Katie qualified as a solicitor in March 2021 and joined Hodge Jones & Allen soon later in October 2021 after completed her training contract and qualifying as a solicitor at a large South London firm, where she had gained experience in criminal defence, appeals to the Court of Appeal and Criminal Cases Review Commission, prison law, and civil liberties and inquests. Katie is well known for her crucial work on landmark protest cases, including the high profile Just Stop Oil Van Gough case.

Here Katie delivers an essential Protest Law Update. She describes draconian sentencing measures and the exclusion of human rights defences, bringing into question the existence of remaining protest rights. She refers to recent landmark protest cases, highlighting the application of the application of contemporary protest law and the use of terrorism legislation.

Key words/topics

Protest law

Sentencing

Protest rights

Human rights

R v Sarti [2025] EWCA Crim 61

R v Hallam and others [2025] EWCA Crim 199

R v ABJ and BDN [2024] EWCA Crim 1597

R v Sarti, Hall and Plummer [2025] EWCA Crim 61

Section 7 Public Order Act 2023 - Interference with Key National Infrastructure

Grounds of appeal

Section 11 of the Public Order Act 1986

Basildon / Thurrock Tunnellers

Van Gogh Sunflowers

M25 conspiracy

Conspiracy to cause a public nuisance

Section 12(1A) of the Terrorism Act 2000

Section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2000