Broudie Jackson Canter director, Chris Topping, started his career as a young lawyer in Toxteth in the 1980s and has established a reputation for fighting for victims of official malpractice. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool Law Society has announced the appointment of Broudie Jackson Canter director, Chris Topping, as its President for 2019.

The society, founded in 1827, is one of the oldest and largest in England and Wales, with around 2,000 members who are engaged in a wide variety of legal work ranging from high-value commercial projects to complex charity cases.

Mr Topping, who will formally take on the role from December 11, is a renowned human rights lawyer who was named Human Rights Lawyer of the Year in 2016 and is one of the leading solicitors in the country in this area of work.

High-profile cases

A staunch defender of the people, Chris heads the Actions Against Public Authorities department at Broudie Jackson Canter solicitors – a firm famed for its work on Hillsborough and other high profile cases.

He brings challenges against the police, prison service and hospitals, primarily when the rights of an individual have been abused or removed. 

He started his career as a young lawyer in Toxteth in the 1980s and has worked in the city for more than 30 years. During that time, he has developed a practice that has gained national renown for dealing with complaints and claims of police malpractice.

Until recently he was a member of the Law Society Mental Health Tribunal Panel, having conducted more than 500 tribunals, representing those whose liberty has been removed under the Mental Health Act 1983.

A number of the most important cases in the leading textbook, ‘The Mental Health Manual’ have been taken by Chris and his colleagues.

Deep expertise

He said: “Liverpool’s legal sector is extremely rich and diverse, with deep expertise across a range of practice areas. It’s wonderful to be a part of this great community of friends and colleagues and it is an honour to be asked to lead my peers over the next year.

“Over the next 12 months, I look forward to continuing the great work of my Liverpool Law Society predecessors and will champion themes of access to justice, diversity and equality.

“Next year marks a centenary of women working in the law – this is a milestone to celebrate but also highlights the work needed to ensure gender equality, and particularly  increased representation of women in senior roles.”