Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC was a preeminent British Jewish human rights solicitor and King’s Counsel. He was the founder of the world-renowned human rights law firm Bindmans LLP and was knighted for his exceptional services to human rights. His passing in 2025 marked the end of an era of legal idealism.
Sir Geoffrey’s career stood as a testament to the evolution of modern human rights law. He served as a long-term legal adviser to the Race Relations Board in the UK and played a pivotal role in the struggle against South African apartheid. He chaired the British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and the UK section of the International Commission of Jurists (Justice). As a titan of the legal profession, he established fundamental legal principles against discrimination and for the protection of civil liberties through numerous landmark cases. He remained dedicated to applying rigorous jurisprudential logic to the most complex issues of social justice until the very end.
He was a patron of Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (LPHR) and a steadfast ally of Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL). Up until his passing in 2025, he frequently authored articles in top legal journals and mainstream media, severely criticizing actions in Gaza and the West Bank as violations of the Geneva Conventions. He was particularly vocal against labeling legitimate political criticism as “antisemitic,” viewing such tactics as a grave threat to the rule of law and freedom of speech. His enduring legacy is the warning that if the international community fails to apply international law impartially regarding Palestine, the entire global legal order risks collapse.
Following his passing away at the age of 92, many Palestinian human rights organizations, including Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (LPHR), expressed their condolences and commemorated his outstanding contributions to the field of human rights.