Megan Phillips
Megan Phillips is a solicitor in our police law department specialising in civil actions and complaints against the police. She also represents the families of those who have died in police and prison custody.
Megan's caseload has a particular emphasis on claims where the police officers concerned have gone on to face disciplinary or criminal proceedings. Megan is able to draw extensively on her background in criminal law, and her knowledge of the police complaints process, in order to enable her clients in these proceedings to play an active and effective role, and to achieve the best possible outcomes for them.
In addition, Megan has a full and varied caseload of civil claims against the police. She has been instructed in claims alleging racial discrimination, a number of public order matters, and also claims involving complex medical evidence.
She also represents the families of those who have died in police and prison custody, in which her objectives are to ensure that her clients are fully involved and that investigations into the death are as full and wide as possible.
Megan sits on the Steering Committee of the Inquest Lawyers Group and is the editor of the Inquest Law magazine. She is also a member of the Police Action Lawyers’ Group, Liberty, Young Legal Aid Lawyers’ Group and the Human Rights Lawyers’ Association.
Megan joined Bhatt Murphy in October 2005. She started her training at Hickman & Rose in 2000 and qualified in 2003, prior to which she spent several years engaged in criminal defence work. She is as an accredited police station representative and has extensive experience of representing clients on a variety of criminal charges at the police station. Megan completed her undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Politics in 1999. She worked as a volunteer Press and Campaigns Assistant at Liberty before undertaking the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in London.
Megan’s concluded private law claims include:
AY v The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, December 2010
Achieved settlement in the sum of £15,000 in respect of claims for false imprisonment, assault and malicious prosecution, following the IPCC having upheld client’s appeal against the outcome of her complaint against officers of the Metropolitan Police.
CZ v The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, November 2010
Achieved settlement in the sum of £27,500 in respect of claims for false imprisonment, assault and malicious prosecution, together with an apology.
AT v The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, July 2010
Successful judicial review proceedings arising out of the administration of a caution.
KA v The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, May 2010
Successful judicial review proceedings arising out of the administration of a caution to the client.
Subsequent representation when the officers involved in events faced misconduct proceedings in respect of breaches of the standards of professional behaviour, which resulted in one breach being found proven.
Subsequent further successful judicial review proceedings on behalf of client for breaches of the Data Protection Act arising out of events following the conclusion of the first judicial review proceedings.
Anonymous v The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, September 2009
Achieved damages in the sum of £15,000 together with an admission of liability and apology for false imprisonment and assault following the officer facing misconduct proceedings at which breaches of the Code of Conduct were found proven.
Anonymous v Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, September 2009
Achieved settlement of a civil claim on behalf of the family arising out of the death of their husband and father whilst in prison custody and in hospital.
Madalina Benson, deceased, July 2009
Inquest into the death of a young woman aged 29 years at Kettering General Hospital in November 2002 at which the Assistant Deputy Coroner for Northamptonshire concluded that the death was as a the result of a multi-faceted and multi-layered systemic failure involving staff at all levels.
Successful settlement of the civil claim achieving damages in excess of £100,000.
Anonymous v The Chief Constable of Kent Police, July 2009
A free-standing HRA claim for breach of article 8 on behalf of a couple and their 2 young children arising out of a police raid on their home which settled for £6,500, together with an apology.
Mohammed Ali v The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, October 2008
Successful civil claim for assault, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution, which achieved damages in the sum of £20,000 following the prosecution of the officer involved for racially aggravated assault.
Anonymous v The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, August 2008
Achieved damages of £14,000 in respect of claims for false imprisonment, assault, malicious process and racial discrimination including in relation to the manner in which the client’s police complaint had been investigated.
