5 Essex Chambers

John accepts instructions in all of Chambers’ main practice areas with particular interest in police law, public/administrative matters, inquests and information law.

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 also accepts Direct Access instructions. Much of his work relates to terrorism, national security and law enforcement.

He is currently junior Counsel to the Southport Inquiry. He is also instructed for the Royal Military Police in the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan and for the Met’s SO15 in the Omagh Bombing Inquiry. He acted for Counter Terrorism Police South-East in both the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry and the Reading Terror Attack Inquests. He is regularly instructed in substantial inquests by police forces, companies, Government departments, and families, including Article 2 and jury inquests.

In data protection/information law, he advises and represents the Information Commissioner, individuals, companies, regulators and public bodies. John appeared in the Court of Appeal in XGY v Crown Prosecution Service, on immunity from suit in information law claims, and in the Upper Tribunal in Kanter-Webber v IC, the lead case on police misconduct proceedings and FOIA.

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, including terrorist notification orders and claims relating to Schedule 7.

Please visit the 5 Essex Chambers website for John’s profile, which sets out full details of his practice.

ALBA, PIBA, ARDL, Data Protection Forum