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Data Protection

1
11KBW
2
5RB
Matrix Chambers
3
39 Essex Chambers
Blackstone Chambers
Monckton Chambers

Leading Silks

1
Andrew Caldecott QC - 5RB
Catrin Evans QC - Matrix Chambers ‘ Exceptionally bright and all over the detail of any case. She has great judgement and is absolutely who I want in my corner. ’
Gerry Facenna QC - Monckton Chambers ‘ Unparalleled expertise in a fast developing area of law, matched with excellent strategic advice. ’
Timothy Pitt-Payne QC - 11KBW ‘ Tim has a fantastically sharp mind, cutting through the complex to provide inciteful findings and advice but balances this with an extremely pragmatic approach, greatly appreciated by instructing solicitors and clients. ’
Anya Proops QC - 11KBW ‘ Very bright, hardworking and has excellent strategic judgement. ’
Hugh Tomlinson QC - Matrix Chambers
Antony White QC - Matrix Chambers ‘ The very best QC for data privacy work. He's doing all the leading cases and is a dream to work with. ’
2
Charles Ciumei QC - Essex Court Chambers
Jason Coppel QC - 11KBW
Philip Coppel QC - Cornerstone Barristers
Rory Dunlop QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ He had a clear sense of strategy and direction, and was happy to get into the real weeds of the case - a healthy balance between oversight as leader and getting to grips with the detail. ’
James Eadie QC - Blackstone Chambers
Kate Gallafent QC - Blackstone Chambers
Eleanor Grey QC - 39 Essex Chambers
Thomas de la Mare QC - Blackstone Chambers ‘ A real depth of knowledge of EU law combined with mastery of complex facts makes him a formidable advocate. ’
Justin Rushbrooke QC - 5RB ‘ Justin is razor-sharp but can also make clients feel relaxed and confident they are in good hands. ’
Andrew Sharland - 11KBW ‘ He is very clear-sighted, offers sensible and strategic advice, and has the ear of the court. ’
Victoria Wakefield QC - Brick Court Chambers ‘ An absolute expert in this area. Knows all the issues and is involved in all the leading cases. ’

2020 Silks

Julian Milford QC - 11KBW ‘ Approachable and available to discuss matters when needed and able to work to tight timeframes. ’
Adam Speker QC - 5RB ‘ Adam is friendly, responsive, and deeply knowledgeable. He provides thorough, quick, and very reliable advice. ’

2021 Silks

Jonathan Barnes QC - 5RB ‘ Very bright, hardworking and a pleasure to work with. ’
Lorna Skinner QC –Matrix Chambers ‘An incredibly thorough and tactical lawyer with an excellent understanding of all aspects of data privacy law.’

Leading Juniors

1
Edward Craven - Matrix Chambers ‘ Has an excellent knowledge of data protection law and practice, combined with strong general litigation skills. ’
Aidan Eardley - 5RB
David Glen - 11KBW ‘ He possesses the rare combination of being exceptionally bright and extremely personable. ’
Robin Hopkins - 11KBW ‘ He is pragmatic in his assistance and clearly has a wealth of experience in data cases. ’
Christopher Knight - 11KBW ‘ He is super-knowledgeable about all aspects of data protection law and combines this with clear strategic vision. A real star. ’
Julianne Kerr Morrison - Monckton Chambers ‘ Has an encyclopaedic knowledge of data protection and misuse of private information law. ’
Rupert Paines - 11KBW ‘ A very quick and analytical mind, and provides clear, sound and practical advice. ’
Jonathan Scherbel-Ball - 5RB ‘ A tenacious lawyer, always ready to throw himself into a case and work his socks off. ’
2
Julian Blake - 11KBW ‘ One of the few barristers in the data protection field who offers expertise in both the regulatory and black letter law fields of information law. ’
Heather Emmerson - 11KBW
Laura Elizabeth John - Monckton Chambers ‘ Very clear about what needs to be done for a case, gently but firmly persuasive and excellent with clients. ’
Sara Mansoori - Matrix Chambers ‘ Simply the go-to person for anything relating to the GDPR. She knows the law inside out and is a formidable advocate. ’
Hannah Ready - 11KBW ‘ Her strengths include the capacity to balance intellectual legal analysis with a client's commercial objective. ’
Ben Silverstone - Matrix Chambers ‘ He provides straightforward, clear advice on complex data protection and privacy issues which gets straight to the nub of the case. ’
3
Jude Bunting - Doughty Street Chambers
Tom Cross - 11KBW ‘ Accessible and cogent advice delivered to a very short timescale. ’
Jacob Dean - 5RB ‘ He is extremely bright, very responsive and considers problems from every angle. ’
Estelle Dehon - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ A highly experienced data protection expert who delivers practical compliance advice and excellent strategy on breach-handling. ’
Clara Hamer - 5RB ‘ Clara gives very clear and well presented advice, which can be easily digested by clients. ’
Ian Helme - Matrix Chambers
Felicity McMahon - 5RB ‘ Technically brilliant and tactically astute beyond her years. ’
Ravi Mehta - Blackstone Chambers
Richard Munden - 5RB ‘ Excellent analytical and drafting skills, impressive experience for his seniority, good with clients and a pleasure to deal with all round. ’
Gayatri Sarathy - Blackstone Chambers
Kate Wilson - 5RB ‘ Kate is invariably a decisive, steady and calming influence through the challenges of high-profile media proceedings. ’

Rising Stars

Daniel Isenberg - 11KBW ‘ First-rate professional in mind and in practice. A future heavyweight silk without doubt. ’
Peter Lockley - 11KBW ‘ Very approachable, reliable and easy to work with and delivers great results. ’
Claire Overman - Doughty Street Chambers ‘ An exceptional legal mind with the ability to provide clear and decisive advice. An expert in her field with the ability to chart a way through difficult issues and dilemmas. ’
Zac Sammour - 11KBW ‘ An all-round intellectual and practical talent, a future star of the bar and a pleasure to work with. ’

Data protection in London Bar

11KBW

11KBW is ‘an excellent set for information law cases with a good range of counsel at all levels’. 'Leader in the field’ Anya Proops QC, and Rupert Paines, are continuing to defend Morrison's in the WM Morrisons Supermarkets plc v Various Claimants case concerning criminal publication by an employee of company payroll data, which went to the UK Supreme Court on a point regarding vicarous liability. Well-respected by regulators, the set is often first-choice for the Information Commissioner's Office and other public authorities, and also handles a range of private sector work. The ‘very collaborative and supportive’ Timothy Pitt-Payne QC is a key silk in this area, with Christopher Knight, David Glen and Robin Hopkins recommended as juniors.

Testimonials

Set:

‘A tremendous set, shot-through with talent at all levels’.

‘A well-rounded team with a good breadth of experience’.

’11KBW is a very reputable set with barristers of a very high calibre and they are always very responsive’.

’11KBW are a recognised leader in regulatory data protection work’.

‘This chambers is deservedly the leader in the field of information law and enjoys unparalleled strength in depth’.

Clerking:

‘Always get you back to you quickly, very easy to communicate with and very helpful’.

‘The clerking service is excellent – the clerks will always work hard to place your matter’.

‘They have done a great job putting us in touch with the most appropriate barristers in the set’.

‘Excellent – very responsive, courteous and helpful’.

‘The clerks work hard to make sure they can always offer support and try to meet demands and deadlines’.

5RB

‘Without doubt the “go-to” set for cases in the media and communications list’, 5RB has ‘firmly established itself as a critical port of call for the most complex and high profile defamation and data protection advice’. Jonathan Barnes QC - a 2021 Silk appointment - recently acted for various claimants in the Supreme Court against Morrisons, concerning the issue of vicarous liability after an internal auditor published the company's payroll records online. Jonathan Scherbel-Ball recently acted for Google and was successful in striking out a claim against it that related to alleged data protection breaches relating to international data transfers. Justin Rushbrooke QC, who is ‘highly intellectual in his approach’, acted for the Duchess of Sussex in her privacy, copyright and data protection claim against the Mail on Sunday.

Testimonials

Set:

‘They are highly specialised, and always have counsel available’.

‘Definitely the leading media and communications set’.

‘5RB have great strength in all areas of media law including data protection’.

‘Unrivalled strength in depth’.

‘5RB is firmly established as a critical port of call for the most complex and high profile defamation and data protection advice’.

Clerking:

‘The 5RB clerks are absolutely stellar – responsive, friendly and knowledgeable’.

‘The team are all very personable and helpful’.

‘The clerks are the best and most approachable that I have worked with’.

‘The clerks are extremely responsive, helpful and friendly’.

‘Very accessible, and always have been’.

Matrix Chambers

Matrix Chambers is ‘a leading set with some fantastic barristers’ and is ‘a front-runner on complex cutting-edge data protection matters’. Active in data protection, and online and privacy issues, the set acts for media organisations, other businesses, public authorities and private individuals, and is also regularly instructed by litigation funders in relation to data breaches. Antony White QC, who has ‘an encyclopaedic knowledge of this area’, continues to act for Google in Lloyd v Google LLC alongside Edward Craven; whilst Hugh Tomlinson QC acts for the claimant. The ‘very bright and extremely personable’ Catrin Evans QC represented Google in Ansari v Amini, Google Ireland Ltd, a case relating to the defence of data privacy and defamation claims.

Testimonials

Set:

‘Matrix are a hugely impressive set and are who we instruct most regularly in media and information matters’.

‘Excellent set on all things data protection and online issues, as well as privacy issues’.

‘Matrix is simply the front-runner in complex cutting-edge data protection matters’.

‘The set as a whole is very strong in data protection and privacy law, with a sizeable number of counsel specialising in this area of law’.

‘They are enormously busy so thankfully they have a significant number of people at the absolute top of their game’. 

Clerking:

‘Excellent clerking, better than any set I have dealt with’.

‘Generally very responsive and helpful’.

‘Highly professional practice management’.

‘The set seems to be a very slickly run operation’.

‘Alison Scanes is an excellent senior practice manager – professional, very personable and keen to assist’.

39 Essex Chambers

39 Essex Chambers is strong in public and regulatory law, and has particular expertise in the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Eleanor Grey QC acts for a number of public sector clients, with a focus on the health and social care sector. The ‘very clear, reasonable and clever’ Rory Dunlop QC is ‘an excellent advocate who commands respect’. Dunlop successfully acted for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in Maurizi v ICO and CPS in the Upper Tribunal in relation to the CPS' refusal to disclose e-mails with the Swedish Prosecution Authority regarding Julian Assange.

Testimonials

Set:

‘The set has hosted a number of useful and interesting webinars in relation to information law matters’.

‘One of the top two or three sets in data protection’.

Clerking:

‘The clerks are professional, friendly and respond in a timely manner’.

‘They provide a good service’.

Blackstone Chambers

Blackstone Chambers acts in a wide range of data protection and FOIA cases. Key practitioners include James Eadie QC and Thomas de la Mare QC, and Kate Gallafent QC who is recommended for information privacy work. Ravi Mehta continues to act for Big Brother Watch, Open, Rights Group, and English PEN, and a prominent German internet campaigner in Big Brother Watch and ors. v United Kingdom, which relates to an application to the European Court of Human Rights challenging the UK’s legislation governing the surveillance of communications, following the Edward Snowden leaks.

Monckton Chambers

Monckton Chambers’ practitioners are praised for their ‘strong performance’ across the spectrum of public and commercial law. Its data protection and information rights offering is well exhibited by its ongoing work for the ICO. Gerry Facenna QC is ‘a good tactical thinker in relation to group and representative actions’, and recently acted for the ICO on the first two major GDPR penalty decisions against British Airways and Marriott Hotels. Julianne Kerr Morrison has ‘a good tactical understanding of the practical issues needed to progress a case’ and has been advising Open Rights Group and the3million on a judicial review about the compliance of the new Data Protection Act 2018 with the GDPR, concerning the exemption granting for immigration enforcement purposes.

Testimonials

Set:

‘Everyone I have used in Monckton has put in a strong performance’.

Clerking:

‘Helpful and friendly – they have always sought to help out on matters we have needed assistance with’.