A former client of Mishcon De Reya's has been given an extended civil restraint order for bringing unmeritorious claims against lawyers from Mishcon and DWF. Martina Shand sought to commence contempt proceedings against six defendants, five of whom are lawyers, two of the, Mishcon de Reya lawyers, including the firm's current head of property litigation, Daniel Levy. Shand alleged that the defendants had participated in an ‘egregious multi-party fraud on the court’ and that her flat was deliberately flooded in order to claim an insurance payment. Shand appeared as a litigant in person. Mishcon previously made a settlement offer in respect of 2019 and 2020 actions for the sum of £290,000. Levy faced "allegations of deliberately making false statements in documents verified by a statement of truth, intended to interfere with the course of justice" and an " allegation of committing a fraud on the court by false representation, intended to interfere with the course of justice." John Bennett, who was a partner at DWF, was accused of deliberately making false statements. All allegations against the lawyers were refused permission or struck out. Shand also bought proceedings against Mishcon and DWF in September 2025. The claim has not been served and its value is over £500,000. Justice Cotter struck out the 2025 action and declared it “totally without merit”. The extended civil restraint order (ECRO) will apply for three years and means Shand will be unable to pursure legal action without the courts approval. An ECRO is a court order used to strop individuals from persistently filing, issuing, or making court applications that are "totally without merit", according to the government. The judge concluded: "Having considered all the relevant history, including the very considerable amount of Court time spent and costs incurred in dealing with unmeritorious claims/applications and Ms Shand’s likely future conduct, it is my view that it is necessary and proper to make an ECRO. I have not reached this decision lightly and well recognise that it will be a real blow for Ms Shand who was very emotional at the prospect."