Francesca Whitelaw KC

Francesca specialises in in government and police law. She represents public and private bodies in judicial review, civil actions, professional discipline, human rights, inquests and public inquiries.

Francesca is a leading specialist in government and police law. She represents public and private bodies in judicial review, civil actions, professional discipline, human rights, inquests and public inquiries. Francesca has particular expertise in national security. Francesca has been appointed as Counsel to the Crown (Attorney General’s A Panel) since 2020. Francesca is currently instructed as junior Counsel to the Inquiry for the Sturgess Public Inquiry (Salisbury Novichok poisonings) and for Government in the Infected Blood Inquiry. She previously represented the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Home Office and MI5) and the Secretary of State for Justice (Prison and Probation Services) for the Fishmongers’ Hall Terror Attack Inquests, having acted in the same role for the London Bridge and Borough Market Terror Attacks and the Westminster Bridge Terror Attack. She was also instructed by the Secretary of State for the Home Department for the Streatham Terror Attack inquest. Francesca appeared in the Court of Appeal in Bridges v South Wales Police (first case in the world to consider the use of facial recognition by police). She was also previously instructed by the Ministry of Defence to represent former soldiers for the Deepcut inquests. Francesca has authored articles for national publications and contributes to 5 Essex Chambers' police law, inquests and data protection blogs and newsletters.