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