Rebecca Hill defeats abusive second extradition request in the High Court.
Rebecca, instructed by Natalia Cichosz, Head of Extradition at Lawrence & Co Solicitors, successfully argued that a second attempt to extradite their client was abusive after the Issuing Judicial Authority ('The IJA') asked the wrong questions in the first proceedings and "failed to get their evidential house in order. "
In the first proceedings in 2022, the Requested Person ('RP') (represented by the same team) resisted extradition on grounds including S10 in respect of one offence, s20 in respect of three, and Article 8.
At the Extradition Hearing the IJA applied for an adjournment to allow time to improve their further information but that application was resisted by Rebecca and it was refused. The RP was discharged on multiple grounds and the IJA did not appeal.
Eight months later, the Appellant was arrested on a second warrant, identical but for inclusion of additional information going to s20. Rebecca argued that this was a clear abuse. Albeit the argument was unsuccessful in the Magistrates Court, Mr Justice Bourne considered that applying a broad merits-based approach, this was a clear example of abuse, affording the IJA a litigation advantage which would not be available to a Requested Person'
The full judgment can be found here: Bakowski v Poland [2025] EWHC 1897 (Admin)
Rebecca Hill has nearly two-decades’ experience before all levels of Court and is regularly instructed to appear against King’s Counsel. She has particular expertise in cross-border financial crime, requests with a political dimension (including abuse or manipulation by the State), and transnational criminality such as trafficking of people.
Rebecca has strong contacts with an international network of lawyers who can offer insight and parallel advice alongside domestic extradition or asylum challenges. She is a strong tactician and will seek to utilise this network to her client’s benefit. She has been described as “compassionate, committed and determined to achieve the right result." Rebecca is ranked as a Band 1 and Tier 1 barrister in Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500.
