Claire Palmer

Practice Areas

Claire practises in public law, inquests, inquiries, civil and employment claims. She is regularly instructed by Government departments and public bodies, including police forces, and has particular experience in national security and other sensitive issues.

Attorney-General’s A Panel of Counsel (2019, reappointed 2024). Previously appointed B Panel (2014) C Panel (2009).

Deputy District Judge (Civil) (March 2020).

Bencher (2022) and Advocacy Tutor Trainer (Lincoln’s Inn).

Claire is currently instructed as the senior junior for NHS England for the COVID-19 Inquiry and part of the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan CTI team. Other recent cases she is instructed in include: Rhianan Rudd Inquest (for Derbyshire Police), Ashley Walsh Inquest (HMPPS), acting in substantial misfeasance and malicious prosecution claims for HMRC and various police forces, vetting cases, advising Government departments in respect of substantive policy reviews, and defending judicial reviews.

Claire undertook an employment / commercial pupillage and practised for nine years at a common law Chambers before joining 5 Essex Chambers in 2014. She has 15 years of Government experience and undertakes both advocacy and advisory work for a broad range of Government department, public bodies and private clients.

Previous high profile instructions include: Undercover Policing Inquiry (Designated Lawyers - for 100+ individual ex-officers), Post Office Inquiry, the Jermaine Baker Inquiry (Home Office), the Angela Best and Sobhia Khan Inquests (MOJ) and Leroy Medford inquest (Thames Valley Police).

Please visit the 5 Essex Chambers website for Claire’s profile, which sets out full details of her practice including relevant work of note.