The 2009 Extradition Lawyers' Association Conference

The 2009 ELA Annual Conference took place on 4th November 2009 at the Inner Temple London.

We are especially grateful to Lord Justice Laws, our key-note speaker,  on "extradition: means and ends "

We are also very grateful to our other guest speakers:

  • Paul Garlick QC, Furnival Chambers, on "Rule 39 applications to the ECHR"
  • Michael S. Kim and Robert W. Henoch, of Kobre Kim LLP, former Federal US prosecutors, on "How extradition and MLAT Requests are processed and supervised within the US Department of Justice"

Event Sponsors:

Association Meeting 7 April 2009

ELA and Reprieve members attended a meeting hosted by 7 Bedford Row on 7th April 2009 where Mr Moazzam Begg of Cage Prisoners provided a first-hand account of his experience of being rendered to Guantánamo Bay, of being detained there and in other US detention facilities and the work that he has been engaged in since his release in January 2005. The Association expresses its particular thanks to Miss Gemma Lindfield and 7 Bedford Row for their work coordinating the evening.

The 2008 Extradition Lawyers' Association Conference   

The first Annual ELA Lecture Night and Conference took place on 30th September 2008 at the Inner Temple in London. We are grateful to all our guest speakers for their valuable contributions, including Baroness Sarah Ludford (Member of the European Parliament), District Judge N. Evans, John Hardy QC, Anand Doobay, Peter Binning, Joel Smith, Ben Lloyd, Clair Dobbin,  Charlotte Powell, Prof. S. Nash, Gareth Julian (Special Crime Division, CPS) and the Extradition Squad (CPD to be confirmed).

Topics covered included:

  • an analysis of how different EU States have implemented and interpreted the principle of mutual recognition, and whether that interpretation is helping or hindering the European Arrest Warrant scheme;
  • an analysis of recent human rights issues in High Court extradition cases;
  • what clients can do to smooth return if extradition is inevitable;
  • an analysis of recent decisions to extradite people in cases where the defence asserts that the request is politically or economically motivated;
  • an analysis of the problems implementing the concept of 'mutual trust' between Member States whose respect for human rights varies;
  • the expected increase in EAW requests under the Schengen Information System II;
  • the mechanics of return from the point of view of the Extradition Squad.