Laura Stephenson

Extradition

Laura has developed a busy practice in extradition law. She has represented requested persons at first instance in the Magistrates’ Court and before the High Court. She has acted in a wide range of extradition cases, including those involving prison conditions, the right to a family and private life, passage of time and proportionality. Laura also regularly prosecutes on behalf of the CPS in cases at first instance.

Laura recently prevented the removal of a Polish national sought on a European Arrest Warrant for international supply of drugs offences. She argued that it would be disproportionate for the person to be extradited on grounds of his private and family life, under Article 8 ECHR, primarily because of the likely effect of extradition on his son’s well-being and education.

In T v Hungary, Laura successfully appealed against the extradition of a mother accused of grievous bodily harm. Laura argued that the District Judge had fallen into error and that extradition would cause unacceptable infringements on the Article 8 rights of the appellant and her children. The High Court found that the District Judge had erred in making findings at odds with the evidence in the case, and that compelling and exceptionally serious features meant the lower court should have refused to order extradition due to the appellant’s mental condition and the risk of harm to her children.