="stylesheet">  <script src="/sites/default/files/asset_injector/js/adsense_script-b7fbe64c175ebae0345f261f339879e1.js?shsshy"></script> <script async src="// pagead2.googlesyndication.com/ pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"> </script> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({ google_ad_client: "pub-6874218370078860", enable_page_level_ads: true }); </script>  <script async src="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js"></script> <script> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; </script> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="dRw1oJAsGL9NeCfZujsQSKxjCuy0K9Y0x1dgifb7dsY" /> <script> window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/21808610672/test1', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1557232834243-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/21808610672/Home_page_5', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1558105567986-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/21808610672/Home_page_4', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1558439943101-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/21808610672/Home_page_1_english_730x90', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1562765991393-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/21808610672/Eσωτερική_1_Synaptiq_730x90', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1562766950779-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/21808610672/Home_page_english_ABB', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1562848490277-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/21808610672/Eσωτερική_1_ΑΒΒ_english_970x250', [970, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1562842262334-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/21808610672/Home_page_english_2_300x600', [300, 600], 'div-gpt-ad-1564485296027-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/21808610672/Home_page_2', [[300, 600], [300, 250]], 'div-gpt-ad-1570192898296-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/21808610672/ASIA_EXPO_1', [[300, 600], [300, 250]], 'div-gpt-ad-1587020501091-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/21808610672/ASIA_EXPO_2', [[300, 250], [300, 600]], 'div-gpt-ad-1587020872018-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> </head> <body class="path-node page-node-type-article"> <a href="#main-content" class="visually-hidden focusable skip-link"> Παράκαμψη προς το κυρίως περιεχόμενο </a> <div class="responsive-menu-page-wrapper"> <div id="page-wrapper" class="fluid-container layout-wrapper"> <header id="header" class="header" role="banner" aria-label="Κεφαλίδα ιστοσελίδας"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="header-left col-8 col-md-6"> <div id="block-emc2-branding" class="block block-system-branding-block"> <a href="/el" rel="home"> <img src="/themes/custom/emc2/logo.png" alt="Αρχική" /> </a> </div> </div> <div class="header-right col-8 col-md-10"> <div id="block-responsivemenumobileicon" class="responsive-menu-toggle-wrapper responsive-menu-toggle block block-responsive-menu-toggle"> <a id="toggle-icon" class="toggle responsive-menu-toggle-icon" title="Menu" href="#off-canvas"> <span class="icon"></span><span class="label">Μενού</span> </a> </div> <div class="views-exposed-form bef-exposed-form block block-views-exposed-filter-blocksearch-page-page-1" data-drupal-selector="views-exposed-form-search-page-page-1" id="block-exposedformsearch-pagepage-1"> <form action="/el/anazhthsh" method="get" id="views-exposed-form-search-page-page-1" accept-charset="UTF-8"> <div class="js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textfield form-item-keys js-form-item-keys"> <input title="Αναζήτηση λέξεις κλειδιών" data-drupal-selector="edit-keys" type="text" id="edit-keys" name="keys" value="" size="15" maxlength="128" placeholder="Πληκτρολογήστε λέξεις-κλειδιά" class="form-text" /> </div> <div data-drupal-selector="edit-actions" class="form-actions js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" id="edit-actions"><input data-drupal-selector="edit-submit-search-page" type="submit" id="edit-submit-search-page" value="Αναζήτηση" class="button js-form-submit form-submit" /> </div> </form> </div> <div id="block-mc-esoterikes-logo728x90" class="block block-block-content9326213b-4be4-46a5-98a6-5e90fb3dbe1d"> <div class="field field--name-body field__item"><script> <![CDATA[// ><!]]> </script> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1521539504507-0" style="height:90px; width:728px;"> <script> <![CDATA[// ><!]]> </script> </div></div> </div> <div id="block-socialicons" class="block block-block-content8b576df8-2c26-4270-b81d-e76bbdbb4fce"> <div class="field field--name-body field__item"><ul class="icon-social"> <li class="icon icon-fb"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/emc2entrance/" title="Follow us on Facebook"></a></li> <li class="icon icon-twitter"><a href="https://twitter.com/emc2_tsip" title="Follow us on Twitter"></a></li> <li class="icon icon-youtube"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKWYdZkXoOKCK6lg-PAPiYg" title="Follow us on Youtube"></a></li> <li class="icon icon-linkedin"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/energy-matters-to-climate-change-033a55160/" title="Follow us on Linkedin"></a></li> </ul></div> </div> <div class="language-switcher-language-url block block-language-blocklanguage-content" id="block-enallagiglossascontent" role="navigation"> <div class="allagh-glvssas"> <a href="/el/node/25377"><img width=40 class="flag-gr" src="/sites/default/files/icons/gr.svg"></a> <a href="/en/node/25377"><img width=40 class="flag-eng" src="/sites/default/files/icons/gb.svg"></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <nav class="col"> <div id="block-horizontalmenu" class="block block-responsive-menu-horizontal-menu"> <nav class="responsive-menu-block-wrapper"> <ul id="horizontal-menu" class="horizontal-menu"> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="/el/vivliothikes" data-drupal-link-system-path="vivliothikes">Βιβλιοθηκες</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="/el/news/arthra-apopseis" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/368">Aρθρα - Αποψεις</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="/el/eidiseis" data-drupal-link-system-path="eidiseis">Ειδησεις</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="/el/news/koinoniki-eythyni" title="/news/koinoniki-eythyni" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/371">Κοινωνικη Ευθυνη</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="/news/tehnologia-idees">Επιστήμη - Τεχνολογία - Καινοτομία</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="/el/news/ekdiloseis-protaseis" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/369">Προτασεις</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="/el/node/159" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/159">Επικοινωνια</a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </header> <main role="main"> <div class="container"> <a id="main-content" tabindex="-1"></a> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div><div id="block-emc2-content" class="block block-system-main-block"> <div class="default-layout"> <div class="hero"> <div class="block-region-hero"><div class="block block-block-contentaa35929d-edc8-4fb5-a5a4-1a3678999c7b"> <div class="field field--name-body field__item"><script> <![CDATA[// ><!]]> </script> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1588351795778-0" style="width: 970px; height: 250px;"> <script> <![CDATA[// ><!]]> </script> </div> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1521539449066-0" class="ad ad-container--big"> <script> <![CDATA[// ><!]]> </script> </div></div> </div> <div class="block block-nodestats"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="main row"> <div class="col-11 left"> <div class="block-region-main"><div class="block block-entity-fieldnodetitle"> <h1 class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-visually_hidden">Climate activists in frame for £1m costs of protest bans run up by UK’s biggest law firm</h1> </div> <div class="block block-entity-fieldnodefield-image"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field__item"> <img width="800" height="445" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-src="/sites/default/files/styles/800x445/public/2024-08/DE%20-%20new_66.jpg?itok=ELUcxxnZ" /> </div> </div> <div class="block block-author"> <div class="author-info clearfix"><strong>24 08 2024</strong> | <span>06:42</span><span class="author"><a href="/el/author/edward-siddons-billie-gay-jackson-and-damien-gayle" hreflang="el">Edward Siddons, Billie Gay Jackson and Damien Gayle</a></span><span class="author-social"><ul><li><a class="icon icon-mail" href="mailto:?&Subject=Climate activists in frame for £1m costs of protest bans run up by UK’s biggest law firm"></a></li><li><a class="icon icon-linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.e-mc2.gr/el/news/climate-activists-frame-ps1m-costs-protest-bans-run-uks-biggest-law-firm"></a></li><li><a class="icon icon-facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.e-mc2.gr/el/news/climate-activists-frame-ps1m-costs-protest-bans-run-uks-biggest-law-firm"></a></li><li><a class="icon icon-twitter" href="https://twitter.com/home?status=https://www.e-mc2.gr/el/news/climate-activists-frame-ps1m-costs-protest-bans-run-uks-biggest-law-firm Climate activists in frame for £1m costs of protest bans run up by UK’s biggest law firm"></a></li></ul></span></div> </div> <div class="block block-entity-fieldnodebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field__item"><p><em>Banners at Euston station in London during a protest against HS2 in 2021. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters</em></p> <p>Britain’s biggest law firm has sought more than £1m from climate protesters to cover the cost of court orders banning them from protesting, an investigation has found.</p> <p>The multibillion-pound City law firm DLA Piper has been trying to recover costs from activists for work done on behalf of National Highways Limited (NHL) and <a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/hs2">HS2</a> Ltd – both public bodies – obtaining injunctions banning protests on their sites.</p> <div id="sign-in-gate"><gu-island data-island-status="hydrated" deferuntil="visible" name="SignInGateSelector" priority="feature" props="{"contentType":"Article","sectionId":"environment","tags":[{"id":"environment/activism","type":"Keyword","title":"Environmental activism"},{"id":"law/law","type":"Keyword","title":"Law"},{"id":"environment/climate-crisis","type":"Keyword","title":"Climate crisis"},{"id":"environment/environment","type":"Keyword","title":"Environment"},{"id":"campaign/email/green-light","type":"Campaign","title":"Down to Earth (newsletter sign up)"},{"id":"world/protest","type":"Keyword","title":"Protest"},{"id":"world/activism","type":"Keyword","title":"Activism"},{"id":"uk/hs2","type":"Keyword","title":"HS2"},{"id":"uk/uk","type":"Keyword","title":"UK news"},{"id":"type/article","type":"Type","title":"Article"},{"id":"tone/news","type":"Tone","title":"News"},{"id":"profile/damien-gayle","type":"Contributor","title":"Damien Gayle","twitterHandle":"damiengayle","bylineImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/11/03/Damien_Gayle_v2.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2ee072be7e21a7561b6de0c23d36eaf1","bylineLargeImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/11/03/Damien_Gayle.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0e1365d1bbeb24c8d2c4e4be7be3ce2d"},{"id":"profile/edward-siddons","type":"Contributor","title":"Edward Siddons"},{"id":"publication/theguardian","type":"Publication","title":"The Guardian"},{"id":"theguardian/mainsection","type":"NewspaperBook","title":"Main section"},{"id":"theguardian/mainsection/topstories","type":"NewspaperBookSection","title":"Top stories"},{"id":"tracking/commissioningdesk/uk-environment","type":"Tracking","title":"UK Environment"}],"isPaidContent":false,"isPreview":false,"host":"https://www.theguardian.com","pageId":"environment/article/2024/aug/16/climate-activists-court-costs-protest-bans-uk-biggest-law-firm-dla-piper","idUrl":"https://profile.theguardian.com","switches":{"lightbox":true,"mastheadWithHighlights":true,"externalVideoEmbeds":true,"abSignInGateMainVariant":true,"prebidAppnexusUkRow":true,"prebidMagnite":true,"commercialMetrics":true,"prebidTrustx":true,"scAdFreeBanner":false,"adaptiveSite":true,"prebidPermutiveAudience":true,"compareVariantDecision":false,"enableSentryReporting":true,"lazyLoadContainers":true,"ampArticleSwitch":false,"remarketing":true,"articleEndSlot":true,"keyEventsCarousel":true,"registerWithPhone":false,"darkModeWeb":true,"targeting":true,"remoteHeader":true,"slotBodyEnd":true,"prebidImproveDigitalSkins":true,"ampPrebidOzone":true,"extendedMostPopularFronts":true,"emailInlineInFooter":true,"showNewPrivacyWordingOnEmailSignupEmbeds":true,"prebidAnalytics":true,"extendedMostPopular":true,"ampContentAbTesting":false,"prebidCriteo":true,"okta":true,"imrWorldwide":true,"acast":true,"twitterUwt":true,"updatedHeaderDesign":true,"prebidAppnexusInvcode":true,"ampPrebidPubmatic":true,"a9HeaderBidding":true,"prebidAppnexus":true,"enableDiscussionSwitch":true,"prebidXaxis":true,"stickyVideos":true,"interactiveFullHeaderSwitch":true,"discussionAllPageSize":true,"prebidUserSync":true,"audioOnwardJourneySwitch":true,"brazeTaylorReport":false,"callouts":true,"sentinelLogger":true,"geoMostPopular":true,"weAreHiring":false,"relatedContent":true,"thirdPartyEmbedTracking":true,"prebidOzone":true,"ampLiveblogSwitch":false,"ampAmazon":true,"prebidAdYouLike":true,"mostViewedFronts":true,"optOutAdvertising":true,"abSignInGateMainControl":true,"googleSearch":true,"abOptOutFrequencyCap":true,"brazeSwitch":true,"prebidKargo":true,"consentManagement":true,"personaliseSignInGateAfterCheckout":true,"prebidSonobi":true,"idProfileNavigation":true,"confiantAdVerification":true,"discussionAllowAnonymousRecommendsSwitch":false,"absoluteServerTimes":false,"permutive":true,"comscore":true,"ampPrebidCriteo":true,"newsletterOnwards":false,"youtubeIma":true,"webFonts":true,"liveBlogTopSponsorship":true,"prebidImproveDigital":true,"abAdBlockAsk":false,"ophan":true,"crosswordSvgThumbnails":true,"prebidTriplelift":true,"weather":true,"prebidPubmatic":true,"serverShareCounts":false,"autoRefresh":true,"enhanceTweets":true,"prebidIndexExchange":true,"prebidOpenx":true,"prebidHeaderBidding":true,"idCookieRefresh":true,"abOptimiseSpacefinderInline":true,"discussionPageSize":true,"smartAppBanner":false,"historyTags":true,"brazeContentCards":true,"surveys":true,"remoteBanner":true,"emailSignupRecaptcha":true,"prebidSmart":true,"shouldLoadGoogletag":true,"inizio":true}}"></gu-island></div> <p>Courts have so far ordered activists to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds to NHL and HS2 to reimburse them for DLA Piper’s costs.</p> <p>Reporters from the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) scoured court records to collate the sums claimed by DLA Piper to cover costs incurred by the law firm for its clients, which included fees of £350 an hour for providing legal advice, £75,000 for a single hearing and £2,500 for drawing up a document listing its fees.</p> <p>Barristers said costs incurred by City law firms such as DLA Piper far exceeded those incurred by in-house solicitors at public bodies or local authorities, ratcheting up the risk of large costs to protesters.</p> <p>NHL and HS2 hired DLA Piper in 2021 for legal work that included applying for injunctions – court orders prohibiting certain actions – against more than 200 activists, primarily from Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain, to ban them from protesting on and around motorways and <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/26/hs2-tunnel-protest-euston-final-activist-leaves">high-speed rail construction sites</a>.</p> <p>In the case of the NHL injunction, most obeyed but have nevertheless been chased for thousands of pounds in costs.</p> <p>One woman who did break the injunction told TBIJ that her income meant it would take her eight years to pay off the costs of about £5,000 that had been sought against her. Another of those targeted was Louise Lancaster, who continued to protest and received a 42-day suspended sentence in 2022 alongside an order to pay £22,000 in costs. Lancaster was jailed <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/11/just-stop-oil-activists-found-guilty-of-conspiring-to-block-m25-traffic">last month</a> for coordinating disruptive protests on the M25 as part of Just Stop Oil.</p> <p>Adam Wagner, a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, said: “You might have a protester who, for the same action, is convicted of a criminal offence, has an injunction taken out against them with the risk of contempt of court proceedings if they breach it, and faces huge costs. It’s like triple jeopardy.”</p> <p>The largest single sum sought by DLA Piper was £727,573.84, which covered multiple claims on behalf of NHL against about 140 protesters who blocked the M25 and surrounding roads. That sum was eventually reduced by a judge to £580,000, and a later settlement offer sought about £3,000 from each campaigner to end the case, which was accepted by most.</p> <p>DLA Piper has also pursued a further £75,891.84 from protesters who disputed the renewal of the injunction.</p> <p>In separate proceedings, at which NHL pursued 12 protesters for contempt of court after they broke the M25 injunctions, an offence that can mean jail time, DLA Piper listed £229,525.35 in costs, bringing the total to about £1m.</p> <p>On behalf of HS2, DLA Piper pursued £70,216 in costs against five defendants, all of whom broke injunctions. The sums include barristers’ fees.</p> <p>A DLA Piper spokesperson said: “The firm supports the right to protest lawfully and recognises the need to build a sustainable future. But any change must be brought around in compliance with the law, for the protection of the country and protesters. The firm is one of the world’s largest legal advisers to the renewable energy industry and is recognised for advising on more renewable energy deals and projects than any other law firm.”</p> <p>A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd said: “We support the right to lawful protest. We have only taken legal action where there has been illegal direct action against HS2. Unlawful action against HS2 has cost taxpayers over £150m and put the lives of protesters, the public and our own workforce in great danger. Since the high court granted a route-wide injunction to protect the HS2 project from unlawful activity we have seen a significant decline in illegal activity.”</p> <p>In June NHL awarded DLA Piper a further £650,000 contract to provide legal services related to injunctions against protesters.</p> <p>An NHL spokesperson said: “Our primary concern is always safety. Protesting on motorways and major A-roads is extremely dangerous for both the protesters and motorists. It’s right that dangerous and reckless protesters who disrupt our roads should face the necessary consequences; anyone intending to protest on roads protected by an injunction should know they run the risk of imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.</p> <p>“These orders are intended to dissuade people from risking lives, not to prohibit lawful protest. As a government-owned company funded by public money, costs recovery is an important aspect of ensuring public funds are protected.”</p> <p><img alt="c" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3d60ae0c-2060-474b-b0c6-3b2bc2072cb8" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/the%20guardian%20logo_330.jpg" /></p> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container block block-views-blockrelated-artices-block-1"> <h2>Σχετικά Άρθρα</h2> <div><div class="row js-view-dom-id-c534ef2813025e940fc290514290dbbe1cb6598d2c1bfb7a2650e642164bb953"> <div class="col views-row"><div class="teaser-image has-overlay"><div class="teaser-image-overlay"> <a href="/news/german-climate-activists-stop-air-traffic-after-breaking-four-airport-sites" hreflang="und"><img width="255" height="140" alt="" typeof="Image" data-src="/sites/default/files/styles/255x140/public/2024-08/DE%20-%20new_47.jpg?itok=Xefy1zKL" /> </a> </div></div><div class="teaser-datetime"><strong>24 08 2024</strong> | 07:08</div><h2 class="teaser-title"><a href="/news/german-climate-activists-stop-air-traffic-after-breaking-four-airport-sites" hreflang="und">German climate activists stop air traffic after breaking into four airport sites</a></h2></div> <div class="col views-row"><div class="teaser-image has-overlay"><div class="teaser-image-overlay"> <a href="/news/cello-playing-climate-activist-arrested-new-york-citibank-protest-crackdown-escalates" hreflang="und"><img width="255" height="140" alt="" typeof="Image" data-src="/sites/default/files/styles/255x140/public/2024-08/DE%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy_45.jpg?itok=qfEwOk2w" /> </a> </div></div><div class="teaser-datetime"><strong>14 08 2024</strong> | 07:37</div><h2 class="teaser-title"><a href="/news/cello-playing-climate-activist-arrested-new-york-citibank-protest-crackdown-escalates" hreflang="und">Cello-playing climate activist arrested at New York Citibank protest as crackdown escalates</a></h2></div> <div class="col views-row"><div class="teaser-image has-overlay"><div class="teaser-image-overlay"> <a href="/news/untold-turning-activism-action-climate-change-climate-refugees-and-greenpeaces-mission" hreflang="und"><img width="255" height="140" alt="" typeof="Image" data-src="/sites/default/files/styles/255x140/public/2024-07/DE%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy_193.jpg?itok=EnkPrzuC" /> </a> </div></div><div class="teaser-datetime"><strong>05 08 2024</strong> | 10:09</div><h2 class="teaser-title"><a href="/news/untold-turning-activism-action-climate-change-climate-refugees-and-greenpeaces-mission" hreflang="und">The Untold: Turning Activism into Action—Climate Change, Climate Refugees, and Greenpeace’s Mission</a></h2></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-5 right"> <div class="block-region-sidebar"><div class="block block-block-content158c7941-79f5-4f6b-abd5-6b3b0061e888"> <div class="field field--name-body field__item"><script> <![CDATA[// ><!]]> </script> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1521539404943-0" class="ad"> <script> <![CDATA[// ><!]]> </script> </div></div> </div> <div class="block block-block-content79c1764a-39d8-40ad-a979-37894b975eae"> <div class="field field--name-body field__item"><script> <![CDATA[// ><!]]> </script> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1521539360375-0" class="ad" style="height:250px; width:300px;"> <script> <![CDATA[// ><!]]> </script> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-element-container block block-views-blockteleytaia-arthra-block-1"> <h2>Δημοφιλή Άρθρα</h2> <div><div class="js-view-dom-id-5d8b7e86818874761f400d4d1cb6e1041895144a2112eb183883e5b89dac77d8"> <div class="row views-row"><div class="col pr-0"> <a href="/news/must-visit-african-destinations-nature-lovers" hreflang="und"><img width="135" height="100" alt="" typeof="Image" data-src="/sites/default/files/styles/135x100/public/2024-11/163.24.PNG?itok=4r1wlCTy" /> </a> </div><h2 class="teaser-title col pl-0 pr-0"><a href="/el/news/must-visit-african-destinations-nature-lovers">Must-visit African Destinations for Nature Lovers</a></h2></div> <div class="row views-row"><div class="col pr-0"> <a href="/news/whats-answer-fast-fashion-african-designers-look-solutions-problem-arriving-their-doorstep" hreflang="und"><img width="135" height="100" alt="" typeof="Image" data-src="/sites/default/files/styles/135x100/public/2024-11/126.24.PNG?itok=eqti5vk4" /> </a> </div><h2 class="teaser-title col pl-0 pr-0"><a href="/el/news/whats-answer-fast-fashion-african-designers-look-solutions-problem-arriving-their-doorstep">What's the answer to fast fashion? African designers look for solutions to a problem…</a></h2></div> <div class="row views-row"><div class="col pr-0"> <a href="/news/miscarriages-due-climate-crisis-blind-spot-action-plans-report" hreflang="und"><img width="135" height="100" alt="" typeof="Image" data-src="/sites/default/files/styles/135x100/public/2024-10/86.24_0.PNG?itok=whae-9AD" /> </a> </div><h2 class="teaser-title col pl-0 pr-0"><a href="/el/news/miscarriages-due-climate-crisis-blind-spot-action-plans-report">Miscarriages due to climate crisis a ‘blind spot’ in action plans – report</a></h2></div> <div class="row views-row"><div class="col pr-0"> <a href="/news/businesses-may-be-investing-more-climate-adaptation-we-think" hreflang="und"><img width="135" height="100" alt="" typeof="Image" data-src="/sites/default/files/styles/135x100/public/2024-10/100.24_0.PNG?itok=FV444HKr" /> </a> </div><h2 class="teaser-title col pl-0 pr-0"><a href="/el/news/businesses-may-be-investing-more-climate-adaptation-we-think">Businesses may be investing more in climate adaptation than we think</a></h2></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <footer role="contentinfo" class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col"> <hr> <div id="block-sitebranding" class="block block-system-branding-block"> <a href="/el" rel="home"> <img src="/themes/custom/emc2/logo.png" alt="Αρχική" /> </a> </div> <div id="block-socialicons-2" class="block block-block-content8b576df8-2c26-4270-b81d-e76bbdbb4fce"> <div class="field field--name-body field__item"><ul class="icon-social"> <li class="icon icon-fb"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/emc2entrance/" title="Follow us on Facebook"></a></li> <li class="icon icon-twitter"><a href="https://twitter.com/emc2_tsip" title="Follow us on Twitter"></a></li> <li class="icon icon-youtube"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKWYdZkXoOKCK6lg-PAPiYg" title="Follow us on Youtube"></a></li> <li class="icon icon-linkedin"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/energy-matters-to-climate-change-033a55160/" title="Follow us on Linkedin"></a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </footer> </div> </div> <div class="off-canvas-wrapper"><div id="off-canvas"> <ul class="nav"> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/el/vivliothikes" class="nav-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="vivliothikes">Βιβλιοθηκες</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/el/news/arthra-apopseis" class="nav-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/368">Aρθρα - Αποψεις</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/el/eidiseis" class="nav-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="eidiseis">Ειδησεις</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/el/news/koinoniki-eythyni" title="/news/koinoniki-eythyni" class="nav-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/371">Κοινωνικη Ευθυνη</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/news/tehnologia-idees" class="nav-link">Επιστήμη - Τεχνολογία - Καινοτομία</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/el/news/ekdiloseis-protaseis" class="nav-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/369">Προτασεις</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/el/node/159" class="nav-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/159">Επικοινωνια</a> </li> </ul> </div></div> <script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/","scriptPath":null,"pathPrefix":"el\/","currentPath":"node\/25377","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"el"},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"ajax_loader\/ajax_loader.throbber,asset_injector\/js\/adsense_script,back_to_top\/back_to_top_icon,back_to_top\/back_to_top_js,better_exposed_filters\/general,core\/html5shiv,emc2\/global-styling,emc2_fixes\/nodestats.statistics,google_analytics\/google_analytics,responsive_menu\/responsive_menu.breakpoint,responsive_menu\/responsive_menu.config,responsive_menu\/responsive_menu.styling,system\/base,views\/views.module","theme":"emc2","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":{"\/el\/anazhthsh":true},"responsive_menu":{"position":"left","theme":"theme-dark","pagedim":"pagedim","breakpoint":"(min-width: 960px)","extension_keyboard":true,"superfish":{"active":false,"delay":300,"speed":100,"speedOut":100},"mediaQuery":"(min-width: 960px)"},"ajaxLoader":{"markup":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ajax-throbber sk-chasing-dots\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022sk-child sk-dot1\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022sk-child sk-dot2\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E","hideAjaxMessage":false,"alwaysFullscreen":true,"throbberPosition":"body"},"back_to_top":{"back_to_top_button_trigger":"100","back_to_top_prevent_on_mobile":1,"back_to_top_prevent_in_admin":1,"back_to_top_button_type":"image","back_to_top_button_text":"Back to top"},"google_analytics":{"account":"UA-116310079-1","trackOutbound":true,"trackMailto":true,"trackDownload":true,"trackDownloadExtensions":"7z|aac|arc|arj|asf|asx|avi|bin|csv|doc(x|m)?|dot(x|m)?|exe|flv|gif|gz|gzip|hqx|jar|jpe?g|js|mp(2|3|4|e?g)|mov(ie)?|msi|msp|pdf|phps|png|ppt(x|m)?|pot(x|m)?|pps(x|m)?|ppam|sld(x|m)?|thmx|qtm?|ra(m|r)?|sea|sit|tar|tgz|torrent|txt|wav|wma|wmv|wpd|xls(x|m|b)?|xlt(x|m)|xlam|xml|z|zip"},"NodeStats":{"data":{"nid":"25377"},"url":"\/core\/modules\/statistics\/statistics.php"},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"0ffacfa5aaad178588d601bce4dfeb3a0d76c700754941d93dcbee2a132c2f1a"}}</script> <script src="/core/assets/vendor/jquery/jquery.min.js?v=3.4.1"></script> <script src="/core/assets/vendor/underscore/underscore-min.js?v=1.8.3"></script> <script src="/core/assets/vendor/jquery-once/jquery.once.min.js?v=2.2.0"></script> <script src="/core/misc/drupalSettingsLoader.js?v=8.8.1"></script> <script src="/sites/default/files/languages/el_hQiHxUZDJhsoZO5O2RrdQVeUg7JRbPiMdnOMQP9UaR8.js?shsshy"></script> <script src="/core/misc/drupal.js?v=8.8.1"></script> <script src="/core/misc/drupal.init.js?v=8.8.1"></script> <script src="/core/assets/vendor/jquery.ui/ui/effect-min.js?v=1.12.1"></script> <script src="/libraries/mmenu/dist/jquery.mmenu.all.js?v=8.8.1"></script> <script src="/modules/contrib/responsive_menu/js/responsive_menu.config.js?v=8.8.1"></script> <script src="/core/misc/progress.js?v=8.8.1"></script> <script src="/core/misc/ajax.js?v=8.8.1"></script> <script src="/modules/contrib/ajax_loader/js/ajax-throbber.js?v=1.x"></script> <script src="/modules/contrib/back_to_top/js/back_to_top.js?v=8.8.1"></script> <script src="/modules/contrib/google_analytics/js/google_analytics.js?v=8.8.1"></script> <script src="/themes/custom/emc2/js/owl.carousel/owl.carousel.min.js?v=1.x"></script> <script src="/themes/custom/emc2/js/emc2.js?v=1.x"></script> <script src="/themes/custom/emc2/js/lazyload.min.js?v=1.x"></script> <script src="/modules/custom/emc2_fixes/emc2_fixes.statistics.js?v=8.8.1"></script> <script src="/modules/contrib/better_exposed_filters/js/better_exposed_filters.js?v=3.x"></script> <div class="custom-footer"> <div class="rights-reserved"> <img src="/themes/custom/emc2/logo-copyright.png"> <span>© Copyright 2019. All Rights Reserved.</span> </div> <div class="developed-by"> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.epsilon-informatics.gr"><img alt="Εψιλον Πληροφορική" title="Εψιλον Πληροφορική" src="/sites/default/files/icons/ep_logo.jpg"></a> <span> Maintenance & Support </span> </div> </div> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Climate activists in frame for £1m costs of protest bans run up by UK’s biggest law firm | e-mc2.gr