5 Essex Chambers

Fiona specialises in Police Law; Inquests and Inquiries; Public and Administrative; Professional Discipline; Human Rights and Information Law.

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.

Fiona was called to the Bar in 1986 and became a member of 5 Essex Chambers following completion of her pupillage. She took Silk in 2011. She has over 30 years experience in her chosen areas of practice.

Please visit the 5 Essex Chambers website for Fiona’s profile, which sets out full details of her practice including relevant work of note.

PIBA and ARDL