Who? James Oury, 39-year- old solicitor-advocate and founding and senior partner of Oury Clark in London. He is a specialist in international human rights and criminal law.


Why is he in the news? He issued proceedings on behalf of the victims, survivors and relatives of the 7 July 2005 London bombings, seeking a judicial review of the decision by John Reid, the former Home Secretary, to refuse their request for an independent and public inquiry into the events leading up to and surrounding the bombings. Pre-action proceedings were issued last week after a pre-action protocol letter was delivered to the Home Office a fortnight earlier. No substantive response was received within the required time period and to date. The Home Office wished to reply by 7 September, which would have meant the victims' application would have been out of time. A hearing is anticipated in the High Court in October.



Background: Law degree at the University of Buckingham followed by Law Society Finals at the College of Law in Guildford. He qualified in 1996 after completing articles at Kingsley Napley and set up Oury Clark in 1997.



Route to the case: 'Client recommendation as I have experience in international public and human rights law.'



Thoughts on the case: 'The group had hoped the government would engage with them and grant their request. Thus they would not have been forced into the litigation arena. My clients are obviously still deeply disappointed by the government's continued intransigence. They consider that their concerns are of international public importance and interest above and beyond their own feelings and continued suffering. The issues include the government's duty to protect life and the right to life. A statement made by the then Home Secretary Charles Clarke that the bombers were "clean skins" at the time is now known to be untrue in relation to two of them. They were under regular surveillance prior to the bombings and linked to the fertiliser plot and recent Crevice trial. Other issues include what prior intelligence and information sharing was known to MI5 and associated agencies, and what changes should occur so that lessons are learned for the future so as to protect and preserve life in the face of the ongoing threat of terrorism.' A Home Office spokeswoman said the department would not issue a comment until full consideration had been given to the papers.



Dealing with the media: 'This has and continues to be an intense and extraordinary experience. There has been a growing amount of international media interest, which continues. The media have been professional and respectful of my clients' vulnerability.



'They have been inquisitive in the search for the information behind the events leading to the 7/7/ bombings. It is hoped by my clients and me that they will continue with this search for the truth, which is a shared objective.'



Catherine Baksi