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Find out more about our barristers and business support teams here.
Select an area of expertise to find out more about our experience.
Find out more about our barristers and business support teams here.
Eleanor Guildford joined 5 Essex Chambers in March 2025 from a highly regarded northern set wherein she developed a diverse civil practice with a particular focus on media and communications law, including harassment, defamation, data protection and privacy. Eleanor has considerable experience in Police Law, Public Law and Court of Protection matters and is sought after for her conscientious approach to legal issues and compelling advocacy.
Eleanor is regularly instructed to advise, draft pleadings and appear on civil trials, including jury trials, arising from allegations of unlawful arrest and false imprisonment. Eleanor frequently appears before the High Court and County Court on behalf of Chief Constables seeking strike out of vexatious claims and civil restraint orders, resisting pre-action disclosure applications and seeking protective orders. Most recently, she successfully argued a high value negligence claim including damages for a catastrophic brain injury brought against a Chief Constable should be struck out and in January 2025 she presented a seminar to Officers and Federation Representatives on Police Misconduct Proceedings and appeals.
Eleanor also frequents the Court of Protection. Her clients include the Office of the Public Guardian, private individuals and local authorities; several of whom retain her as preferred counsel. She has experience of matters concerning the validity of lasting powers of attorney, challenges to capacity and section 21(a) MCA appeals.
Eleanor is a member of the Government Legal Department’s ‘Junior Junior Panel’ and often accepts instructions routinely reserved for B/C panel members. Eleanor has successfully represented the Ministry of Justice at the County Court on strike out applications and appeals and is often asked to advise and draft pre-action letters or statements of case.
Prior to the bar, Eleanor worked at the Government Legal Department in the Banking and Insurance Team of HM Treasury. She worked alongside senior Civil Servants and Government Ministers, including Rishi Sunak, on the Future Regulatory Framework. She retains advanced security clearance and is authorised to act in cases and public inquiries involving sensitive material.
Overview: Drafting pleadings/skeleton arguments/criminal and civil trials.
A v B
Secured £11,000 damages, costs and injunctive relief pursuant to s.1 and 3 PHA 1997 following 6-month course of conduct perpetrated against father and son by father’s ex-partner.
A v B
Secured injunction for Cs against three parents at their children’s school displaying threatening and abusive behaviour. Two were dealt with by cross undertakings, one by a 12-month injunction.
Overview: Advisory work on serious harm threshold/single publication rule/defamatory meaning/malice; drafting pleadings/skeleton arguments/preliminary trials of meaning.
A v B
Before High Court defending action for defamation following publication of a review on a ‘check a trade’ type website. D has raised the defences of truth and honest opinion.
A v B
Before the High Court representing Cs, a high-profile sportsman and his wife, against D, claiming substantial damages and injunctive relief following a defamatory publication.
Overview: Emergency Injunction/Anonymity Application/Undertakings.
AA v A Local Authority
Eleanor was successful in a multi-track trial against a public authority which had mistaken the identity of the Claimant for another and further processed this misinformation at a multi-agency safeguarding meeting. Consequently, the Claimant mother recovered damages for breaches of the Data Protection Act and torts of Misuse of Private Information and Breach of Confidence following an unnecessary and distressing visit from social services causing her to fear the removal of her children.
B v A Media Agency
Advised C, a hotelier, on settlement against D, a multinational media agency, securing £10K damages in lieu of an injunction for disruption caused by filming over two nights in locality.
Overview: Protective Orders/Pre-action disclosure/negligence claims/false imprisonment claims/misfeasance/misconduct.
Eleanor has received judicial praise for her work in this field. She is described as demonstrating excellence, thoroughness and professionalism beyond her year of call. She advises and represents police authorities on the full range of protective orders (e.g. SHPOs and DVPOs) and has significant experience of representing forces at premises licensing hearings.
AB v A Chief Constable
Multi-track claim brought against CC for misfeasance, breaches of data protection legislation and misuse of private information.
Overview: Human Rights Act and Equality Act Claims/Drafting Pleadings.
Eleanor is a member of the Government Legal Department’s Junior Junior Panel.
Overview: Health and welfare, property and affairs/section 21(a) MCA Appeals/contested capacity.
Eleanor has significant experience in representing the Official Solicitor and local authorities dealing with deprivation of liberty orders.
Successfully represented the Responsible Body (Local Authority) at the FT SEND Tribunal Responding to Parents’ claim that their child, S, had been unlawfully discriminated against in breach of RB’s duty to disabled pupils under Section 85(2) or 85(6) of the Equality Act 2010 by failing to make reasonable adjustments to its policy of pupils returning to face to face learning in school after the Coronavirus-related lockdowns. Outcome: RB did not discriminate against S contrary to section 85 Equality Act 2010.
“she was amazing…I found it extremely reassuring that she was there for us”
Instructing Eleanor
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