5 Essex Chambers Welcomes Bilal Rawat, Rob Harland and Saara Idelbi

5 Essex Chambers is pleased to announce that Bilal Rawat, Rob Harland and Saara Idelbi have joined Chambers. They bring with them a wealth of experience to support and enhance 5 Essex Chambers’s client led growth strategy.

“As part of our strategy to recruit excellence in our field, and support increasing demand from clients in public inquiries, inquests, health and employment law, we are excited to welcome Bilal, Robert and Saara. 5 Essex Chambers is at the cutting edge of the UK’s highest profile cases and Bilal, Robert and Saara’s experience reinforces our core values of excellence, exemplary client service and a  joined up strategic approach to what are often high stake, high profile cases” said Head of Chambers Jason Beer QC.

Bilal Rawat (called in 1995)

Bilal is recognised by the directories as a leading junior for inquests and inquiries. He acts in inquests involving deaths in custody, breaches of health and safety and allegations of medical error. He has extensive experience of public inquiries having been junior counsel to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry and represented former soldiers at the Al Sweady Inquiry. More recently Bilal acted for a corporate core participant at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. He is currently junior counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. He has been a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Special Advocates since 2009 and of the Attorney General’s A Panel since 2015.

Rob Harland (called in 2006)

Robert is known for his work in inquests and inquiries with a specialism in healthcare. He has acted for Claimants and Defendants in a number of cases including obstetric negligence, wrong or delayed diagnosis, orthopedic and surgical negligence. He has also acted in death in custody cases and has extensive experience in inquests, including the Mid Stafford Public Inquiry and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Robert is a member of the Attorney General’s B panel and regularly acts on behalf of the government in judicial reviews at the Upper Tribunal, High Court and Court of Appeal. As well as his exemplary work in inquests and inquiries, Robert is experienced in public law, personal injury and product liability.

Saara Idelbi (called in 2008)

Saara is known for her work in public and human rights law, equality, healthcare and personal injury. She has a strong foundation in public law having represented both individuals and public bodies in the First-tier and Upper Tribunals, Administrative Court and in claims concerning human rights breaches and professional negligence claims. Saara is a member of the Attorney General’s C Panel of Counsel and receives instructions to appear in the Court of Protection involving challenges to authorisations under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) regime and regarding welfare decisions. Saara is also experienced at handling complex employment law cases. She appears regularly in the employment tribunals and in the Employment Appeal Tribunal as well as in the county court.