Select an area of expertise to find out more about our experience.
Find out more about our barristers and business support teams here.
Exceptional expertise in data protection law.
Our team’s knowledge and expertise provides the bedrock for delivering exceptional counsel and representation in the area of data protection law. With an extensive track record, we act for the government, police forces, businesses, and regulatory bodies (including the Information Commissioner) in pivotal cases, highlighting our ability to resolve complex issues quickly and sensitively.
Recognised for our involvement in the most high-profile and cutting-edge matters, our team appears in data protection matters in courts and tribunals from the Supreme Court down.
We pride ourselves on offering trustworthy and practical representation in this fast-developing area of law. Notably, members of 5 Essex Chambers took a represented South Wales Police in the world’s first legal challenge concerning the utilisation of automatic facial recognition technology (AFR) by law enforcement bodies, R (Bridges) v Chief Constable of South Wales Police. Members of chambers have also acted in key Supreme Court and Court of Appeal cases on retention of personal data by police such as:
Our expert data protection counsel offer pragmatic advice and top-tier advocacy in dealing with claims under the GDPR or Data Protection Acts arising from DSARs, data breaches, and relating to data sharing or retention – whether that involves a single incident or a policy challenge.
With acute awareness of the potential reputational risks linked to handling personal data, we understand that discretion and integrity in these matters is paramount. Our decades of experience in police and national security law have equipped us with the judgement and insight to address high-security needs and commercial sensitivities, whilst avoiding reputational risk.
Our specialists also regularly advise and provide training in this area, including information sharing between public bodies and the impact of the GDPR. Our monthly bulletin, the Data Brief, can be found here.
To start a conversation about your data protection needs, please contact our highly experienced clerking team.
GDPR
Freedom of Information Act
Investigatory Powers Act
RIPA
Biometrics
Breaches of confidentiality
Defamation
Regulation of Investigatory Powers
Challenges to decisions by the ICO
Disclosure of Information
Police Lawyers from across the country met at Birmingham City Football Club this week for…
Discover moreThe Data Brief is an easily digestible summary of recent decisions and developments that occurred…
Discover moreThe Data Brief is an easily digestible summary of recent decisions and developments that occurred…
Discover moreThe Southport Inquiry, chaired by Sir Adrian Fulford, formally opened on 8 July 2025. The…
Discover moreWelcome to Issue 45 of Five from 5, the employment law e-bulletin produced by our…
Discover more