Matrix Chambers

Jonathan’s practice includes human rights, public law, national security, asylum, data protection and inquests and inquiries.   He took Silk in 2013 and he was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge in 2021.

Jonathan has acted in a large number of national security cases. He is regularly instructed as Counsel to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal and is instructed in the current challenges to the surveillance of journalists in Northern Ireland brought by the BBC.  He acted for the Tribunal in the challenges to MI5’s handling of data, the intelligence agencies’ collection of Bulk Personal Datasets and Bulk Communications Data and the challenge to the Third Direction (concerning the participation of agents in criminality).  He was also instructed in the claims brought by Belhaj and Amnesty International concerning the interception of materials protected by Legal Professional Privilege and the case brought by Privacy International concerning computer hacking.

Recent public law cases include acting for Sir Chales Haddon-Cave, the Chair of the Independent Investigation relating to Afghanistan, in a judicial review challenge brought against the Inquiry.  He was instructed in the challenge to the decision to deprive Shamima Begum of her UK citizenship, the challenge to the export of arms to Saudi Arabia for use in the Yemen conflict as well as the claims brought by 3 alleged Afghan spies against the UK Government.  He is regularly instructed in cases before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission.

He acted in Strasbourg proceedings for Khodorkovsky, the former CEO of Yukos, against Russia, and has been instructed in a significant number of cases from Russia and the former CIS.

He has a wide-ranging practice in inquiries and inquests. He was instructed in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and is currently instructed on the Covid Inquiry. He was instructed in the Azelle Rodney public inquiry and the Duggan inquests, as well as the deaths arising from the hostage taking at the In Amenas oil fields in Algeria. He advised the Attorney General in relation to the application to reopen the inquests into the death of Dr David Kelly as well as of those who died in the Hillsborough Stadium disaster.  He is instructed by the N Ireland Secretary in the forthcoming Kieran Doherty Inquest in Northern Ireland. Jonathan has acted for coroners in a number of cases.

Appointed to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge in the King’s Bench Division, the Administrative Court and the Family Division.  Member of the Prescribed Organisations Appeals Commission. Vice-Chair of the Inns’ Conduct Committee. Former Solicitor (Honours); called to the Bar 1996, Middle Temple; contributing editor ‘Butterworth’s Personal Injury Litigation Service’ (and author of the sections on product liability and psychiatric injury). Co-author of Blackstone’s ‘Guide to Coroners and Justice Act’ 2009. Formerly member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel (A Panel) since 2007.

HRLA; Inquest; BIICL; ALBA

Maidstone GS; New College, Oxford.