UK Lawyers for Israel

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) is a British organisation which describes itself as using the law 'to combat attempts to undermine, attack or delegitimise Israel'.

It is a company limited by guarantee and claims to have worked on a range of projects including disrupting boycott activism, a flotilla sailing to Gaza, and working on cases in relation to universities and the media. Previous company names UK LFI LIMITED 07 Jan 2011 - 28 Nov 2012; ACTION 4 PEACE LIMITED 05 Oct 2010 - 07 Jan 2011.

UKLFI Charitable Trust is also a registered charity (Charity number: 1169041).

It appears to have close links to Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

History

UK Lawyers for Israel has been operating since approximately 2011. It was co-founded by Jonathan Turner whom the Jewish Chronicle reported was also 'head of the Zionist Federation's legal group'.

A page on the official website of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated May 2011 states that the group was created 'following the Maale HaChamisha conference'.

Besides having taken place in Israel, the precise nature of this conference is not clear. However, in 2012, Hebrew-language daily Israel Hayom reported that Israeli government officials were ‘training legal experts around the world to deal with the demands of delegitimization against Israel’ and it is possible that UKLFI have emerged from such an event, making it, effectively, a civil society organisation established at the behest of a government.

Activities

Among other activities UKLFI has held a two-day seminar 'jointly with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israel Embassy in London' on 17-18 June 2012, 'Legal Challenges and Opportunities in Israeli Policy and Advocacy'. Papers were presented on asymmetric warfare, defamation, BDS and other topics.

It has also hosted a series of talks by Brooke Goldstein, director of the U.S.-based Lawfare Project in Manchester and London in March 2012. In September 2011 it held a roundtable discussion chaired by Dr Guglielmo Verdirame on the implications of the Palestinian bid for recognition as a state.

Criticism of Yachad, proposed ZF legal tours

In March 2014, UKLFI reportedly discussed plans to organise trips to the occupied territories 'run by the Zionist Federation with UKLFI participation' to counteract the 'distorted anti-Israel impression' or tours currently run by liberal Zionist group Yachad. Their aim would be to provide what the group described as 'a balanced picture of the legal side of Israel’s civil administration of Judea and Samaria' (the West Bank).

Facilitating civil actions against protesters

In April 2014 it was reported that UKLFI had 'secured the support of an unnamed MP' who had agreed to propose an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act which would allow audience members or performers to seek damages from activists and impose injunctions against future protests. Liberal Democrat peer Lord Carlilse reportedly agreed to back the amendment in the House of Lords. The move followed protests against Israeli state-sponsored musicians at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011 and at the Globe Theatre in 2012.

Attacking charities

Among the charities UKLFI has targeted are War on Want, Medical Aid for Palestinians and Interpal.

Affiliations

• Zionist Federation - via co-founder Jonathan Turner
• Henry Jackson Society - via director Adam Levin
• Lawfare Project - the two organisations collaborate to file complaints.
• Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs - close links, including hosting joint events
• NGO Monitor - co-hosted event
• Shurat HaDin - likely collaborated on the scuppering of the 2011 flotilla to Gaza

People

Directors

• BERKE, Daniel Maurice Correspondence address 30 City Road, London, England, EC1Y 2AB Role ACTIVE Director Date of birth November 1977 Appointed on 25 September 2019 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Solicitor
• COSGROVE, Hazel, Lady Correspondence address 30 City Road, London, England, EC1Y 2AB Role ACTIVE Director Date of birth January 1946 Appointed on 13 February 2018 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Retired
• GREEN, Sam Correspondence address 30 City Road, London, England, EC1Y 2AB Role ACTIVE Director Date of birth May 1968 Appointed on 6 September 2016 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Lawyer
• LUX, Jonathan Sidney Correspondence address 30 City Road, London, England, EC1Y 2AB Role ACTIVE Director Date of birth October 1951 Appointed on 12 September 2017 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Mediator, Arbitrator And Barrister
• MAGDOVITZ, Daniela Correspondence address 30 City Road, London, England, EC1Y 2AB Role ACTIVE Director Date of birth June 1988 Appointed on 8 November 2021 Nationality Dutch Country of residence England Occupation Director
• SEGAL, Yifa Correspondence address 30 City Road, London, England, EC1Y 2AB Role ACTIVE Director Date of birth September 1982 Appointed on 20 April 2022 Nationality Israeli Country of residence Israel Occupation Lawyer
• SHAOULIAN SOPHER, Efrat, Dr Correspondence address 30 City Road, London, England, EC1Y 2AB Role ACTIVE Director Date of birth November 1977 Appointed on 8 November 2021 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Foreign Policy Advisor
• TURNER, Caroline Frances Esther Correspondence address 30 City Road, London, England, EC1Y 2AB Role ACTIVE Director Date of birth May 1958 Appointed on 12 September 2017 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Solicitor
• TURNER, Jonathan David Chattyn Correspondence address 30 City Road, London, England, EC1Y 2AB Role ACTIVE Director Date of birth May 1958 Appointed on 5 October 2010 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Barrister

Former directors

• KENDAL, Caroline Correspondence address 3 Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, London, England, WC2A 3XL Role RESIGNED Secretary Appointed on 6 September 2016 Resigned on 12 September 2017
• LEWIS, Anthony David Correspondence address 37 The Grove, London, England, N3 1QT Role RESIGNED Secretary Appointed on 14 January 2013 Resigned on 10 September 2015
• MILLER, Nigel Correspondence address Flat 8, 2 Havanna Drive, London, England, NW11 9BB Role RESIGNED Secretary Appointed on 10 September 2015 Resigned on 6 September 2016
• ADLER, Gerald, Dr Correspondence address 37 The Grove, London, England, N3 1QT Role RESIGNED Director Date of birth January 1936 Appointed on 10 January 2013 Resigned on 17 September 2014 Nationality Israeli Country of residence England Occupation Lawyer
• CARR, David John Kirsch Correspondence address 3 Radnor Road, Queen's Park, London, England, NW6 6TT Role RESIGNED Director Date of birth June 1961 Appointed on 18 November 2013 Resigned on 6 September 2016 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Solicitor
• GOLDBERG, Jonathan Correspondence address 3 Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, London, England, WC2A 3XL Role RESIGNED Director Date of birth November 1947 Appointed on 10 January 2013 Resigned on 12 September 2017 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Barrister
• HAUSDORFF, Natasha Cigal Correspondence address Suite 2s, Queen's Chambers, John Dalton Street, Manchester, England, M2 6ET Role RESIGNED Director Date of birth October 1989 Appointed on 12 September 2017 Resigned on 27 April 2021 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Barrister
• HUNT, Julian Correspondence address Ludgate House, 107-111 Fleet Street, London, England, EC4A 2AF Role RESIGNED Director Date of birth September 1981 Appointed on 23 May 2016 Resigned on 25 September 2019 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Barrister
• HUNT, Julian Correspondence address Suite 34, New House, 67-68 Hatton Garden, London, England, EC1N 8JY Role RESIGNED Director Date of birth September 1981 Appointed on 10 January 2013 Resigned on 12 January 2016 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Lawyer
• KENDAL, Caroline Sharon Lydia Correspondence address Ludgate House, 107-111 Fleet Street, London, England, EC4A 2AF Role RESIGNED Director Date of birth January 1972 Appointed on 12 September 2017 Resigned on 25 September 2019 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Business Development Consultant
• LEVIN, Adam Correspondence address Suite 2s, Queen's Chambers, John Dalton Street, Manchester, England, M2 6ET Role RESIGNED Director Date of birth October 1964 Appointed on 14 September 2017 Resigned on 23 April 2021 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Solicitor
• LEWIS, Anthony David Correspondence address Suite 34, New House, 67-68 Hatton Garden, London, England, EC1N 8JY Role RESIGNED Director Date of birth October 1944 Appointed on 10 January 2013 Resigned on 5 February 2016 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Retired Former Solicitor
• LEWIS, Mark Correspondence address 3 Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, London, England, WC2A 3XL Role RESIGNED Director Date of birth December 1964 Appointed on 17 September 2014 Resigned on 12 September 2017 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Solicitor
• MILLER, Nigel Correspondence address 3 Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, London, England, WC2A 3XL Role RESIGNED Director Date of birth May 1959 Appointed on 15 January 2013 Resigned on 12 September 2017 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Solicitor
• MORRIS, Jonathan Saul Correspondence address Adelaide House, London Bridge, London, England, EC4R 9HA Role RESIGNED Director Date of birth December 1964 Appointed on 14 January 2013 Resigned on 10 September 2015 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Solicitor
• PINES RICHMAN, Helene Correspondence address 3 Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, London, England, WC2A 3XL Role RESIGNED Director Date of birth March 1958 Appointed on 10 September 2015 Resigned on 25 September 2019 Nationality British,American Country of residence England Occupation Barrister
• REGNIER-LEIGH, Mary Deborah Correspondence address Suite 2s, Queen's Chambers, John Dalton Street, Manchester, England, M2 6ET Role RESIGNED Director Date of birth March 1943 Appointed on 25 September 2019 Resigned on 8 November 2021 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Solicitor

Trustees (and date of appointment)

• ADAM LEVIN LLB, Chair, 03 September 2017
• Jeremy Sher, Trustee, 07 December 2021
• Marc Andre Lorin Polonsky, Trustee, 10 May 2020
• Susan Rebecca Storring, Trustee, 08 October 2019
• Alan Victor Melkman, Trustee, 25 April 2018
• Harvey John Rose, Trustee, 05 September 2016

Patrons

The Rt. Hon. Lord Carlile | The Rt. Hon. Lady Cosgrove | Baroness Deech DBE, QC | Professor Sir Elihu Lauterpacht | Sir Ivan Lawrence | Sir Gavin Lightman QC | The Lord Pannick | Professor Richard Susskind | The Rt. Hon. Lord Trimble

Lawyers

Chairman Jonathan Turner | Julian Hunt

Staff

Caroline Kendall

Funding

UK LFI claims its members usually operate on a pro-bono basis but does solicit donations via its website and states that 'some matters may be funded by clients on a fee-paying basis or under conditional or contingent fee arrangements, and we may be able to raise funds from donors for some other projects which require major commitments'.

Donations to the Charitable Trust

• Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation: £5,000 (2020)

Contact

Email: info@uklfi.com

Website: www.uklfi.com

Internet Archive holdings of uklfi.com

Internet Archive holdings of uklficharity.com

Resources

• Hilary Aked, What is UK Lawyers for Israel's relationship to the Israeli government?, Mondoweiss, 12 March 2019.