Francesca Whitelaw KC

Practice Areas

Francesca is a leading specialist in public law and police law. She represents public and private bodies in judicial review, civil actions, professional discipline, human rights, date protection, AI and information law, inquests, investigations and public inquiries. Francesca has particular expertise in national security.

Francesca took silk in 2023 having served on the Attorney General’s A Panel since 2020.

Francesca is currently instructed as Counsel to the Inquiry for the Sturgess Public Inquiry (Salisbury Novichok poisonings) and for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (SO15 and Counter Terrorism Police) in the Omagh Bombings Inquiry.

She represented the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Home Office and MI5) in most of the recent high profile terror attack Inquests: Forbury Gardens (Reading); Sudesh Amman (Streatham); Fishmongers’ Hall (where she also represented the Secretary of State for Justice (Prisons and Probation Services); London Bridge and Borough Market; and Westminster Bridge.

Francesca acted for UKHSA and scientists in the recent Infected Blood Inquiry.

She also appeared in the Court of Appeal in Bridges v South Wales Police (first case in the world to consider the use of facial recognition by police).

She acted on behalf of former soldiers in the Deepcut inquests, instructed by the Ministry of Defence.

Francesca has authored articles for national publications; she edits 5 Essex Chambers' data protection and information law bulletin, The Data Brief, and contributes to its police law publication The Beat.

Visit our website for Francesca’s full profile.

Professional Memberships

Member, ALBA