Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws QC practises predominantly in the criminal law, undertaking leading work of all kinds. She also undertakes judicial review, public inquiries and sex discrimination work. She has acted in many of the prominent cases of the last decade including the Brighton Bombing Trial, Guildford Four Appeal, the bombing of the Israeli Embassy, the abduction of Baby Abbie Humphries and a number of key domestic violence cases. She is currently acting in cases connected to the recent wave of terrorism.

She is the former Chair of the Human Genetics Commission and a member of the World Bank Institute’s External Advisory Council and a board member of the British Museum. She stepped down as Chair of the British Council in July 2004 after completing six years. She was Chair of the Inquiry into Sudden Infant Death for the Royal Colleges of Pathologists and of Paediatrics, producing a protocol for the investigation of such deaths. She Chaired the Power Inquiry’s campaign, makeitanissue.org.uk, which called for the next phase of constitutional reform to be a more inclusive, democratic process involving ordinary citizens. She is the Chair of Arts and Business, a Bencher of Gray’s Inn and a Member of the House of Lords speaking on issues of human rights and civil liberties.

A frequent broadcaster and journalist on law and women's rights. Her publications include the widely acclaimed Eve Was Framed: Women and British Justice (Vintage, 1993) which has been fully updated and has been reissued in paperback, March 2005. Her new book Just Law: The Changing Face of Justice and Why It Matters To Us All (Chatto & Windus, 2004) was published in paperback, March 2005.

Jennifer McDermott is chair of the Executive Board. She is a partner at Withers and works in their media and judicial review teams. She has particular experience of the implications of the Human Rights Act 1998, having taken several cases to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Recently she has been challenging Sark's feudal system, including the process by which the Privy Council approves constitutional matters for Crown Dependencies. Jennifer also advises claimants and the media on defamation, privacy and related matters.

Roger Smith is a solicitor and has been director of JUSTICE since November 2001. He has been director of legal education and training at the Law Society; director of the Legal Action Group; solicitor to the Child Poverty Action Group and director of West Hampstead Community Law Centre. He is an honorary professor at the University of Kent and a visiting professor at London South Bank University.

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