Berlow previously faced sanctions by the regulatory body for a post on social media calling a Palestine activist group “scummy racists”. He was initially ordered to pay a fine of £1,750 and undergo diversity training, but after winning a 2019 appeal, the regulator’s decision was overturned.
Now he is preparing to defend himself at another disciplinary hearing on 27 May and is hoping to raise £5,000 on Crowd Justice to help fund his costs.
His crowdfunding page says he is “fighting to defend his professional reputation and to uphold the right of Jewish lawyers to speak freely on matters of public interest.”
It adds that the case raises questions about free speech and political expression, as well as antisemitism, “institutional double standards” and “equality before the law”.
“Berlow is a Jewish solicitor, married to a Muslim woman, with a 30-year record of tireless campaigning both professionally for clients and for Israel. He now faces a misconduct tribunal for political comments and satirical remarks. Would others be treated in the same way under similar circumstances?” the page says.
Among Berlow’s supporters is Israeli-British celebrity Uri Geller, who donated £1,000 and wrote: “Matthew should not have to fight this alone! He is a brave and principled defender of truth and justice for Jewish people in the face of an explosion of antisemitism in the UK.
“The complaint against him is an outrage! We MUST stand by him. Please give what you can and let's help him win!”
Famous spoon bender Uri Geller has pledged support for a British lawyer facing a disciplinary hearing over his social media posts (Photo: Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images
Speaking to the JC, Geller said he is supporting Berlow because “he is a defender of truth and justice... and protects Jewish people at a time of this horrendous explosion of antisemitism worldwide.”
Geller, who lived in the UK for 35 years and owns an island off the coast of Scotland, added: “Anyone in a position to help Matthew should do it; he shouldn’t feel that he is alone.”
The self-proclaimed psychic said what was happening to Berlow was “a tiny molecular example of what is happening around the world.”
“I look at my friends in England, Belgium and America, and I am very concerned because the jihadists are creating a normalisation of extremist practices and penetrating extremist Islam into global culture,” said Geller, who lives in Jaffa.
He said he has supported other campaigns and hopes that backing Berlow’s fundraiser “will give an example to other celebrities to join in”.
Responding to the JC’s request for comment, the Law Society of Scotland said: “By law, the Law Society of Scotland cannot confirm or deny individual complaints cases.
"As the professional body for Scottish solicitors we take our regulatory duties very seriously to ensure that people have confidence in the legal profession. In any case where we have reason to believe that one of our members has not met the high professional standards expected of them we will take action.
"All complaints against solicitors must be raised with the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) in the first instance. The SLCC decides whether a complaint is eligible and they remit eligible cases concerning the conduct of a solicitor to us to investigate. We can make a finding of unsatisfactory professional conduct or, in cases which may amount to professional misconduct, we will prosecute the solicitor before the independent Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal (SSDT). The SSDT decides whether they are guilty of professional misconduct and on any sanction. It can censure, fine or restrict solicitors’ practice. In the most serious cases the SSDT can strike a solicitor off the roll. SSDT findings are a matter of public record."
