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About
Provided by Barnabas Branston
Practice Areas
Barney acts for a range of clients including police forces across England and Wales and other organisations in the public and private sector. He is currently representing Serco Home Affairs, Devon and Cornwall Police, West Midlands Police, Dyfed Powys Police and South Wales Police on a variety of matters.
Barney studied French at Oxford University and whilst there was sponsored by the Welsh Guards. After graduating he served in the regiment for five years. He is a Trustee of the Regimental Funds of the Welsh Guards and is a Branch President of the Welsh Guards Association.
Barney represented West Midlands Police in the inquest into the shooting of Trevor Smith and continues to represent Serco Home Affairs in inquests into the deaths of prisoners in custody. He is currently representing Dyfed Powys Police in the inquest into the death of Kianna Patton, Staffordshire Police in the inquest into the death of Joshua Ball and Thames Valley Police in the inquest into the death of Neal Saunders. He also continues to represent various police forces in misconduct proceedings on behalf of the Appropriate Authority.
Barney maintains a near-fluent proficiency in French. As a pupil and junior tenant at 5 Essex Chambers he learned valuable courtroom experience from his early years at the criminal bar before focussing exclusively on his civil practice. Barney lectures on coroners’ inquests and police misconduct and is an occasional contributor to Chambers’ newsletters.
Please visit the 5 Essex Chambers website to view Barney’s full profile.
Professional Memberships
ARDL; PIBA
Chambers Review
UK Bar
Barnabas Branston has significant experience of inquests involving police conduct and deaths in custody. He is typically instructed on behalf of police forces and prison operators.
Barnabas Branston is known for representing police forces in misconduct hearings, as well as defending against civil claims arising from unlawful arrest, assaults and misfeasance in public office. He is also highlighted for his skills in police-related inquests.
Barnabas Branston is recognised as an expert barrister in disciplinary procedures involving police officers. He routinely acts on behalf of police forces in cases involving the use of excessive force and gross misconduct. He also acts for the police in inquests.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Barnabas is liked by witnesses and clients due to his good bedside manner."
"Barnabas Branston is a very polished performer. He wins the confidence of panels with the way he opens the case and deals with witnesses."
"Barnabas is a fantastic communicator, very incisive and reliable."
"Barnabas is a very impressive advocate."
"Barnabas is very personable and very good in inquests, particularly with families. He has lots of attention to detail and knowledge."
"He has a really calm presence in court. He is really good with witnesses."
"Barnabas is very strategic in his approach."
"He is never afraid to have a difficult conversation with clients and manages to do so very effectively."
"Barnabas is liked by witnesses and clients due to his good bedside manner."
"Barnabas Branston is a very polished performer. He wins the confidence of panels with the way he opens the case and deals with witnesses."
"Barnabas is a fantastic communicator, very incisive and reliable."
"Barnabas is a very impressive advocate."
"Barnabas is very personable and very good in inquests, particularly with families. He has lots of attention to detail and knowledge."
"He has a really calm presence in court. He is really good with witnesses."
"Barnabas is very strategic in his approach."
"He is never afraid to have a difficult conversation with clients and manages to do so very effectively."
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5 Essex Chambers
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