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
Jason specialises in public inquiries, inquests, public law and police law. He represents a range of clients, including central government, public authorities, police forces, coroners, and corporations.
Position
Jason is recognised as a leading silk. He specialises in public inquiries, inquests, corporate investigations (both financial and non-financial), public and police law – representing a range of clients, including central government, regulators, public authorities, and corporations.
He was Barrister of the Year in The Lawyer Awards 2024 and Silk of the Year for Inquests and Public Inquiries at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023.
Jason was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge (QBD and ChD) in 2020, and a Recorder (Crime) in 2009.
Jason is currently instructed in many of the high-profile cases of the day, including the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry (as Counsel to the Inquiry), the Thirlwall Inquiry (for NHS England), the UK Covid-19 Inquiry (for NHS England), the Grenfell Tower Inquiry (for the Government), the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry (for Counter-Terrorism Policing), the Andrew Malkinson Inquiry (for Greater Manchester Police) and the Lampard Inquiry (for NHS England).
Jason has been instructed most of the significant inquests and inquiries of the last two decades, including: the Undercover Policing Inquiry, the Fishmongers’ Hall Inquests, the Anthony Grainger Inquiry, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the Hillsborough Inquests, the Al-Sweady Inquiry, the Leveson Inquiry, the Baha Mousa Inquiry, the Hutton Inquiry, the Shipman Inquiry and the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.
Jason is the author of Public Inquiries, published by Oxford University Press.
Please visit the 5 Essex Chambers website for Jason’s profile, which sets out full details of his practice including relevant work of note.
Career
Jason was called to the Bar in 1992 and has always practised at 5 Essex Chambers. He is now the Head of Chambers.
He was appointed to the Attorney General’s B Panel of Counsel in March 2005, and to the A Panel in 2008. He was made a silk in 2011.
Jason sits as a Deputy High Court Judge (QBD and ChD) and as a Recorder on the South Eastern Circuit.
Please visit the 5 Essex Chambers website for Jason’s profile, which sets out full details of his practice including relevant work of note.
Memberships
PIBA
ALBA
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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'