John Beggs KC KC > Chambers of Angus Moon KC and Michael Horne KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
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John Beggs KC KC
Work Department
All areas of police law; regulatory law; judicial review; inquests and public inquiries; criminal defence; employment (mainly discrimination cases); libel.
Position
John Beggs QC was called to the Bar in 1989 and took silk in 2009. John is one of the most sought-after silks at the Bar. He has shaped police law in the UK, appearing in key roles in some of the most important cases of recent years. An earlier edition notes that “he is probably the best cross-examiner outside the Criminal Bar” and that “he is so respected that it is normally a fight between authorities and defence lawyers to see who can approach him first to represent their clients.” He was awarded Professional Discipline Silk of the Year at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2018. Please visit the Serjeants’ Inn website for his profile, which sets out full details of his practice including relevant work of note.
Career
Called 1989; Gray’s Inn; Silk 2009. Publications of note: ‘Police misconduct, complaints, and public regulation’ OUP 2009; ‘Public order: Law and Practice’, Blackstone’s practical policing 2012.
Education
Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School; Brunel University, (1987 LLB (Hons)).
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Professional disciplinary and regulatory law
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1John Beggs KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘John is in a class all of his own. An exceptional advocate.‘
London Bar > Police law (forces and constables)
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1John Beggs KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘John is in a class all on his own. Exceptional advisor and advocate.’
London Bar > Inquests and inquiries
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Serjeants’ Inn Chambers garners praise for its ‘extensive experience and strength-in–depth‘ in the inquests and inquiries arena. John Beggs KC is representing the Wiltshire Police in the inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess, who died in July 2018 following exposure to the nerve agent Novichok used by Russian agents in their attempted murder of double agent Sergei Skripal. Bridget Dolan KC is regularly instructed in high-profile inquests, specialising in lengthy Article 2 cases, and Nageena Khalique KC acts for local authorities, bereaved families and the NHS in inquest proceedings. Turning to the set’s juniors, Edward Pleeth is instructed by government departments in inquest proceedings, while Rachel Spearing represented the Tavistock Gender Identity Clinic in an inquest into the suicide of a prospective patient; the inquest took place a few days after a judicial review concerning the clinic’s waiting times.