Legal regulator receives formal complaint against unregulated Zionist lobby group UK Lawyers for Israel

Two legal rights organisations have filed a complaint against the director of prominent UK-based Zionist lobby group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI).

Complaint lodged against UK Lawyers for Israel

The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) and the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) have submitted a formal complaint to the Solicitors Regulation Authority. It’s against director of UK Lawyers for Israel Caroline Turner, and alleges breaches of the SRA’s Principles and Code of Conduct. It includes the group’s use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). These are lawsuits intended to limit freedom of expression on matters of public interest.

Additionally, the two organisations are calling for an investigation into whether UKLFI is operating as an unregulated law firm. They are urging the SRA to bring it under regulatory oversight.

UKLFI, established in 2011, describes its mission as countering the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and what it calls the “delegitimisation of Israel”.

The complaint includes eight threatening letters UKLFI sent to individuals and organisations between January 2022 and May 2025. They demonstrate a seeming pattern of vexatious and legally baseless correspondence, it aimed at silencing and intimidating Palestine solidarity efforts. ELSC and PILC obtained the letters with the consent of the organisations or individuals receiving them.

Contributing to a ‘wave of repression’ against Palestine advocates

The complaint requests that the SRA suspend Caroline Turner to prevent further breaches of professional standards and to set a precedent against the use of SLAPPs. It also demands that the SRA regulate UK Lawyers for Israel as a law firm, given its use of UK legal professionals’ reputations to lend credibility to its work, despite being unregulated.

In a recent report, CAGE International accused UKLFI of contributing to a “wave of repression” by filing complaints against individuals and organisations who stand in solidarity with Palestine.

Led By Donkeys further exposed the group’s tactics in a film, which highlighted UKLFI’s efforts to silence Palestine advocates. In July 2025, Middle East Eye reported that the UK Charity Commission had confirmed that it is investigating UKLFI’s charitable wing, following complaints submitted by both CAGE and Led By Donkeys.

Violating the SRA Code of Conduct

UK Lawyers for Israel’s letters prominently state that its:

patrons and members include some of the most distinguished members of the UK legal profession

It lists regulated solicitors and barristers. However, the two organisations consider that, as an unregulated entity, UKLFI’s reliance on these names creates a false impression of regulatory oversight that is misleading and unethical. Specifically, they believe that the actions of UKLFI violate SRA Principle 2 (upholding public trust) and Code of Conduct 8.8 (accuracy in publicity).

The complaint demonstrates a wider concern about how political groups are utilising legal and regulatory systems in the UK to suppress solidarity with Palestine during the ongoing Israeli genocide against Palestinians.

It highlights the growing threat of such groups using SLAPPs and lawfare as tools to stifle free expression and advocacy on Palestinian liberation. Without urgent regulatory intervention, ELSC and PILC are concerned that these organisations will continue to use these tactics to suppress conversation about Israel’s perpetration of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and silence those who speak out against Israel.

UK Lawyers for Israel chilling public participation

It is ELSC and PILC’s view that UK Lawyers for Israel’s actions constitute material and ideological support for the Israeli genocide against Palestinians.

ELSC’s Monitor Officer in Britain, Tara, warns:

UKLFI is actively suppressing solidarity with Palestine. Our research documents how UKLFI’s threatening letters to organisations have triggered concrete reprisals, including workers disciplined or fired for Palestine solidarity, reputations smeared through coordinated campaigns, and events cancelled under pressure. This is a systematic strategy to criminalise solidarity with Palestine and shield genocide complicity. This complaint is a demand for accountability.

Paul Heron, PILC’s Solicitor adds:

UKLFI are acting in a manner that chills public participation and intimidates those who stand in solidarity with Palestine. No solicitor is above the SRA’s regulatory framework. We are calling for a full investigation into their conduct and into UKLFI as an organisation that effectively acts as a law firm.

We will not allow legal threats to shut down the public’s right to speak out on Palestine. The SRA has a duty to step in, to uphold professional standards, and to protect civil society from intimidation dressed up as law.

Featured image via screengrab