5 Essex Chambers

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Aaron practices in police and public law (particularly in matters concerning national security), data protection and information law, inquests and inquiries. He is currently instructed in several high profile cases including the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, the Undercover Policing Inquiry and judicial review proceedings brought by the Duke of Sussex. He recently acted as junior Counsel to the Jermaine Baker Inquiry, the Manchester Arena Inquiry, the London Bridge Inquests, the Fishmongers’ Hall Inquests, and the Inquest following the Streatham Terror Attack. Aaron is an editor of 5 Essex Chambers' monthly Data Protection and Information Law Bulletin, The Data Brief. He has a busy practice in data protection and information law, advising and acting for multinational corporations, journalists, individuals, police forces, central Government and local authorities. He accepts Direct Public Access instructions.

Alastair Hodge

Alastair has successfully acted for both teachers and head teachers in misconduct proceedings brought by the Teaching Regulation Agency (formerly the National College of Teaching and Leadership). As a School Governor for 13 years between 2000 and 2013, Alastair has an in depth knowledge of the teaching profession, the behavioural standards expected of teachers and the approach taken by members of the TRA’s Disciplinary Panels to disciplinary hearings. In a recent case, Alastair successfully argued that all 20 allegations of unreasonable professional conduct against his client were “not proven”, thereby ensuring that the Panel did not progress to the second stage of the process to determine whether a Prohibition Order was appropriate in the circumstances of the case.

Alex Ustych

Alex specialises in police law, inquests/inquiries, data protection/information law, employment law, public law and workplace stress/psychiatric injury claims. He has been a member of the Attorney General’s C Panel of Counsel since 2015. Recent cases/matters of interest include: high-profile judicial review and injunction proceedings arising from misconduct proceedings against an assistant chief constable. R (Beale) v. Special Case Panel [2018]; Grenfell Tower Inquiry (Junior Counsel to the Inquiry); several unled hearings in the Court of Appeal which resulted in important guidance in their respective areas of law: employment law (Way v. Spectrum Property Care Limited [2015] EWCA Civ 381) and negligence (Flanagan v. Greenbanks Ltd. [2013] EWCA Civ 1702); High Court claim, for £1 million, in respect of psychiatric injuries; the full spectrum of high-profile Article 2 jury inquests, representing law enforcement agencies, Prisons, local authorities and healthcare providers; Judicial review proceedings challenging the segregation of prisoners (including cases of TACT/terrorism prisoners, involving sensitive material, as well as transgender cases); Litigation in the High Court concerning the correct ambit of the Data Protection Act 1998, in respect of Subject Access Requests and inter-agency disclosures of material; Re X and Y (Children) [2015] (representing the Government in the leading case on the novel use of GPS tagging in cases of radicalisation). Alex is Public Access accredited and is frequently instructed by individuals and companies directly.

Alice Meredith

She has particular experience in civil claims including discrimination and ECHR claims, judicial review claims, inquests, inquiries and disciplinary / regulatory law. Alice regularly appears in the County Court, High Court, Employment Tribunal and Coroners Courts, as well as in the Employment Appeal Tribunal, Family Court and Crown Court. Alice is frequently instructed on behalf of public bodies, but also represents private clients. Alice provides training in all of her areas of practice. Recent examples of her work include: representing a police force in the High Court in its successful challenge to a decision on admissibility of evidence in civil proceedings following criminal acquittal, representing a university in a high profile inquest involving the death of a student, representing a police force in the High Court in several Forced Marriage Protection Order applications involving cross-jurisdictional issues, and defending a number of substantial discrimination claims in the Employment Tribunal. Alice is currently instructed in a 5-day jury trial in a claim for false imprisonment, and as junior counsel by a core participant in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. Alice is appointed to the Attorney-General’s C Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown, and is qualified to act under the direct access scheme.

Alison Hewitt

Alison specialises in inquests and is very experienced in all aspects of coronial law and procedure. She has acted as "Counsel to the Inquest" in many long and complex cases including the high-profile and sensitive inquests into the deaths of Ian Tomlinson, Poppi Worthington, Terrence Smith, and Christine and Lucy Lee. Alison also represents a wide range of clients at inquests, including Police Constabularies, private prisons, NHS Trusts, care homes and local authorities. Most of her work concerns deaths involving state agencies or private organisations, in particular deaths in custody (including restraint deaths) or in detention under the Mental Health Act, and deaths with a background of complex clinical care. Additionally, Alison regularly acts for coroners and others in judicial review claims relating to inquests; she is currently instructed in the case of Maughan (concerning the standard of proof for a suicide conclusion) which is to be considered by the Supreme Court. Alison's other principal area of practice is Police Law. She advises and represents Chief Constables in relation to civil claims, professional standards/misconduct matters and judicial review. For example, she acted for the Metropolitan Commissioner as part of linked appeals which considered the lawfulness of the revised statutory scheme for the disclosure of convictions and its compatibility with Article 8 ECHR and has recently represented West Midlands Police at hearings before the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Amy Clarke

She is regularly instructed in complex and high profile cases such as the Gaia Pope-Sutherland inquest, one of the longest running individual inquests in recent history, and (on behalf of the charity GamCare) the Jack Ritchie inquest, which was one of the first inquests to examine the role of gambling in an individual’s death, and the provisional of support for gambling addiction. She has also been instructed on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry since 2017 and appeared at the London Bridge and Borough Market terror attack inquests. She is currently instructed in a number of multi-track jury trials in claims for misfeasance, false imprisonment and assault, and regularly advises on claims arising from modern slavery investigations and alleged failures to investigate serious sexual offences. She has particular expertise and interest in police misconduct cases involving sexual impropriety and abuse of position, and her public law practice includes a recent appearance in the Court of Appeal successfully defending a challenge to the retention of acquittal information and intelligence on PNC an local intelligence systems, (YZ v Chief Constable of South Wales Police [2022] EWCA Civ 68).

Andrew Waters

Andrew practices in police and public law and has a considerable depth of experience of representing and advising police forces in England and Wales across the whole range of civil and public law issues that affect them – including civil actions, discipline, inquests and judicial review. He has acted in high profile, complex and sensitive cases ranging from the Bichard Inquiry into child protection issues, following the conviction of Ian Huntley for the Soham murders, to the Hillsborough Inquests. He is currently instructed in the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, Lewis-Ranwell v Chief Constable of Devon & Cornwall (ex turpi causa following the killing of three people by the claimant after his release from police custody) and has been advising the Metropolitan Police on contempt / data protection following the publication on Twitter of material about high profile individual under police investigation.

Anne Studd KC

Anne undertakes judicial reviews, civil claims, inquests and inquiries for police forces and NHS trusts and other public bodies. Her client base is varied. She acts for a hospital trust in relation to the inquest into the deaths of 10 patients all treated by a single Consultant within the trust, the Mayor of London in the Grenfell Inquiry dealing with the wider issues raised that will effect Londoners more generally and IOPC in relation to proceedings arising from the death of Sean Rigg. She has been instructed in a number of important judicial reviews Williams (appropriate sanction in police misconduct cases including but not limited to dishonesty) G (a case involving a young man seeking to expunge his cautions for sexual offences imposed when he was a child) and P (a further examination by the Court of Appeal of the disclosure and barring provisions) In Northern Ireland she was instructed to act on behalf of a solider in the inquests into the deaths at Ballymurphy in 1971. She has also acted for a number of Chief Officers over many years in sensitive Inquests arising from fatal shootings. More recently she has acted for Chief Officers in inquests arising from the restraint death of a psychotic man taken to a mental health setting; a young man killed by a police car running him over while being pursued by police on foot and an inquest into the suicide of a police officer alleging failures of welfare support. She is also instructed in ongoing cases arising from historic sexual abuse inquiries arising from Operations Midland and Yewtree. She has a continuing interest in the policing and mental health advising frequently on issues that arise in this difficult and sensitive area In the public inquiry sphere, Anne has also acted and continues to act in a number of high profile inquiries. Azelle Rodney, IICSA, (for two police forces), UCPI and Grenfell. She is vetted to SC level

Barnabas Branston

Barney acts for a range of clients including police forces across England and Wales and other organisations in the public and private sector. He is currently representing Serco Home Affairs, Devon and Cornwall Police, West Midlands Police, Dyfed Powys Police and South Wales Police on a variety of matters. Barney represented West Midlands Police in the inquest into the shooting of Trevor Smith and continues to represent Serco Home Affairs in inquests into the deaths of prisoners in custody. He is currently representing Dyfed Powys Police in the inquest into the death of Kianna Patton, Staffordshire Police in the inquest into the death of Joshua Ball and Thames Valley Police in the inquest into the death of Neal Saunders. He also continues to represent various police forces in misconduct proceedings on behalf of the Appropriate Authority.

Beatrice Collier

Beatrice’s practice is a mixture of civil actions, judicial reviews, inquests and public inquiries as well as work in the FTT and UT, and in the Court of Protection. Her clients include the police, various central government departments and local authorities, NHS Trusts, the IOPC, the CPS and the NPCC. Notable recent work includes: Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse, R. (on the application of Sargeant) v First Minister of Wales [2019] EWHC 739 (Admin); R (Ghuman) v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police [2018] EWHC 2059; R. (on the application of Brook) v Preston Crown Court [2018] EWHC 2024; R. (Parkinson) v HM Senior Coroner for Kent [2018] EWHC 2173; Mouncher & Ors v Chief Constable of South Wales Police [2016] EWCH 1367 (QB) (claims brought by 15 officers prosecuted for investigation into murder of Lynette White in 1998). Inquests into the deaths of Ashley Forde (police pursuit); Kirsty Walker (mental health suicide); Lisa Skidmore (murdered); Jacqueline Oakes (murdered). Beatrice has a particular interest in judicial review claims and inquests involving mental health issues and has expertise in policing and mental health.

Bilal Rawat

Bilal’s practice encompasses public law, prison law, inquests and inquiries, national security, police law and healthcare law. He has appeared at all levels of tribunal from the Upper Tribunal to the High Court and Court of Appeal. Bilal regularly acts for government departments, police forces, local authorities and quasi-public companies. He is often instructed in complex cases where the issues require sensitive handling and have reputational impact. His recent significant cases include: BVI Commission of Inquiry [2021-2022]: leading counsel to the Commission of Inquiry investigating corruption amongst public officials in the British Virgin Islands.Inquest into the death of Sudesh Amman [2021]: leading junior for NPS in the investigation into the Streatham terror attack. R3 v SSHD [2020]: SIAC appeal brought against a decision to deprive an individual who had travelled to Syria of his citizenship (instructed as a special advocate). Grenfell Tower Inquiry [2018 to present] – as counsel to the inquiry.

Catriona Hodge

Catriona specialises in police and public law, inquests and inquiries, human rights and information law. She is currently instructed as junior Counsel to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry and is acting on behalf of the Cabinet Office in the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry. Notable examples of her recent work include acting on behalf of the Independent Office for Police Conduct in a claim for damages in misfeasance and for breaches of the Human Rights Act 1998 and on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service in a claim for damages in misfeasance, malicious prosecution and false imprisonment arising from the conduct of a police investigation and prosecution relating to the murder of Daniel Morgan. She has recently acted on behalf of government departments and police forces in claims for damages for breaches of data protection legislation, breach of confidence and misuse of private information. Catriona was appointed to the Attorney General’s C Panel of Counsel in 2019.

Charles Apthorp

Charles’ areas of expertise include police law, employment law, commercial litigation and professional negligence. He acts for a wide range of clients including police forces, public bodies, private companies and individuals. Charles’ practice also includes instructions in internal disciplinary tribunals, including police discipline and he provides advice and representation for a number of constabularies around the country. This includes areas as diverse as police force mergers and detention of ships outside of territorial waters. Charles has widespread experience of employment law, representing large public bodies such as NHS Trusts and police forces in cases involving dismissal for disciplinary reasons, incapacity, unfair dismissal and those involving allegations of disability and racial discrimination. He was recently instructed by a police force in a multi-handed race discrimination claim, the sum claimed was in excess of £1m. Charles has extensive experience in Regulatory Law, appearing and advising in relation to a wide range of professional disciplinary tribunals including the SRA, IPreg, MPTS, GPhC, FCA, ACCA and the Bar Council. He is appointed legal adviser to the Nursing and Midwifery Council and as legal assessor to the General Dental Council. Charles accepts instructions and has considerable experience acting in Direct Access cases.

Charlotte Ventham KC

Charlotte’s practice embraces all areas of civil and public law relevant to police and government, including judicial review, malfeasance and personal injury claims, inquiries, inquests, discrimination and national security. She was appointed as King's Counsel in 2024. Charlotte’s recent notable police cases include the Daniel Morgan litigation (and related inquiries); Breeze & Wilson v Chief Constable of Norfolk (multi-million pound damages claim for malicious prosecution); Brown v Chief Constable of GMP (application of the QOCS provisions to police claims). Charlotte also handles cases of the utmost sensitivity for government, including in the national security arena, eg the Kamoka litigation (claims for unlawful detention and misfeasance in public office based on the alleged complicity of the British government in detention and torture abroad). Charlotte was editor of the 5 Essex Chambers Police Law Newsletter for more than 10 years. She was appointed to the Attorney General’s A Panel of Counsel in 2019. Charlotte was appointed as a Recorder of the Crown Court in 2020.

Cicely Hayward

Cicely’s practice encompasses police law, inquests and inquiries, public law, human rights law, prison law, data protection and general common law including high value personal injury and clinical negligence claims, equalities law and employment law . In recent years Cicely has been instructed in the Manchester Arena Inquiry by the Home Office, the Undercover Policing Inquiry, the East London Inquests (inquests into the deaths of the 4 men murdered by Stephen Port) as junior counsel to the Inquest, Inquest into the death of Pte Geoff Gray (Deepcut Barracks) by the Ministry of Defence, Inquest into the death of Katie Locke by the National Probation Service, the Abdelhakim Belhaj litigation by HMG and the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Child Migration strand) by the Department of Health. Cicely has particular expertise in handling complex, document heavy, multi-party cases both in adversarial and non-adversarial matters. She is frequently instructed in cases with national security issues.

Claire Palmer

Claire practises in public law, inquests, inquiries, civil and employment claims. She is regularly instructed by public bodies, including police forces, and has particular experience in national security cases. Claire has over 15 years of Government experience and was appointed by the Attorney-General as Junior Counsel to the Crown (A Panel) in 2019 (reappointed in 2024). She was appointed to B Panel (2014) and C Panel (2009). In March 2020, Claire was appointed as a Deputy District Judge (Civil) and sits 30 days a year as a fee paid Judge. Claire is currently instructed as the senior junior for NHS England for the COVID-19 Inquiry and part of the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan CTI team. Other current cases include: Rhianan Rudd Inquest (for Derbyshire Police), Ashley Walsh Inquest (HMPPS), misfeasance and malicious prosecution claims (HMRC and various police forces), vetting cases, advising Government departments in respect of substantive policy reviews, and defending judicial reviews.

Daniel Hobbs

Dan practices in Employment Law and Professional Discipline. He is involved in complex, high profile cases often attracting media attention and represents both private and public sector clients. He also conducts serious injury cases. Dan is presently instructed in numerous employment tribunal and employment appeal tribunal cases representing large private and public sector employers in complex discrimination and whistleblowing claims. In 2021/2022, Dan was instructed by South Yorkshire Police and the Metropolitan Police to present disciplinary cases against officers arising out of the Rotherham Child Sexual Exploitation scandal and the Undercover Policing Inquiry. He appeared as junior counsel in two linked Judicial Review cases concerning the appropriateness of retaining police officers found guilty of criminal offences. Dan is co-author of the Employment Tribunals Handbook (6th Edition) published by Bloomsbury Professional. He was a featured ‘Mover and Shaker’ in the New Law Journal in July 2021.

David Messling

David joined 5 Essex Chambers as a tenant in September 2019 after successfully completing his pupillage and is acquiring experience across Chambers’ core practice areas, particularly Police Law. Before pupillage David spent three years working for the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, where he was responsible for judging complaints involving professional discipline, student immigration, and serious sexual misconduct. He was also part of the ombudsman’s legal team, assisting with judicial review casework. David’s other experience in the higher education sector includes working on education policy for Students’ Unions, acting as a reviewer for the Quality Assurance Agency, and representing students in disciplinary proceedings at the University of Oxford. David studied History and Economics at St John’s College, University of Oxford, before completing the GDL with distinction. He was awarded a Diplock Scholarship by Middle Temple for the Bar Professional Training Course.

Emma Price

Emma specialises in inquests and inquiries, judicial review, human rights and civil liberties, data protection and information law and personal injury. Emma is on the Attorney General’s A Panel of Counsel (having been on the B and C Panels previously). She sits as an Assistant Coroner for the City of London. Emma is currently instructed as counsel to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry and the UK Covid-19 Inquiry (Module 3). Previously, she acted for the Department of Health and Social Care in the Infected Blood Inquiry. Other notable cases include the resumed inquests into the deaths of Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem (for the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police), R (Skelton) v Senior Coroner for West Sussex [2020] EWHC 2813 (Admin) (for the Chief Constable of Sussex Police) and the fresh inquests into the deaths of Cheryl James and Sean Benton at Deepcut Barracks (for the Ministry of Defence). Emma acts for a wide range of clients including government departments, police forces, prisons, NHS Trusts, healthcare providers and families. Emma won The Legal 500 'Junior of the Year' award 2024. Emma is a regular contributor of articles, commentary and talks across all of her practice areas. She writes for 5 Essex Chambers' newsletters ‘Insight: Inquests and Inquiries’ and ‘The Data Brief’. She is a Gray’s Inn advocacy trainer.

Fiona Barton KC

Fiona is recognised as a leading silk specialising in all aspects of public law and police law (including inquests and inquiries and professional discipline). She has been instructed in the most high-profile police law cases of recent years, regularly appearing in the most complex, sensitive, ground-breaking and high value cases. She has extensive experience in public law claims of significant public importance, including at Supreme Court level. Fiona has been instructed in many of the most noteworthy cases of recent times including: Inquests and Inquiries - the Forbury Gardens Inquests, the Plymouth Shootings Inquests, the Guildford Pub Bombings Inquests, Manchester Arena Inquiry, the London Bridge Inquest, the Fishmongers’ Hall Inquests and the Hillsborough Inquests. Public Law - the judicial review concerning automatic facial recognition R (Bridges) v The Chief Constable of South Wales & others, the leading cases of Nunn (post-conviction disclosure obligations) and L (vetting of those working with children and vulnerable adults) and the Madeleine McCann judicial review concerning international cooperation. Civil actions: BES v Cheshire West and Chester Council – high value warranty claim, McGoldrick & others v Chief Constable of Durham – claim arising from alleged shotgun licensing errors Professional Discipline – proceedings against chief officers eg. ACC Beale and ACC Sutcliffe and proceedings against officers arising from deaths in custody including Kingsley Burrell and Leon Briggs. Fiona contributed to the leading text book on police civil actions “Civil Actions against the Police” and regularly contributes to chambers’ publications.

Francesca Whitelaw KC

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.

Georgina Wolfe

Georgina specialises in inquests, public inquiries, police law public law, human rights, civil liberties and malfeasance. She is currently instructed in several high profile cases including the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry, the Undercover Policing Inquiry and the Infected Blood Inquiry. She recently appeared in the Fishmongers’ Hall Inquests. She regularly acts as Counsel to the Inquest as well as for clients ranging from police forces, political parties, government agencies, the IOPC and prisons to healthcare providers, social services and families. Georgina is an editor of 5 Essex Chambers' police law newsletter The Beat. She co-authored a chapter of OUP’s National Security Law and is co-authoring a further chapter in the new edition. She is co-author of The Path to Pupillage and presented Middle Temple’s The Pupillage Podcast alongside Beatrice Collier.

Jason Beer KC

Jason is recognised as a leading silk. He specialises in public inquiries, inquests, corporate investigations (both financial and non-financial), public and police law – representing a range of clients, including central government, regulators, public authorities, and corporations. He was Barrister of the Year in The Lawyer Awards 2024 and Silk of the Year for Inquests and Public Inquiries at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023. Jason was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge (QBD and ChD) in 2020, and a Recorder (Crime) in 2009. Jason is currently instructed in many of the high-profile cases of the day, including the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry (as Counsel to the Inquiry), the Thirlwall Inquiry (for NHS England), the UK Covid-19 Inquiry (for NHS England), the Grenfell Tower Inquiry (for the Government), the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry (for Counter-Terrorism Policing), the Andrew Malkinson Inquiry (for Greater Manchester Police) and the Lampard Inquiry (for NHS England). Jason has been instructed most of the significant inquests and inquiries of the last two decades, including: the Undercover Policing Inquiry, the Fishmongers’ Hall Inquests, the Anthony Grainger Inquiry, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the Hillsborough Inquests, the Al-Sweady Inquiry, the Leveson Inquiry, the Baha Mousa Inquiry, the Hutton Inquiry, the Shipman Inquiry and the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry. Jason is the author of Public Inquiries, published by Oxford University Press. Please visit the 5 Essex Chambers website for Jason’s profile, which sets out full details of his practice including relevant work of note.

Jennifer Wright

Jennifer Wright accepts instructions in all of Chambers’ core practice areas, with particular interest in police law, inquests and inquiries, data protection and information law, and public and administrative law. She is a member of the Attorney General’s C Panel of Counsel. Jennifer represents police forces in civil claims, inquests, and public inquiries, including those which touch upon sensitive matters of national security. She frequently appears as sole counsel in civil actions against the police in the High Court and County Court, including claims in false imprisonment, assault, misfeasance, malicious prosecution, negligence, and those brought under the Equality Act 2010 and Human Rights Act 1998. She has appeared on behalf of individual forces and policing bodies in judicial review proceedings and, as a led junior, she is currently instructed by twenty police forces in the undercover cases strand of the Police Overtime Claims Litigation. �� Jennifer is instructed as junior counsel to the inquest arising from the death of Sean Fitzgerald (a fatal shooting occurring during a police operation relating to organised crime in the West Midlands) and regularly appears as sole counsel on behalf of police forces in Article 2 and jury inquests into deaths following police contact, including inquests concerning missing persons, police pursuits, the use of s.136 of the Mental Health Act 1983, restraint, and deaths following arrest, release, and incarceration.

John Goss

John practises in public law, police law, inquests and inquiries, and data protection/ information law. He is a member of the Attorney General’s B Panel and is frequently instructed to represent Government departments and bodies. He also accepts Direct Access instructions. In data protection/information law work, he advises and represents the Information Commissioner, individuals, companies, regulators and public bodies, in damages claims and in the Tribunals. He has particular experience in matters relating to the Freedom of Information Act 2000, as well as in bringing and defending claims for misuse of private information and breach of the GDPR/DPA. John is an editor of chambers’ monthly bulletin, The Data Brief. He is regularly instructed in substantial inquests and inquiries by police forces, companies, Government departments, and families, including Article 2 and jury inquests. He acted for Counter Terrorism Policing in the inquest into the 2020 Reading stabbings. He also acts for CTP in both the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry and the Omagh Bombing Inquiry. He acts for the Royal Military Police in the Haddon-Cave Inquiry relating to alleged unlawful killings by UK Special Forces in Afghanistan. John’s recent police cases include trials for police forces defending false imprisonment, assault and trespass claims, false imprisonment proceedings in the High Court, high-profile police disciplinary proceedings, and judicial reviews for police forces and other public bodies. He frequently acts in civil proceedings involving terrorism and national security.

John-Paul Waite

John-Paul practices in the areas of police and public law, employment law, inquests, personal injury and regulatory law. Acted for the Government in the recent decision of the Court of Appeal in Hussain v SSHD [2022] EWCA Civ 145, a case deciding what test should be applied by Tribunals when deciding whether to determine an appeal on the papers. Recent Inquest work includes acting for Suffolk County Council in the Inquest into the death of Jo Pooley, acting for Greater Manchester Police in the Inquest into the death of Orianna Crilly-Cifrova. Also instructed to act for the Ministry of Justice in the forthcoming inquest into the death of Baby A at HMP Bronzefield. Recent police civil work includes successfully acting for Devon and Cornwall in a four-week civil jury trial. Recent employment work includes acting as junior counsel in Essop v Home Office and multiple other employment law cases in recent years. Acted in three public inquiries, including the Billy Wright Inquiry, Robert Hamill Inquiry and Rosemary Nelson Inquiry.

Jonathan Landau

Jonathan specialises in inquests, public law (with particular expertise in representing coroners), police law, and healthcare regulation (specialising in advising and representing healthcare operators in contentious regulatory cases and public law matters). He accepts Direct Public Access instructions. Jonathan acted for Coroners in two substantive judicial review hearings in 2022 and advised in several others. He was instructed in several complex and high-profile inquests for a wide variety of clients including police forces, families, local authorities, and healthcare providers usually in the context of media coverage. Recently, he successfully acted for a police force in a civil jury trial, resulting in costs being awarded in full against the Claimant. He regularly advises police forces in mattes as diverse as international cooperation and disclosure in Chancery matters. Jonathan has published articles in the Public Law and Judicial Review journals. He edits 5 Essex Chambers' Inquests Authorities Index. He has written extensively for industry publications on healthcare regulatory matters.

Jonathan Dixey

Jonathan is recognised as a leading junior specialising in police law, inquests, public inquires and public / administrative law. Recent and on-going inquiries include the Thirlwall, UK Covid-19, Jalal Uddin and Brook House Inquiries. Recent cases include Dove v HM Assistant Coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool [2023] EWCA Civ 289, R (Officer B50) v HM Assistant Coroner for East Yorkshire and Kingston Upon Hull [2023] EWHC 81 (Admin), Prior and others v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2023] EWCA Civ 32 and KSO and others v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2023] ICR 34.

Mark Thomas

Mark specialises in inquests, police law and public/administrative law. His practice includes cases which are commercially or politically sensitive, often involving issues of public interest immunity or media coverage. Mark has acted in a wide variety of complex jury inquests including maritime search and rescue (Ivan Ignatov), missing person searches (Gaia Pope), police taser deaths (Marc Cole), ABD police restraints (Douglas Oak), police road traffic accidents (Suleyman Yalcin) and deaths in custody (Simeon Francis). He has also acted for numerous employers in employee death inquests. Mark is currently instructed by a variety of police forces to defend judicial review claims and claims for false imprisonment, assault and malicious prosecution.

Melvyn Harris

He advises and represents both Claimants and Respondents in the private and public sectors and regularly appears in Employment Tribunals and the EAT. Melvyn also has an extensive practice advising and representing clients in a range of commercial and chancery matters. His experience includes dealing with a wide variety of commercial and contractual disputes, as well as issues in partnership, probate and property. Melvyn had a successful career in business before coming to the Bar and therefore understands first-hand the practical issues likely to arise in the employment and commercial context. Clients are "very impressed" with Melvyn and describe him as: “high calibre", "a very determined and combative advocate” with “superb attention to detail”. Caroline Walker of Cavendish Employment Law, award-winning employment lawyers for the City, wrote to Melvyn: in July 2019: “I very much like the way you work and how promptly and thoroughly you attend to matters”. He regularly provides training for solicitors and HR managers on all aspects of employment law. Melvyn is qualified to accept Public Access work.

Molly Joyce

Molly regularly acts for police forces before the Crown and Magistrates’ Court in civil applications relating to domestic violence, sexual offending, closure orders, slavery/trafficking civil orders and various applications under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (including cash forfeiture and account freezing/forfeiture orders). Molly also has experience representing police forces in claims arising under the Police (Property) Act 1897 and in applications for disclosure in the Family Court. She regularly provides advice to police forces on operational queries and, as in-house counsel, has provided assistance to a number of police forces on a range of day-to-day issues as well as more tricky questions. Molly has carried out extensive disclosure reviews for the Metropolitan Police Service and has also acted as independent counsel for LPP sifts in a number of ongoing criminal investigations. She has experience advising police forces on false imprisonment, assault/battery and malicious prosecution claims , as well as experience in making applications at the early stages of such litigation including e.g. applications to strike out and/or for summary judgment. As a member of the Government Legal Department’s ‘Junior Junior’ scheme, Molly has assisted in defending a discrimination claim against the government. She has also appeared in the ET and has experience dealing with various matters including applications for amendment and applications for strike out at the preliminary stages of a claim. During pupillage, Molly drafted summary and detailed grounds in defence of judicial review proceedings against public authorities. In her own practice, she has advised a police force on a potential judicial review application and drafted the letter before claim. She has also advised on a range of public law issues including, for example, regulatory issues arising in the planning/environmental sector. Molly has a growing practice in public inquiries, instructed by a range of organisations. She is currently instructed in two public inquiries: the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, where she is working with the Inquiry team; and the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service. Molly is developing a practice in inquests and has appeared for a range of organisations in a number of PIRs as well as on behalf of the police in a six day inquest arising out of the deaths of Katherine Kemp and Thomas Kemp in Ipswich. She is currently acting in a long-standing and complex inquest on behalf of a local authority.

Peter Laverack

He frequently acts in the High Court, Crown Court, County Court and Magistrates' Court on matters including proceeds of crime, human rights, licensing and civil litigation. Peter also practises in the Caribbean. He has temporary call to the bar of the Cayman Islands, where he was junior counsel in a major constitutional challenge. He also advised on a major constitutional challenge in Trinidad and Tobago.

Peter Taheri

Peter specialises in Inquests. He is regularly instructed in high profile Article 2 and Jury Inquests requiring sensitive handling and with potential reputational impact, often in the context of media coverage or regulatory investigations, for a range of clients including police forces, NHS Trusts, healthcare providers, other public bodies and private sector clients. Peter is frequently entrusted with front-line briefs from parties whom are the main focus of the inquest. Peter sits as an Assistant Coroner for Suffolk. Peter appeared as Counsel to the Inquest in the Inquest touching the death of Corrie McKeague. Now at 17 years’ call, Peter has practised at 5 Essex throughout his career. Peter has extensive experience since the start of his career at the Bar in Police Law, in which his practice focuses on police misconduct (including at Police Appeals Tribunals). His practice is informed by years of work on civil claims (false imprisonment, assault, trespass, conversion, malicious prosecution, misfeasance, negligence). This depth of experience has given him both a rich understanding of the culture of public service in policing and an acute appreciation of the importance for the emergency services of maintaining public confidence. Peter also practises in Employment law, where he has the benefit of experience dating back from before he was called to the Bar. Peter contributes to 5 Essex Chambers’ Insight: Inquests and Inquiries newsletter. Please visit the 5 Essex Chambers website for Peter’s profile, which sets out full details of his practice including relevant work of note.

Robert Harland

Robert is a member of the Attorney General’s B panel and is very experienced in public law proceedings up to Supreme Court level, particularly in relation to immigration in which he regularly appears in the Court of Appeal. He has very significant experience in death in custody inquests, as well as acting for NHS trusts and families in inquests with a healthcare aspect. He has extensive experience working on inquiries including the Mid Stafford Public Inquiry, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. He has acted for Claimants and Defendants in a number of cases including obstetric negligence, wrong or delayed diagnosis, orthopedic and surgical negligence. He has plentiful experience in disease cases including asbestos related disease and noise induced hearing loss.

Robert Talalay

Robert (Bobby) practices in police and public law (with particular expertise in civil claims for false imprisonment and malfeasance and retention of data), data protection and information law, inquests and police discipline. Bobby is currently instructed in several high profile cases, including as junior counsel in the Plymouth shootings inquests. He has appeared in multiple multi-track trials, including jury trials and very high value personal injury claims. Bobby is also an expert in retention of policing data, having appeared in many of the leading cases. Notable recent cases include: YZ v Chief Constable of South Wales [2022] EWCA Civ 683 (retention of acquittal data on the PNC, junior counsel); R(QSA) v NPCC [2021] 1 W.L.R 2962 (retention of criminal record data by the police, junior counsel); Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis v Information Commissioner [2021] UKUT 5 (AAC) (leading case on s.23(5) FOIA); R(R) v SSJ & NPCC [2021] 1 W.L.R. 262 (police retention of data and vetting, junior counsel); R(II) v Com. Met. Police [2020] EWHC 2528 (Admin) (retention of a child’s PREVENT data); Chief Constable of Avon & Somerset v Gray [2019] EWCA Civ 1675 (leading case on CROs and access to justice).

Robert Cohen

Robert practises in police, public law, data protection and information law, inquests and inquiries. Robert was promoted to the Attorney General’s B Panel in 2022 following a successful period on the C Panel. His work for the Government provides him with a profound understanding of the practice of the Administrative Court. Robert sits as one of HM Assistant Coroners for Cumbria. He is currently instructed in several high-profile cases including the COVID inquiry, and the appeal to the Supreme Court in W80 v IOPC. He acted in the inquest into the Birmingham Pub Bombings and the Guildford Pub Bombings.

Russell Fortt

Recent work includes a scoping exercise for the IPCC into the policing of the miners' strike, policy advice for the national lead on ANPR, advice on mail intercept for the NCA, drafting submission in relation to a threatened JR in the Lord Janner matter, acting for the Prison Service in a claim brought by the killer of Drummer Rigby and drafting grounds for the Mental Health Tribunal in a judicial review brought by Ian Brady. Cases of note include: Price v IPCC [2016] EWHC 3744 (Admin), Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis v IPCC, Harrington and Demetria [2015] EWCA Civ 1248, Marley Administration v Commissioner of City of London Police [2013] EWHC 4584 (Admin), Global Cash & Carry v Chief Constable of West Midlands Police [2013] EWHC 528 (Admin), Hicks & Others v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2012] EWHC 1947 (Admin), M v IPCC [2012] EWHC 2071 (Admin), Perinpanathan v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [201OJ EWCA Civ 40, Blackmore v DCLG [2017] EWCA Civ 1136, KM v SSHD [2017] EWCA Civ 437, VH v SSHD [2016] EWCA Civ 1012, FA v SSHD EWCA Civ 763 and The Billy Wright Inquiry (2007-2010).

Saara Idelbi

She regularly appears and advises on matters in the Tribunals, Coroners’ Court, Court of Protection, High Court and Court of Appeal. Saara advises a wide spectrum of clients including government departments, public and quasi-public authorities, companies and individuals. Having worked in-house in government legal departments and a leading firm in healthcare law, she is well placed to advise on judicial review proceedings and litigation concerning the provision of healthcare. Saara is a member of the Attorney General’s C Panel of Counsel. She is qualified for public access. Prior to qualification, she worked as a Judicial Assistant in Constitutional Court of South Africa, and dealt with litigation at the cutting edge of constitutional and human rights law in South Africa. Saara also spent six months serving as a Judicial Assistant in the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal during which time she researched and wrote opinions on a large number of high- profile civil appeals.

Samantha Leek KC

Sam specialises in inquests and public inquiries, and practises in all areas of police and government law (including civil actions, judicial review, and advice on policy. She has represented Coroners, schools, police forces (including individual officers), government departments, university colleges, private companies and the NCA in relation to numerous recent high-profile inquests and public inquiries including: Grenfell Tower Inquiry; Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse; Westminster Bridge Inquests; London Bridge Inquests; Fishmongers’ Hall Inquests; Undercover Policing Inquiry; Tunisia Inquests; Bataclan Theatre Inquest and Inquests into the Sri Lanka bombings. Counsel to the Chief Coroner in the Inquest into the death of Dr Abbas Khan while in prison in Syria. Counsel to HMG in the fresh inquest into the Birmingham Pub Bombings. Hillsborough Inquests, Mark Duggan Inquest (representing the NCA), Public Inquiry into the death of Azelle Rodney (representing forearms officer), Inquest into the death of Jean-Charles De Menezes.

Simon Walsh

Simon now focuses his practice on police discipline and regulatory work after many years working for police forces, giving advice and appearing as advocate in inquests and in cases before the High Court, the Employment Appeals Tribunal and the County Courts in civil jury trials. Simon acts as both legal advisor and presenting counsel in police discipline cases. A growing specialisation in professional regulation sees Simon sitting on a regular basis as a legal assessor for regulatory panels of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, sitting in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Simon is often asked to sit on high-profile cases such as those flowing from the Staffordshire hospital scandal and cases involving nursing homes and other care facilities where undercover journalists have exposed serious weaknesses and criminal behaviour by registered nurses. Simon also has extensive experience of licensing, advising and representing police forces and local authorities. He was former chairman of the Local Authority Licensing Committee.

Victoria von Wachter

Victoria practices in police disciplinary matters (with particular expertise in matters concerning national security and firearms cases), employment and discrimination law, inquests and a niche practice in law relating to horses. She accepts Direct Access cases. She has been instructed in several high profile cases including the Chief Constable of Avon & Somerset v Eckland, IOPC intervening– Case No: A2/2021/0816 – , Mills-Wood v Lancashire Constabulary (pensions/statutory interpretation – Govt intervening), Brooker v Department for Works and Pensions serial litigation; 7 consecutive claims of disability discrimination, Scotson Inquest for GMP, Vaughan v Lord & Lady Harris; equine contract case.

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