5 Essex Chambers is ‘a leading set in the field, with an unparalleled breadth and depth of expertise’. The set has an outstanding reputation for representing police forces across the full spectrum of areas, including major public inquiries, inquests, civil and Human Rights Acts claims, misconduct and discipline matters, and sensitive issues of police policy. Jason Beer KC is acting for The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police in The Andrew Malkinson Inquiry, concerning a high-profile wrongful conviction, while Anne Studd KC represented the Chief Constable of Hampshire Police in disciplinary proceedings against a former Chief Superintendent. Fiona Barton KC is acting for defendant force in Martyn v The Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall, civil claims arising following the 2021 Plymouth shootings. Francesca Whitelaw KC successfully represented the Met in defending an appeal under the Freedom of Information Act regarding a journalist’s attempt to obtain details of a police disciplinary involving misuse of WhatsApp.
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Profile
Work Department
Anne specialises in police law, public inquiries, inquests and public law.
Position
Anne undertakes judicial reviews, civil claims, inquests and inquiries for police forces and NHS trusts and other public bodies. Her client base is varied. She acts for a hospital trust in relation to the inquest into the deaths of 10 patients all treated by a single Consultant within the trust, the Mayor of London in the Grenfell Inquiry dealing with the wider issues raised that will effect Londoners more generally and IOPC in relation to proceedings arising from the death of Sean Rigg.
She has been instructed in a number of important judicial reviews Williams (appropriate sanction in police misconduct cases including but not limited to dishonesty) G (a case involving a young man seeking to expunge his cautions for sexual offences imposed when he was a child) and P (a further examination by the Court of Appeal of the disclosure and barring provisions)
In Northern Ireland she was instructed to act on behalf of a solider in the inquests into the deaths at Ballymurphy in 1971. She has also acted for a number of Chief Officers over many years in sensitive Inquests arising from fatal shootings. More recently she has acted for Chief Officers in inquests arising from the restraint death of a psychotic man taken to a mental health setting; a young man killed by a police car running him over while being pursued by police on foot and an inquest into the suicide of a police officer alleging failures of welfare support.
She is also instructed in ongoing cases arising from historic sexual abuse inquiries arising from Operations Midland and Yewtree.
She has a continuing interest in the policing and mental health advising frequently on issues that arise in this difficult and sensitive area
In the public inquiry sphere, Anne has also acted and continues to act in a number of high profile inquiries. Azelle Rodney, IICSA, (for two police forces), UCPI and Grenfell.
She is vetted to SC level
Career
Anne was called to the Bar 1988; Silk 2012. She sits as a Recorder on the SE circuit.
Anne regularly contributes to to 5 Essex Chambers' blogs and newsletters.
Please visit the 5 Essex Chambers website for Anne’s profile.
Memberships
ARDL, PIBA
Content supplied by 5 Essex Chambers
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The clerks are always incredibly helpful and go out of their way to help resolve issues. Mark Waller and James Cole are extremely good'
- 'Of all the chambers practicing defendant police law, the service provided by the clerks is without question the best. They are head and shoulders above other sets. The clerks have a real understanding of this area of law and what is required from their members. They make time to get to know those who instruct them and to understand personalities and which counsel would be best suited to the particular solicitor and the case they are working on.'
- 'Mark Waller runs a tight ship, he knows and understands all the police forces and their requirements inside out. He is an exceptional clerk, extremely approachable, very knowledgeable about this area of law and understands his instructing solicitors and their needs. He encapsulates what a senior clerk should be.'
- 'Dan Waple is an excellent clerk. Always a pleasure to talk to and will go the extra mile to ensure that the service from chambers is as good as it can possibly be.'
- 'The clerks are the very best I encounter in the course of my practice. They are always quick to respond and clearly go out of their way to try and help you. I always find Dan Waple, James Cole, Ethan Barnett and Harry Cassar to be particularly helpful, but they are all great.'
- '5 Essex Court chambers remain the leading defendant police law set. Their KC's and senior juniors are leaders in this field.'
- '5 Essex Chambers are market leaders in police law with very good advocates at all levels.'
- '5 Essex Chambers are a leading set in the field of police law, with unparalleled breadth and depth of expertise.'
- '5 Essex Chambers is undoubtedly one of the leading sets with strength in depth'