Extradition

Karen Todner is known as one of the leading extradition solicitors in the country.  She has vast experience in this niche area of law.

In Chambers and Partners 2018 where she is ranked Band 1 it states Karen Todner is “known to be one of the best in her field,” according to market commentators, who add: “She’s very tenacious and very charismatic.” She is highly experienced in the domain of extradition, and has a well-recognised public profile in relation to this practice area.

Her extradition work is internationally known in particular for the representation of the Pentagon hacker Gary McKinnon, whom she successfully represented for ten years and secured his release from extradition to the USA.

Karen Todner has undertaken many high-profile extradition cases such as Lauri Love (USA), Christopher Tappin (USA), David McIntyre (USA), Khan (USA), Duchense (USA) the Crete Five and Obert (with examination of Greek prison conditions), Andrew Symeou and Cyprus v Atkinson and Binnington (rights of appeal).

Karen has taken many cases to the Supreme Court and the ECHR and is responsible for much of the recent case law in extradition cases.  Examples include Goodyear and Gomes (Trinidad) and Antonov (Lithuania).

She has defended many EAW requests from most European countries in particular Poland, Romania, France, Germany, Greece and Italy including the successful defence of Domenico Rancadore (the Italian Mafia man).

She has also acted in other requests as diverse of UAE, Moldova, Russia, Brazil, Paraguay and Thailand.

Karen often works with local lawyers in the Requesting State to reach satisfactory outcomes for her clients.  She is tenacious and knowledgeable.  If you believe you will be, or are, the subject of an extradition request, then give her a call.

Facing extradition can be an extremely stressful time and Karen will negotiate you through the Court process with care and tenacity.

Time limits are very important and short in extradition proceedings and it is very important that time limits are adhered to.  If you require urgent advice on appeal then please do not hesitate to call her.

If you believe that you may be subject to an extradition request and would prefer to arrange a voluntary surrender with the Metropolitan Police Extradition Squad at a time that is convenient rather than be arrested, then Karen can organise this for you.  In particular she can give realistic and experienced advice on the prospects of bail and what is required to obtain bail within extradition proceedings.

EXTRADITION

 A small selection of her cases include the following:

USA – v – Gary McKinnon

Karen represented him from his initial arrest in 2002 to his discharge from extradition in 2012.  She took the case to the House of Lords twice and to the European Court twice and took subsequent judicial reviews against the Secretary of State and DPP finally securing his discharge on Article 3 grounds.

USA – v – Lauri Love

Karen acted for Lauri Love in his successful fight against extradition to the USA which resulted in a landmark judgement on the new forum bar which was introduced following her case of McKinnon.

Italy – v – Rancadore

Discharge of Italian EAW of alleged member of Mafia to Italy.

Tajik – v – USA

Karen represented a former Iranian Diplomat accused by the USA of conspiring unlawfully to export military equipment to Iran.  The issues included territory requirements, appropriate forum, political motivation, entrapment, human rights issues after extradition.  He was ultimately discharged from extradition.

Greece– v – Crete 5

Consideration of Greek prison conditions.

Greece – v – Obert

Consideration of Greek prison conditions. Discharge of extradition warrant obtained.

Pomiechowski – v – Poland

Consideration of Article 8 of the ECHR at the Supreme Court

Gomes & Goodyear – v – Trinidad & Tobago

Consideration of Trinidad prison conditions and passage of time at the House of Lords.

Galina – v – Paraguay

Examination of Paraguayan prison conditions and justice system.

Wright – v – Government of Argentina

Karen successfully represented a UK woman on her appeal on the ground that Argentinian prison conditions violated Article 3 of the ECHR.

Azevedo – v – Portugal

Extradition to Portugal was oppressive by a passage of time.

Khan – v – USA

UK national accused of drug exportation for the UK to the USA.  Examination of the issue of forum and the use of undercover American undercover Agents in the United Kingdom.

Adamescu – v – Romania

Consideration of a political motivation within the European arrest warrants and Romanian prison conditions

France – v – Ofsowitz

Consideration of forum and use of undercover agents.

USA – v – McIntyre

Consideration of forum and passage of time.

USA – v – Tappin

Kent business man Consideration of forum and article 8.

USA – v – Fu and Goguo

Karen represented two Chinese business people accused in the US of stealing and exporting military equipment from the USA – discharged at Magistrates Court on a timing point.

Lithuania – v – Antonov

Consideration of Lithuanian prisons conditions and politically motivated prosecutions

USA – v – Hafeez

Use of extraordinary rendition and use of experts