Paul Conrathe is a UK solicitor who has represented multiple anti-trans legal cases. He is best known for representing Keira Bell in Bell v Tavistock and for threatening the judicial review that triggered the NHS Sussex ICB investigation into WellBN GP Practice.
Conrathe represented Keira Bell, a detransitioner, in a judicial review against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust's Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS).
The case went through multiple stages:
The final legal outcome was a complete loss — the Court of Appeal ruled the High Court should not have issued guidance on puberty blockers at all.
Despite losing the Bell case on appeal, Conrathe continued pursuing trans healthcare through other legal avenues.
In 2025, Conrathe represented the father of a child treated at WellBN GP Practice in Brighton, threatening a judicial review. According to TERF Watch Brighton, "no issues have been found in regards to this child by relevant regulators."
This threat of legal action triggered the NHS Sussex ICB investigation, which has resulted in:
Lemkin Institute: NHS Sussex Investigation (July 2025)
Conrathe's approach demonstrates a pattern of using legal threats to restrict trans healthcare access:
The WellBN approach is particularly notable: by threatening legal action, Conrathe achieved policy outcomes that couldn't be won in court after Bell.
Clients:
Connected to investigations:
Aligned organizations:
Conrathe represents the legal arm of the UK's gender-critical movement. Even when his cases lose in court (as Bell ultimately did), the process itself can trigger policy changes, investigations, and healthcare restrictions.
The WellBN case demonstrates how threatened litigation can be weaponized: NHS Sussex launched an investigation not because Conrathe won a case, but because he threatened one.