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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Francesca is a leading specialist in public law, government and police law. She represents public and private bodies in judicial review, civil actions, professional discipline, human rights, date protection, AI and information law, inquests, investigations and public inquiries, with particular expertise in national security.
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Francesca is a leading specialist in public law, government and police law. She represents public and private bodies in judicial review, civil actions, professional discipline, human rights, date protection, AI and information law, inquests, investigations and public inquiries, with particular expertise in national security.
In 2025 Francesca was appointed the interim Biometrics Commissioner. Before taking Silk she served on the Attorney General’s A Panel of Counsel.
Francesca is currently instructed as Leading Counsel for the Secretary of State for the Home Department in the Southport Inquiry; Counsel to the Inquiry for the Sturgess Inquiry (Salisbury Novichok poisonings) and Leading Counsel for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (SO15 and Counter Terrorism Police) in the Omagh Bombings Inquiry.
She represented the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Home Office and MI5) in most of the recent high profile terror attack Inquests: Forbury Gardens (Reading); Sudesh Amman (Streatham); Fishmongers’ Hall (where she also represented the Secretary of State for Justice (Prisons and Probation Services); London Bridge and Borough Market; and Westminster Bridge.
Francesca acted for UKHSA and scientists in the Infected Blood Inquiry.
She appeared in the Court of Appeal in Bridges v South Wales Police (first case in the world to consider the use of facial recognition by police).
Francesca has authored articles for national publications; she edits 5 Essex Chambers' data protection and information law bulletin, The Data Brief, and contributes to its police law publication The Beat.
Visit our website for Francesca’s full profile.
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