Claire Palmer

Practice Areas

Claire practises in public law, inquests, inquiries, civil claims, and employment law. 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). Previously appointed B Panel (2014) C Panel (2009).

Deputy District Judge (Civil) in March 2020.

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

Claire is instructed as the senior junior for NHS England for the COVID-19 Inquiry and is involved across a number of modules. Other recent cases she is instructed in include: Sobhia Khan Inquest (for MOJ), Rhianan Rudd Inquest (for Derbyshire Police), acting in substantial misfeasance and malicious prosecution claims for HMRC and various police forces, advising Government departments including the MOD and HMPPS 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 14 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), the Jermaine Baker Inquiry (Home Office), Grainger Inquiry (for IOPC), the Angela Best Inquest (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.