DLA Piper demands £1.1m from climate campaigners in legal costs

DLA Piper, the UK's largest law firm, has sought £1.1 million in legal costs from climate campaigners to cover expenses related to preventing their protests. This amount includes fees for barristers and other legal costs associated with injunctions against protesters, particularly those involved in blocking the M25. Many campaigners faced significant financial burdens despite complying with the National Highways injunction, which has led to a chilling effect on protests across the UK. The firm has pursued various sums from different groups of protesters, with the largest claim being over £727,000 for multiple claims against around 140 individuals. The legal actions taken by DLA Piper are part of a broader trend where injunctions are increasingly used to restrict protests, with over 1,200 locations in the UK currently under such orders. The majority of those affected lack legal representation and are deterred by the potential costs associated with challenging these injunctions. Critics argue that this creates an environment where the right to protest is severely compromised, as the threat of financial ruin looms over activists. Louise Lancaster, one of the protesters, received a suspended sentence and was later jailed for four years for her involvement in organizing protests. The legal landscape surrounding protests has become more complex, with injunctions operating alongside existing criminal laws that impose heavy penalties for dissent. DLA Piper's actions have sparked concerns about the implications for civil liberties, as powerful entities leverage legal mechanisms to silence opposition. The firm’s role in advising the renewable energy sector further complicates the narrative, raising questions about the balance between corporate interests and the right to protest.