The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) and Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) File Complaint with Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Against UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) Director Over Ethics Breaches and Unregulated Legal Activity 

The ELSC and PILC have submitted a formal complaint to the SRA against Caroline Turner, Director of UKLFI, alleging breaches of the SRA’s Principles and Code of Conduct, including the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), which are lawsuits intended to limit freedom of expression on matters of public interest. Additionally, we are calling for an investigation into whether UKLFI is operating as an unregulated law firm, and 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 sent by UKLFI to individuals and organisations between January 2022 and May 2025 which demonstrate a seeming pattern of vexatious and legally baseless correspondence aimed at silencing and intimidating Palestine solidarity efforts. These letters were all obtained with the consent of the organisations or individuals receiving them.   

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 UKLFI be regulated as a law firm, given its use of UK legal professionals’ reputations to lend credibility to its work, despite being unregulated.  

A recent report by CAGE International accused UKLFI of contributing to a “wave of repression” by filing complaints against individuals and organisations who stand in solidarity with Palestine. The group’s tactics were further exposed in a film released by Led By Donkeys, 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.  

UKLFI’s letters prominently state that its “patrons and members include some of the most distinguished members of the UK legal profession”, listing regulated solicitors and barristers. However, we 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, we 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, we are concerned that these organisations will continue to use these tactics to suppress conversation about the perpetration of war crimes and crimes against humanity and silence those who speak out against Israel.  

It is our view that UKLFI’s actions constitute material and ideological support for the Israeli genocide against Palestinians. As 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”.