John Bethell
UK Bar Guide 2025
Band 3 : Administrative & Public Law
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+44 (0)20 7632 8500Share profile
Band 3
About
Provided by John Bethell
Practice Areas
John is a public law and human rights specialist with related expertise in public international law and information law. He is instructed across these fields, for central government, local authorities, other public bodies and claimants, and has particular experience in cases involving national security or international relations issues. John’s recent work has included: the first statutory review of a government decision to detain a Russian-owned yacht; an appeal regarding the scope of the Local Government Ombudsman’s jurisdiction; a judicial review of Birmingham City Council’s social care charging policy, the challenges to the Investigatory Powers Act and MI5’s data handling; and the litigation arising from Sri Lankan migrants’ arrival in the British Indian Ocean Territory. He has extensive experience in the High Court and Court of Appeal, both as sole counsel and as part of a larger team. He is a member of the Attorney-General’s B Panel and the Public International Law Panel.
Career
Called to the Bar 2014. Appointed to the Attorney General’s ‘C’ Panel (2019), Public International Law Panel (2020) and ‘B’ Panel (2022). Before coming to the Bar, John completed a PhD in history and was a soldier and diplomat
Chambers Review
UK Bar
John Bethell is a member of the Attorney General's B panel and is regularly instructed by central government bodies. His public law practice includes high-profile judicial reviews concerning national security and investigatory powers.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"John is a very good advocate."
"John is clear, concise and measured. He is a very effective advocate."
"John has real clarity of thought and an ability to cut through the difficulties in public law."
"John is a very good advocate."
"John is clear, concise and measured. He is a very effective advocate."
"John has real clarity of thought and an ability to cut through the difficulties in public law."
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