Recent news
Lawful Killing conclusion in the inquest into the death of Sean Fitzgerald following a fatal police shooting
The inquest into the death of Sean Fitzgerald concluded yesterday in Warwick Combined Court. The inquest was held before Sir John Saunders sitting with a jury and lasted for 6 weeks.
The jury returned a conclusion of Lawful Killing together with a narrative.
Mr Fitzgerald died on 4 January 2019 after being shot by a police officer who was involved in an operation to search an address in Coventry. Mr Fitzgerald was believed to be a member of an organised crime group (OCG) that was engaged in offences involving drugs and violence and had access to firearms. Mr Fitzgerald was not armed when he was shot.
Gerry Boyle KC and Stephen Morley acted for West Midlands Police, whose firearms team were involved in the search operation.
James Berry KC and Chloe Hill acted for West Mercia Police, whose officers were members of the Regional Organised Crime Unit that was conducting the investigation into Mr Fitzgerald and another member of the OCG.
Elliot Gold represented the IOPC at an earlier stage of the proceedings.
The case has attracted significant media coverage.
Sophia Roper KC successfully acts on behalf of the Children’s Guardian in the Court of Appeal
Sophia Roper KC successfully acted on behalf of the Children’s Guardian in an appeal which has conclusively established that a local authority cannot, by virtue of a care order, give valid consent to the confinement of a child which it has placed in circumstances depriving him of his liberty, reversing the decision of Lieven J in the High Court to the contrary. In doing so, the court set out important principles relating to Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights which will have application beyond the scope of family law proceedings: J v Bath and North East Somerset Council & Ors [2025] EWCA Civ 478.
Sophia led Libby Harries of Albion Chambers, Bristol, in this significant appeal, ultimately supported by all other parties and four interveners, including the Secretary of State for Education. At first instance Lieven J had held that the local authority could give consent to the arrangement for J’s care and that his situation did not fall within the scope of Article 5 at all, depriving him of all the protections to which he was entitled under the ECHR: Re J : Local Authority consent to Deprivation of Liberty [2024] EWHC 1690 (Fam).
King LJ stated: “Put simply, in order to satisfy the requirements of Art 5, there must be an independent check on the State’s power to detain. The local authority is an organ of State which, albeit acting in their best interests, is confining the child. The second limb of Storck requires there to be valid consent to that confinement. It is as Ms Roper submitted, inconsistent with Art 5 for that organ of State to ‘both create the conditions in which a vulnerable person is confined and then to be able to give valid consent [to that confinement] so as to remove the case from Art 5.’”
Sophia and Libby were instructed by Ruth Slader of Daniel Woodman on behalf of the Children’s Guardian.
Sarah Clarke KC celebrates her final year as Course Director of the world renowned South Eastern Circuit, Tim Dutton CBE KC Advanced International Advocacy Course
Sarah Clarke KC celebrated her final year as Course Director of the world renowned South Eastern Circuit, Tim Dutton CBE KC Advanced International Advocacy Course, held annually at Keble College, Oxford.
This course is the longest running and most famous advocacy course in the world and for over 30 years its faculty, comprising senior judiciary, Silks and Juniors of the highest calibre from the UK and international jurisdictions, has trained advanced advocates from the England and Wales Bar as well as international advocates from all over the world.
Sarah is the first Woman Course Director of this prestigious course and is proud to have been a part of the teaching faculty and organising team for over 25 years.
New Police (Vetting) Regulations published; permission to appeal in Di Maria
The Home Secretary has today laid before Parliament Police (Vetting) Regulations to address the lacuna identified by the Administrative Court in R (Di Maria) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2025] EWHC 275 (Admin).
The Vetting Regulations provide a process for police officers’ vetting clearance to be reviewed and, where appropriate, removed. Officers whose minimum vetting clearance is removed must be dismissed. The Regulations also provide for an internal appeal against the removal of vetting, and for an appeal to the independent Police Appeals Tribunal. The Regulations will come into force on 14 May 2025.
The announcement has generated significant media coverage.
Separately, the Court of Appeal has granted the Commissioner permission to appeal against Lang J’s decision in Di Maria.
John Beggs KC and James Berry KC appeared for the Metropolitan Police Service in Di Maria along with Katherine Hampshire.
John and James advised the Metropolitan Police Service on its representations to the Home Office with respect to the proposed Police (Vetting) Regulations.
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Jake Rylatt
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Rachel Spearing
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James Berry
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Rhys Hadden
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Business Crime Defence
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Simon Cridland
Professional Discipline Junior of the Year
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Michael Mylonas KC
Court of Protection and Community Care Silk of the Year
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Clinical Negligence Silk of the Year
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Katie Gollop KC
Court of Protection and Community Care Silk of the Year
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Court of Protection and Community Care Silk of the Year
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Financial Services and Insurance Silk of the Year
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Claire Watson KC
Clinical Negligence Silk of the Year
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Anthony Haycroft
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Heidi Knight
Clinical Negligence Junior of the Year
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Eloise Power
Clinical Negligence Junior of the Year
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James Berry
Public Services and Charities Junior of the Year
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Rhys Hadden
Court of Protection and Community Care Junior of the Year
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Cecily White
Professional Disciplinary and Regulatory Junior of the Year
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Catherine Calder
Chambers Leader of the Year
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Lee Johnson
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Clinical negligence set of the year
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Sarah Clarke KC
Responsible Leader
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Mark Harries KC
Pro Bono KC of the Year
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Olivia Kirkbride
Young Pro Bono Barrister of the Year
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Tom O'Connor
Pro Bono Chambers' Professional of the Year
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Pro Bono Chambers of the Year
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Andrew Hockton
Professional Discipline & Regulatory Law Junior of the Year
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Clinical Negligence Silk of the Year
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Clinical Negligence Set of the Year
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Lifetime Achievement Award
Sir Robert Francis KC
Marketing & Front of House Team of the Year
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Catherine Calder
Chambers' CEO of the Year
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James Berry
Public Law Junior of the Year
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Heidi Knight
Clinical Negligence Junior of the Year
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Alan Jenkins
Professional Discipline & Regulatory Law Junior of the Year
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Sarah Clarke KC
Financial Services and Insurance Silk of the Year
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Christopher Johnston KC
Clinical Negligence Silk of the Year
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John Beggs KC
Professional Discipline & Regulatory Law Silk of the Year
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Clinical Negligence Set of the Year
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Set of the Year
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Clinical Negligence Set of the Year
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Neil Davy
Professional Discipline Junior of the Year
Elliot Gold
Professional Discipline Set of the Year
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John de Bono QC
Clinical Negligence Silk of the Year
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Professional Discipline Junior of the Year
James Berry
Professional Discipline Set of the Year
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Claire Watson
Clinical Negligence Junior of the Year
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Clinical Negligence Set of the Year
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Christopher Johnston QC
Outstanding Contribution to Diversity & Inclusion Set of the Year
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Gerry Boyle QC
Professional Discipline Silk of the Year
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David Morris
Professional Discipline Junior of the Year
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Elliot Gold
Leader of the future, Diversity & Inclusion
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Professional Discipline Silk of the Year
John Beggs QC
Chambers Innovation
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Chambers of the Year
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Award for Customer Focus
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Chambers of the Year
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Katie Gollop QC
Barrister of the Year
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Client Care Initiative of the Year
HIGHLY ACCLAIMED
Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in Well-being
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Michael Mylonas QC
Clinical Negligence Silk of the Year
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Angus Moon QC
Clinical Negligence Silk of the Year
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Professional Discipline Junior of the Year
ANTHONY HAYCROFT
Clinical Negligence Set of the Year
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Angus Moon QC
Clinical Negligence Silk of the Year
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Client Management Innovation
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WINNER
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WINNER
Bridget Dolan
WINNER
Set of the Year
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2015
Set of the Year
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The Lawyer Awards 2015
Bronze place
GERRY BOYLE
2015
Client Service
HIGHLY ACCLAIMED
Bronze place
SET OF THE YEAR
2016
JOHN BEGGS QC
2016
Set of the Year
HIGHLY ACCLAIMED
2016
Rising Star
CECILY WHITE
Professional Discipline Junior of the Year
ANDREW HOCKTON
Best Strategic Resource
2015
FINALIST
Professional Discipline Finalist
ANTHONY HAYCROFT
Best Service Innovation
FINALIST
2016
BRIDGET DOLAN QC
Professional Discipline Set of the Year
WINNER
Finalist
JOHN BEGGS QC