Daniel Cooper
Solicitor
Daniel specialises in civil liberties, private and public law, human rights and equality/discrimination law. His practice includes inquests, public inquiries, protest law, civil and regulatory proceedings and professional discipline. He was a finalist in the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2020.
Daniel specialises in complex, high profile and sensitive cases and particularly those in which he works with families who have lost loved ones in suspicious or controversial circumstances, as a result of police violence or at work. Daniel’s aim is to achieve accountability and redress with his clients.
Chambers and Partners 2024 guide
"He is a real rising star of the future and very intelligent”
"Daniel is extraordinary”
"Daniel is seriously talented. He is an extremely clever and analytical solicitor. He goes the extra mile for his clients and really understands them."
Feedback from clients and families
"Daniel has been excellent in every respect."
"Daniel was extremely kind and compassionate when working with my family. He was patient and understood the gravity of the circumstances. He provided great guidance and translated law terminology so that it was well understood."
“I am writing this letter to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation for your exceptional service as our solicitor throughout the legal proceedings involving our family. Your unwavering dedication, relentless efforts, and commitment played an integral role in securing a triumphant outcome for us”.
“This outcome has provided closure and justice for our family, and we owe this success to your hard work and dedication”.
“Your expertise and guidance throughout the case were truly invaluable. Your strategic approach, meticulous attention to detail, and adept handling of the complexities involved were instrumental in leading us to victory. We were facing a formidable challenge, and your legal acumen helped us navigate the intricate legal landscape with confidence”.
“You really stood by us when no one else did. You were more than a solicitor and I thank you for your enormous efforts.”
“Your professionalism and integrity were evident in every step of the process. You not only showcased an exceptional understanding of the legal intricacies but also displayed a genuine concern for our well-being throughout the ordeal.”
“Again thank you for everything. You have been incredible. I’m so pleased with the outcome and that the jury listened and gave our brother a voice”.
“You are a highly impressive young man we have been lucky to have you”
“Much as I try, I really can’t ever thank you enough for all your endeavours during the last three years, throughout both inquest and civil action processes, in helping to secure accountability and justice”
“Thank you for everything. I’m so grateful and appreciative for the effort and immense hard work you have put in for all of us. You are forever in our hearts”.
Some of Daniel's current work
Grenfell Tower fire
Daniel is instructed by bereaved family members and residents of Grenfell Tower.
Daniel acts for the family of PC Abraham who sadly took his own life after a campaign of bullying and harassment whilst working as a student police officer for West Yorkshire Police .
Daniel acts for the family of Kunil Nur, a Somali refugee, who died in violent and suspicious circumstances in Wigan in October 2021 and supports them in their pursuit for justice.
Daniel acts for the mother of Christopher Kapessa who was tragically killed when he was 13 years old, and for which the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute a suspect. He now acts for Christopher’s mother in the Inquest touching upon Christopher’s death.
Daniel acts with Imran Khan KC for Louis De Zoysa in the Inquest proceedings touching upon the death of Sgt Matt Ratana, who was murdered in September 2020 after officers failed to find a gun concealed on arrested man Louis De Zoysa.
Death of Amarnih-Lewis Daniel
Daniel acts for the mother of Amarnih, a young black, Trans woman with multiple vulnerabilities in complex coronial proceedings, which explores the support for her gender identity disorder as well as her autism.
Death of vulnerable prisoner Mesut Olgun
Daniel acts for family concerning Mesut’s death in prison, in which there are also criminal proceedings into prison’s staff role.
Undercover Policing Public Inquiry
Daniel acts for Core Participants in this Public Inquiry which aims to get to the truth of undercover policing since 1968 and providing recommendations for the future.
Daniel works with the family of Elizabeth Chau who disappeared in 1999. The family have accused the Metropolitan police of failing to take the case seriously because of their race and Elizabeth’s gender.
Daniel represents the family of Romello Mcook, who died in suspicious circumstances. The family experienced a flawed and defective police investigation, which they believe was caused by discrimination. Rarely, following family pressure, another police force reviewed the case, and made a range of criticisms of the investigation and directed investigative steps be taken. The family pursue complaints including civil proceedings in respect of the police investigation and there are inquest proceedings ongoing.
Historic sexual and physical abuse
Daniel has secured accountability and millions of pounds in damages for survivors of historic sexual abuse in the context of private law claims and non-civil proceedings, including in one of the world’s first redress schemes.
Dr Abbasi v Northumbria Police Force
Daniel acts for Dr Abbasi with Imran Khan QC in respect of civil proceedings arising from his assault and arrest.
Daniel’s practice also includes cases concerning police misconduct, those in the mental health context, local government and social services, children’s’ rights, surveillance, national security, prisons and women’s rights. He has a particular passion in the rights of Roma, Travellers and Gypsies and sits on the Traveller Movement’s advisory board.
Past cases
Inquest into the death of Baby Asiah Naveah Kudi
Daniel acted for the grandparents of 20 month-old Asiah Kudi, known affectionately by the family as ‘Naveah’, at Brighton & Hove City Coroner’s Court.
Police shooting of Yassar Yaqub
Daniel acted with Partner Imran Khan QC and Michael Mansfield QC for the family of Yassar Yaqub who was shot dead by West Yorkshire Police in 2017.
Police shooting of Jermaine Baker
Daniel was instructed in the public inquiry concerning the fatal shooting of Jermaine Baker following a Metropolitan Police Service operation.
Unlawful killing of Paul Reynolds
Daniel represented the family of Paul Reynolds, who was killed at Pontins Holiday park in Suffolk in 2017 following a dangerous, deliberate and unlawful restraint by his neck which was found by the jury to have contributed to his death.
Birmingham wall disasterDaniel represented the families of 5 African workers who were tragically killed at work in 2016, for which the employers were successfully prosecuted and imprisoned following a concerted campaign by the family.
Deaths in a mental health context
Daniel has acted for very many families whose loved ones have sadly died in a mental health facility or taken their own lives in the community.
Daniel acted for Hesham Sharif in police misconduct proceedings concerning his stop and search.
On 6 May 2020, 17 year-old Matthew Mackell called Kent Police many times for help before taking his own life. Daniel acted for Matthew’s family in the Inquest, which identified systemic failings by Kent Police. Daniel supported Matthew’s successful family’s pursuit for change to police procedure in Kent and nationally.
Protest Law
Daniel acted for Alfie Meadows, who suffered a brain injury following major students protests, in successful civil and police disciplinary proceedings.
He has also acted for many other protestors.
Death of Joshua Ball
Daniel acted for the family of Joshua, who tragically died following police restraint in complex coronial and civil proceedings.
Inquest Touching the Death of Soldier Jayne Hill
Daniel acted for 19-year-old Soldier Jayne Hill’s mother in the inquest proceedings. Jayne was a Sapper in the Royal Engineers, stationed at the Denison Barracks in Thatcham, Berkshire.
Death in Dubai police custody
Daniel acted with Imran Khan QC for Lee’s family in an inquest which concerned his death in custody in Dubai whilst a tourist on holiday
Daniel acted for the daughters of Elsie Brooks who died at King George hospital in 2010. The first inquest took place in 2014 and was quashed in 2018. Daniel acted in the fresh inquest which resulted in critical findings.
KK v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2021]
Daniel successfully acted for a vulnerable teenager who was brutally assaulted by police officers. KK was punched 4 times to the head and elbowed 3 times in his mouth in a police van. An officer also held him in a headlock. Following service of the claim, and prior to a Case and Cost Management Conference, the Metropolitan Police agreed to pay substantial damages to KK.
Younes Bentahar v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2021]
Daniel successfully acted for Mr Bentahar in respect of events on 9 July 2019 in which officers were filmed striking Mr Bentahar and pinning him down while he appeared to have a seizure during a traffic stop. The case has attracted national attention, which may be found here. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner agreed to pay substantial damages to Mr Bentahar in settlement of his civil claim for assault, false imprisonment, breaches of the Human Rights Act and discrimination.
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
Daniel represented significant numbers of Core Participants in this national inquiry across a range of its investigations.
TXD v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2020]
Daniel successfully acted for a teenager in proceedings in assault and battery and false imprisonment, claiming aggravated and exemplary damages.
CH v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police [2019]
Daniel successfully acted for CH in complex proceedings in negligence and under the Human Rights Act 1998.
Wahab Butt v Ledley King [2019]
Daniel acted for Mr Butt in proceedings against former England Tottenham star, Ledley King.
JXD v Bedford Borough Council [2019]
Daniel successfully acted for mother and daughter for proceedings in negligence, false imprisonment, assault and pursuant to the Human Rights Act 1998 (Articles 5 and 8).
Daniel acted with Partner Imran Khan QC for the family of Rashan Charles who was killed in 2017 following restraint by a Metropolitan Police officer, which led to protest and unrest across London.
London Bridge & Westminster terror attacks [2019]Daniel was instructed by Interested Persons in the Inquest into the London Bridge & Borough Market terror attacks of 3 June 2017, and the Inquest into the Westminster Bridge / Palace of Westminster attacks of 22 March 2017.
Daniel was a member of the team that acted for financial analyst, Ke Xu, known as the ‘billion-dollar-brain’, in public law proceedings before the Court of Appeal relating to attempts by investment fund bosses to try to stop his deportation to China.
Griffiths v CC Suffolk Police & Anr [2018] EWHC 2538 (QB)
Daniel was part of the team that acted for the daughters of Mary Griffiths, who was tragically murdered, in complex proceedings in negligence and under the Human Rights Act, in Griffiths v CC Suffolk Police & Anr [2018] EWHC 2538 (QB)
Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police v MR [2019] EWHC 888 (QB)
Daniel acted in this false imprisonment action, which focused on ‘necessity’ element of the grounds to arrest in Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police v MR [2019] EWHC 888 (QB) which also concerned the issue of indemnity costs and vindication in litigation.
Davis v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (2019)
Successfully secured damages for a teenager that was violently strip-searched by multiple police officers including of his private parts in Davis v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (2019) which followed misconduct proceedings against the officer concerned.
Wilde v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (2019)
Successfully secured damages and non-financial redress for a blind and mentally ill citizen that was attacked in police custody in Wilde v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (2019) which followed gross misconduct findings against the officer concerned.
Jeffers v Ministry of Justice (2018)
Successfully secured damages for a vulnerable prisoner who was assaulted by prison guards in Jeffers v Ministry of Justice (2018)
Police sexual misconduct
He was a member of the team that acted in successful disciplinary and civil proceedings against the Metropolitan Police, for a female citizen who was coerced into a sexual relationship under duress over a lengthy period by a serving police officer.
Bradfield v Serco (2019)
Successfully acted against a private prison in a claim in negligence in which substantial damages were awarded to the claimant.
Background
Daniel is a Solicitor Advocate who joined Imran Khan and Partners in March 2017. He has a first class degree from the University of London. He attained the “Future Lawyer Advancement Award” scholarship, which is awarded to promising young lawyers. Daniel was also awarded the “Future Lawyer Excellence Award” scholarship. His background is as Vice-President of the University of London Union, the largest student representative body in Europe and he acted for the UK’s 9 million students in a national capacity at the National Union of Students. He has been a casework of the Newham Monitoring Project assisting with civil rights issues and an active campaigner in the trade union movement, particularly with hyper-exploited migrant workers. He is fluent in French.
