
Gerry Facenna KC
About
Provided by Gerry Facenna KC
Practice Areas
Competition, Data Privacy, Energy, EU, Commercial Regulation, Judicial Review.
Gerry Facenna is a leading silk in administrative law; commercial regulation (including telecoms, transport and energy); competition; civil liberties; consumer rights; data protection; and EU law. Recent work includes: CAT collective proceedings against Google (under data protection and competition law); collective proceedings against the Police Federation and Easyjet (data protection); R (Bridges) v S. Wales Police (police use of facial recognition); restitution clams against the water and sewerage companies re environmental information; Hughes v Pension Protection Fund (pensions / discrimination); CMA v Care UK (Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts); Lloyd v Google (data protection class actions); Elgizouli (data - international transfers); Banks Renewables (renewables subsidies / State aid); R (Heathrow Hub Ltd.) (Art 102/106 TFEU); Eldon & Leave.EU v. ICO (Direct Marketing / PECR); Google v CNIL (right to be forgotten); Liberty v. SSHD (Investigatory Powers Act); Wightman (Art 50 / Brexit); Miller (1) (Art 50 / Brexit); American Express (interchange fees); Privacy International (investigatory powers / civil liberties).
Career
Called to the Bar of England & Wales (2001, KC 2016); Scotland (2006) and Ireland (2018). Previously a member of the Attorney-General’s ‘A’ Panel of counsel.
Publications
Contributing author to: Information Rights: Law and Practice (Hart, 2020); Halsbury’s Laws of England: Rights and Freedoms (LexisNexis, 2013); EU Competition Law: Procedures and Remedies (OUP, 2006) and The Law of State Aid in the European Union (OUP, 2004).
Chambers Review
UK Bar
Gerry Facenna KC
Gerry Facenna KC tends to a varied client base of individuals and organisations which request and hold information, and regularly acts for public authorities, including the Information Commissioner itself, offering advice on all aspects of data protection and freedom of information. He has an extensive track record of appearing in cutting-edge cases in forums including the Supreme Court and the CJEU.
Gerry Facenna KC
Gerry Facenna KC receives consistently strong praise for his work in significant European law mandates. He took a prominent role in the legal wrangling following the Brexit referendum, both through his co-authorship of the 'Three Knights Opinion' and his appearance in the Wightman reference. Facenna also advises on energy sector state aid, employee benefits and data protection cases that are heard before EU courts.
Gerry Facenna KC
Gerry Facenna KC has a broad depth of administrative and public law expertise, with a particular emphasis on EU law and regulatory matters. He is also adept at judicial reviews involving human rights law and is equally sought after by defendants and claimants.
Gerry Facenna KC
Gerry Facenna KC is a highly commended silk noted for his abilities in public law and data protection with significant human rights and civil liberties implications. He is particularly expert in privacy rights matters.
Gerry Facenna KC
Gerry Facenna KC is recognised as an expert for cases relating to the EU regulation of, and access to, environmental information. His client base includes campaign groups, individuals, corporations, government bodies and regulators.
Gerry Facenna KC
Gerry Facenna KC has acted in several important public law cases that test the relationship between data privacy and the obligation on telecoms providers to store and disclose data in the interests of counter-terrorism. He also handles data privacy cases regarding EU data rules for search engines. Facenna frequently appears before the ECJ and ECtHR. His clients include significant telecoms and technology companies, as well as government bodies.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Gerry Facenna has an excellent feel for how GDPR applies in a data breach context."
"Gerry is very personable and really takes the time to do what is best for the client."
"A very powerful and persuasive advocate."
"Charming, personable and able. He knows the law and is creative."
"Gerry leads really effectively; he stands his ground very confidently and resolutely and his advocacy is fantastic. He's also a great team player."
"He is incredibly knowledgeable and approachable. He gives very sensible and practical advice."
"He has a good, commercial approach."
"Gerry Facenna KC is pragmatic and commercially aware."
"I would rate Gerry Facenna as one of this country’s outstanding barristers. He is a brilliant barrister who understands the needs and concerns of his clients and combines this understanding with a mastery of the subject matter."
"Gerry Facenna has an excellent feel for how GDPR applies in a data breach context."
"Gerry is very personable and really takes the time to do what is best for the client."
"A very powerful and persuasive advocate."
"Charming, personable and able. He knows the law and is creative."
"Gerry leads really effectively; he stands his ground very confidently and resolutely and his advocacy is fantastic. He's also a great team player."
"He is incredibly knowledgeable and approachable. He gives very sensible and practical advice."
"He has a good, commercial approach."
"Gerry Facenna KC is pragmatic and commercially aware."
"I would rate Gerry Facenna as one of this country’s outstanding barristers. He is a brilliant barrister who understands the needs and concerns of his clients and combines this understanding with a mastery of the subject matter."
Discover other Barristers at
Monckton Chambers
Silks (KC)
All Circuits
London (Bar)

