Humanists UK mourns leading human rights lawyer Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC (1933-2025)

Humanists UK is deeply saddened to learn of the death of its long-standing patron, the distinguished human rights lawyer Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC (Hon), aged 92. A committed humanist, Sir Geoffrey dedicated his life and career to the pursuit of justice, human rights, and equality.

Sir Geoffrey was a pivotal figure in UK legal practice, having founded the law firm Bindmans in 1974 with a commitment to ‘protecting the rights and freedoms of ordinary people’. Throughout his long and distinguished career, he specialised in civil liberties and human rights, driven by a belief in the power of law to serve the disadvantaged. In a 2013 interview for the Law Gazette, he said:

‘My guiding interests, since my days at Oxford University, have been civil liberties, human rights and equality… I never wanted to be a commercial or business lawyer, much of whose job it is to make rich people richer. My father was a doctor who worked mostly within mining communities. I felt impelled to follow in his footsteps and give service to people who needed it, but could not afford to pay. A good lawyer needs empathy and the ability to see issues from a client’s point of view. It’s more than a good bedside manner. You need to put yourself in the shoes and mind of your client.’

Born in 1933, Sir Geoffrey read law at Oriel College, Oxford, and qualified as a solicitor in 1959. His dedication to human rights spanned decades, including serving as legal adviser to the Race Relations Board (1966-1976) and the Commission for Racial Equality (1976-1983). He also served as a legal advisor to Amnesty International and represented Private Eye.

In the late 1980s, Sir Geoffrey investigated apartheid in South Africa as part of an International Commission of Jurists delegation, later editing a book on the topic. His commitment to universal human rights earned him a knighthood in 2007 for services to human rights, and he was appointed honorary Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) in 2011.

Sir Geoffrey’s humanist perspective was clear in his unwavering commitment to secular values and a fair society. He wrote and spoke frequently on the principle that human rights are ‘above and beyond politics. They are universal and they give ethical meaning to our vocation as lawyers’.

As a patron of Humanists UK, Sir Geoffrey consistently lent his name and legal expertise to campaigns promoting a fair and open society. In 2014, he was a signatory to an open letter, organised by Humanists UK and co-signed by Nobel Laureates and other public figures, challenging then Prime Minister David Cameron’s statement that Britain was a ‘Christian country’. In 2019, he signed a letter urging the Government to ban new state schools from selecting 100% of their pupils based on their religious beliefs.

Andrew Copson, Humanists UK Chief Executive, said:

‘Sir Geoffrey was one of the truly great human rights champions of his generation, a tireless champion of civil liberties, and an inspirational humanist. His life’s work, from challenging apartheid to fighting for equality in the UK, exemplified the highest humanist values of compassion, reason, and a deep commitment to social justice. We will remember him not only for his profound professional achievements but for his moral clarity and steadfast and generous support of our cause.’