Department profile
39 Essex Chambers

Community Care

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)

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39 Essex Chambers

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Community Care - London (Bar)

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

39 Essex Chambers is a go-to set for community care matters with notable depth and breadth of expertise and "detailed specialist knowledge" available at the chambers. Barristers from the set are regularly called on to represent a diverse client base, including the Official Solicitor as well as several local authorities, health authorities and individuals, in a wide range of cases. Areas of expertise for the team include Children Act challenges, matters concerning asylum seekers, age assessments and care home funding disputes. The set is frequently instructed in the most high-profile cases in the area, and its barristers have considerable experience of appearing before the Supreme Court. One interviewee states "39 Essex Chambers has technical expertise and experience in this area of law." Members are involved in cases such as Seabrooke Manor Ltd, R v Care Quality Commission in a judicial review claim around covert medications.

Peter Campbell and Sheraton Doyle are the directors of clerking for public law.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • They are generally very responsive and pragmatic, and they work in a manner that clients and judges appreciate alike.

    Community Care respondentUK Bar

  • Fantastic chambers with very helpful clerks who build a good relationship with you and are always available to help and find solutions on cases.

    Community Care respondentUK Bar

  • 39 Essex Chambers clerks lead the way in terms of client care and really understand what we need when we need it. They go the extra mile.

    Community Care respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Fenella Morris
    Fenella Morris

    Fenella Morris

    Fenella Morris KC is a deeply experienced silk who is a fine choice for a range of community care matters, including cases relating to local authority funding and policy disputes. She is an expert in judicial review, a regular in the Court of Protection and someone with great knowledge of the law relating to the NHS.

    • Fenella Morris is very strong on complex mental health cases.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar
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  • Jenni Richards
    Jenni Richards

    Jenni Richards

    Jenni Richards KC is a pre-eminent silk who acts for claimants, public interest groups and local authorities in community care matters. She is an expert across a broad range of cases, and is particularly good at cases involving regulatory processes, compliance with the Human Rights Act and budgetary decision-making.

    • Jenni Richards is an absolute leader in her fields. She is a complete all-rounder who is great on her feet and excellent with her clients.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar
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  • Katherine Barnes
    Katherine Barnes

    Katherine Barnes

    Katherine Barnes is adept at handling a wide range of human rights and community care matters. She has experience of representing her clients in judicial reviews and damages claims. She frequently appears in the Court of Appeal, High Court and Upper Tribunal.

    • Katherine Barnes is brilliant. She is really good.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar
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  • Sian Davies
    Sian Davies

    Sian Davies

    Sian Davies is lauded for her expertise in a wide range of community care matters. She is regularly instructed in cases involving safeguarding, trafficked individuals and the age assessment of unaccompanied asylum seekers. She is also adept at handling matters concerning housing issues.

    • Sian Davies is a real standout on issues relating to NRPF individuals and excellent on mental health crossover matters.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar
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  • Steve Broach
    Steve Broach

    Steve Broach

    Steve Broach is particularly well known for his work concerning the rights of disabled children and adults. He is a go-to barrister for community care work and has been instructed in cases all the way up to the Supreme Court.

    • The best in the field on children's community care matters.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar

    • He is one of the nicest people to work with, is extremely responsive and understands the needs of the clients and service areas.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar

    • Steve Broach is my absolute number-one public law barrister. He knows the law in his areas better than anyone I know.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar
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  • Victoria Butler-Cole
    Victoria Butler-Cole

    Victoria Butler-Cole

    Victoria Butler-Cole KC has a broad practice, but she is particularly experienced in community care related to local authority funding decisions. She is also an expert in social care and human rights matters.

    • An outstanding silk over a range of matters relating to community care, healthcare, and regulation for children and adults.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar

    • She is brilliant and great on her feet and on papers, great to work with and a real leader in her field.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar
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  • Arianna Kelly
    Arianna Kelly

    Arianna Kelly

    Arianna Kelly is experienced in a wide range of community care matters including cases related to local authority policy disputes and care packages. She is often instructed by government and local authorities.

    • Arianna is well versed in the challenges our clients face, and is always pragmatic and client-focussed in her legal advice. She is a pleasure to work with.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar
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  • Vikram Sachdeva
    Vikram Sachdeva

    Vikram Sachdeva

    Vikram Sachdeva KC is recognised as a strong public law silk. Within community care, he demonstrates notable experience in cases concerning the provision of medical care and resources.

    • Vikram Sachdeva is excellent.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar
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Ranked Barristers at 39 Essex Chambers (8)

London (Bar)

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