5 Essex Chambers is ‘a great set for inquests’, however the team is also equally strong in acting as counsel in high-profile public inquiries. Jason Beer KC‘s workload includes acting for Counter Terrorism Policing South East in the inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess, who died from novichok poisoning in July 2018, as well as appearing in the ongoing Covid-19 and Thirlwall Inquiries. Fiona Barton KC is ’an accomplished tactician‘ and ’incredibly client friendly‘. Among the juniors, Georgina Wolfe is ’a real expert who wears her superb intellect lightly‘. John Goss is acting for the Royal Military Police in the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan. In a boost to chambers, Bilal Rawat KC took silk in March 2025, and Saara Idelbi left the set in August 2025.
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Work Department
John accepts instructions in all of Chambers’ main practice areas with particular interest in police law, public/administrative matters, inquests and information law.
Position
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.
Memberships
ALBA, PIBA, ARDL, Data Protection Forum
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Mark Waller is proactive.'
- 'They are all incredibly responsive - if you need something urgently you get it.'
- 'They are always quick to respond and clearly go out of their way to try and help you.'
- 'Excellent for inquests and inquiries.'
- 'It has real strength in depth in providing advocates for major inquests and public inquiries.'
- 'A well respected set.'