36 Stone are pleased to feature in one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2025. Published annually, the Top 20 Cases series recognise the leading cases to be heard in the UK from all civil courts and arbitrations.
R (on the application of Al-Haq) v Secretary of State for Business and Trade
UK Government policy requires that licenses to export arms be suspended/revoked if there is a clear risk they will be used to violate international humanitarian law, or if their export would violate the UK’s international legal obligations. After the Israeli military started operations in Gaza in October 2023, the UK Government kept licensing arms exports to Israel until September 2024. Al-Haq, a Palestinian NGO, made a judicial review claim in the English courts arguing that UK-made arms are being used to breach international law, including to commit genocide. The current claim for judicial review concerns the decision by the SSBT on 2 September 2024 not to suspend the indirect export of parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel, despite the SSBT’s assessment of a “clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international law” and not to suspend other licences totalling over 310. This case will be listed in the High Court.
Rachel Toney has been appointed as junior Special Advocate in this case.
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Further information
For more information from the stone team, contact clerks@36stone.co.uk
Involving Rachel Toney
