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
Fiona specialises in Police Law; Inquests and Inquiries; Public and Administrative; Professional Discipline; Human Rights and Information Law.
Position
Fiona is recognised as a leading silk specialising in all aspects of public law and police law (including inquests and inquiries and professional discipline). She has been instructed in the most high-profile police law cases of recent years, regularly appearing in the most complex, sensitive, ground-breaking and high value cases.
She has extensive experience in public law claims of significant public importance, including at Supreme Court level.
Fiona has been instructed in many of the most noteworthy cases of recent times including:
Inquests and Inquiries - the Forbury Gardens Inquests, the Plymouth Shootings Inquests, the Guildford Pub Bombings Inquests, Manchester Arena Inquiry, the London Bridge Inquest, the Fishmongers’ Hall Inquests and the Hillsborough Inquests.
Public Law - the judicial review concerning automatic facial recognition R (Bridges) v The Chief Constable of South Wales & others, the leading cases of Nunn (post-conviction disclosure obligations) and L (vetting of those working with children and vulnerable adults) and the Madeleine McCann judicial review concerning international cooperation.
Civil actions: BES v Cheshire West and Chester Council – high value warranty claim, McGoldrick & others v Chief Constable of Durham – claim arising from alleged shotgun licensing errors
Professional Discipline – proceedings against chief officers eg. ACC Beale and ACC Sutcliffe and proceedings against officers arising from deaths in custody including Kingsley Burrell and Leon Briggs.
Fiona contributed to the leading text book on police civil actions “Civil Actions against the Police” and regularly contributes to chambers’ publications.
Career
Fiona was called to the Bar in 1986 and became a member of 5 Essex Chambers following completion of her pupillage. She took Silk in 2011. She has over 30 years experience in her chosen areas of practice.
Please visit the 5 Essex Chambers website for Fiona’s profile, which sets out full details of her practice including relevant work of note.
Memberships
PIBA and ARDL
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'