Sir Geoffrey, who co-founded the London firm in 1974 to ‘protect the rights and reputations of local Londoners’, devoted his career to helping his clients achieve their civil and human rights. Bindmans is now a leading, multi-disciplinary firm with more than 50 partners and a reputation for taking on and winning high-impact cases.
Earlier in his career, Sir Geoffrey was a legal adviser to the Race Relations Board (later the Commission for Racial Equality) for 17 years until 1983, and helped set up Camden Community Law Centre. He was also chair of the British Institute of Human Rights, and helped found the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture.
David Greene, senior partner Edwin Coe and NLJ consultant editor, said: ‘Sir Geoffrey Bindman was a force of nature, principled and forever striving to ensure the less fortunate had access to advice from lawyers and to the justice process.
‘As legal aid was pared back over the years to its bare bones today, Geoffrey continued to campaign and ensure that he and the firm that bore his name continued to provide access to justice for those who suffered prejudice and invasion of their rights. His knighthood and his appointment as an honorary silk marked his achievements as a lawyer. He will be sorely missed.’
NLJ’s editor Janny Miller said: ‘Geoffrey was a treasured member of the NLJ family and a fearless columnist. We are privileged to be the custodian of such a wonderful archive and to have known and loved him.’
In a tribute to its co-founder, Bindmans said: ‘He had an extraordinarily impactful legal career, not only as a litigator but as an architect of UK equality and human rights law. He was a magnificent lawyer and a profoundly honourable man. He was a significant force for good and will be deeply missed.’
Sir Geoffrey was a board member at Legal Action Worldwide (LAW), a non-profit organisation of human rights lawyers representing survivors of international law violations. LAW founder and executive director, Antonia Mulvey said: ‘Geoffrey was a luminary in the human rights field and his role in advancing and safeguarding the rights many of us take for granted cannot be understated.
‘Geoffrey’s tenacity, tirelessness and brilliance demonstrates the irrefutable impact one lawyer can have for thousands around the world.’
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