Orla is a Partner in our Police team based in our London office and is a nationally recognised specialist lawyer in this sector with over 25 years’ experience. Prior to joining Weightmans, Orla was head of BLM's National Police Team and the Misfeasance Practice Group lead, representing Police forces and their insurers nationally.
The established record gives Orla an in-depth knowledge of the requirements, pressures and concerns surrounding Police Forces and their insurers and identifies her as a go-to practitioner in complex, high value claims, many with national media interest.
Orla has been a Band 1 Lawyer in Chambers & Partners’ Directory in “Police law – mainly defendant” for over 20 years.
-
Orla Scanlan is very bright and tenacious. She is a leader in this field. What she doesn't know about police law isn't worth knowing. She is someone who is pragmatic and comprehensive when it comes to claims and the management of claims.
Chambers and Partners, 2026 -
Orla has a huge depth of knowledge. She has brilliant customer care and focus, and a strong understanding of the needs of the client.
Chambers and Partners, 2026 -
Orla is a very experienced solicitor. She has excellent judgement.
Chambers and Partners 2025 -
Orla is a very good civil litigator.
Chambers and Partners 2025 -
She is experienced and has worked for the police force for a long time.
Chambers and Partners 2025
Experience and notable cases:
Represents a police force in a Data Protection Act 2018, libel and misuse of private information brought by a high profile national journalist.
Represented a layer insurer in the Hillsborough Disaster Group action involving over 600 claimants;
Represented a Chief Constable Police in a multi-million pounds catastrophic injury claim further to an altercation between Police officers and a Bedford University student.
Represented police forces in Terrorism Act claims – she has the requisite security vetting to accept instructions involving issues of National Security;
Represented a police force further to a terrorist attack outside Fishmonger’s Hall, London Bridge in 2019;
She is regularly instructed on the most high profile and sensitive police claims in the country, including the civil litigation arising from the Plymouth shootings, and is a trusted adviser on matters carrying exceptional legal, political and reputational risk.
