Eleanor Grey KC > Chambers of Charlie Cory-Wright KC and Richard Harwood KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
39 Essex Chambers Offices
39 Essex Chambers
81 CHANCERY LANE
LONDON
WC2A 1DD
England
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Eleanor Grey KC
Position
Barrister specialising in public and administrative law, especially public inquiries, healthcare regulation, mental health and community care, immigration and freedom of information / data protection. Clients include central and local government bodies, NHS and regulatory bodies (e.g. the Professional Standards Authority, the General Medical Council, General Dental Council), as well as private clients. Appointed Queen’s Counsel in April 2011. Formerly a member of the Attorney General’s ‘A’ Panel (Public Law) 2003-2011. Judge of the Mental Health Tribunal. Inquiries: Represented the former Healthcare Commission throughout the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Trust Public Inquiry. Previously; first junior counsel to the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry (major healthcare inquiry); counsel for the House of Commons’ authorities, the Hutton Inquiry; counsel to the Ayling and Kerr/Haslam Inquiries (independent private inquiries investigating service failures in the NHS); advisory work in numerous other inquiries. Healthcare: Recently represented Ashworth Hospital in the 8-day public hearing of Ian Brady’s application to the Mental Health Tribunal for transfer back from hospital to prison. Numerous healthcare cases include R(Sailesh Patel) v GMC [2013] (legitimate expectations); R(Tosar) v Milton Keynes PCT [2012] EWHC 2334 (interpretation of the word ‘neighbourhood’ in the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations); British Pregnancy Advisory Service v Secretary of State for Health [2011] EWHC 235 (proper interpretation of the Abortion Act 1967). Appears in tribunals such as the Family Health Services Appeal Unit (FHSAU) as well as the High Court and Court of Appeal. Freedom of Information and Data Protection: Counsel for the House of Commons authority throughout the three ‘MPS expenses’ cases. Currently representing the council in East Sussex Council v ICO and others, a case regarding the proper calculation of charges under the Environmental information Regulations 2004 and which has been referred to the European Court of Justice by the Information Rights Tribunal.
Career
Called 1990; appointed to the Attorney-General’s Treasury ‘A’ Panel (public law appointment), 2003-11
Languages
French.
Memberships
Administrative Law Bar Association.
Education
Oxford University (BA); Dip Law; London School of Economics (LLM).
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Professional disciplinary and regulatory law
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Eleanor Grey KC –39 Essex Chambers
‘Eleanor is very bright and offers robust analyses on the best way to present a case and the merits of clients’ stances.‘
39 Essex Chambers‘ members are routinely instructed in high-profile professional disciplinary work. Gregory Treverton-Jones KC is a respected specialist in regulatory and disciplinary issues concerning the legal sector, while Eleanor Grey KC has an excellent track record in acting for the GMC in appeals before the High Court. Recent instructions for the team include Peter Mant successfully representing the GMC in an appeal brought by a doctor against the regulator’s decision to erase him from the medical register, following allegations that he drugged and raped a junior colleague; the appeal was refused. In a boost to chambers, Nicola Greaney KC and Katherine Apps KC both took silk in March 2023.
London Bar > Inquests and inquiries
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Eleanor Grey KC – 39 Essex Chambers ‘She is a very diligent silk.’
39 Essex Chambers is very well known for acting in high-profile public inquiries. For example, Kate Grange KC is currently acting as one of three leading counsel in the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry, while Eleanor Grey KC is currently acting as lead senior counsel for the Department of Health and Social Care in the Infected Blood Inquiry. Among the juniors, Rachel Sullivan is acting as junior counsel to the Department of Education in the COVID-19 Inquiry; Emily Wilsdon is continuing to represent the Home Office in the Brook House Inquiry; and Samantha Jones focuses on high-profile and complex cases of deaths in which medical negligence is alleged.