SILK PROFILE
Jason Beer KC

Jason Beer KC

UK Bar 2026

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Ranked in 4 practice areas

About

Provided by 5 Essex Chambers

Practice Areas

Jason is recognised as a leading silk. He specialises in public inquiries, inquests, corporate investigations (both financial and non-financial), public and police law – representing a range of clients, including central government, regulators, public authorities, and corporations.

He was Barrister of the Year in The Lawyer Awards 2024 and Silk of the Year for Inquests and Public Inquiries at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023.

Jason was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge (QBD and ChD) in 2020, and a Recorder (Crime) in 2009.

Jason is currently instructed in many of the high-profile cases of the day, including the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry (as Counsel to the Inquiry), the Thirlwall Inquiry (for NHS England), the UK Covid-19 Inquiry (for NHS England), the Grenfell Tower Inquiry (for the Government), the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry (for Counter-Terrorism Policing), the Andrew Malkinson Inquiry (for Greater Manchester Police), and the Lampard Inquiry (for NHS England), the Nottingham Inquiry (for an NHS Trust), and the Southport Inquiry (for Counter Terrorism Policing North-West).

Jason has been instructed most of the significant inquests and inquiries of the last two decades, including: the Undercover Policing Inquiry, the Fishmongers’ Hall Inquests, the Anthony Grainger Inquiry, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the Hillsborough Inquests, the Al-Sweady Inquiry, the Leveson Inquiry, the Baha Mousa Inquiry, the Hutton Inquiry, the Shipman Inquiry and the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.

Jason is the author of Public Inquiries, published by Oxford University Press.

Please visit the 5 Essex Chambers website for Jason’s full profile.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Police Law: Mainly Defendant - All Circuits

Star Individual
Star Individuals

Individual Editorial

Jason Beer KC is an outstanding silk who is regularly instructed in high-profile civil claims concerning police shootings and a host of other issues such as data protection breaches. He represents police forces in claims brought under the Human Rights Act, and in public inquiries, an area in which he is arguably the leading expert at the Bar. Judicial reviews concerning policing policy are an additional focus.

Inquests & Public Inquiries - London (Bar)

Star Individual
Star Individuals

Individual Editorial

Jason Beer KC is a true trailblazer in the field of public inquiries: having penned the seminal text on the subject, he continues to pick up a plethora of key instructions in many of the most prominent inquiries undertaken, acting as counsel to the inquiry or for the police or central government departments.

Professional Discipline - London (Bar)

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial

Jason Beer KC is well known as one of the leading lights of the police law Bar and is in constant demand among chief constables throughout the land. He is a top choice for presenting serious allegations of misconduct against senior officers. Related public law challenges form a complementary area of expertise.

Administrative & Public Law - London (Bar)

Band 3
Band 3

Individual Editorial

Jason Beer KC excels in the management of administrative and public law proceedings relating to police conduct and data retention. He is typically instructed by police commissioners, the IOPC and other state agents. He is also a leading light in the field of public inquiries and acts in judicial reviews challenging coronial decisions.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Jason Beer is an area leader. He is very effective - depressingly effective if you're against him.

    Police Law: Mainly DefendantUK Bar
  • Jason Beer is outstanding, first-rate. He is one of the most outstanding practitioners, the best in the UK. He is the most hard-working barrister you could ever hope to meet.

    Police Law: Mainly DefendantUK Bar
  • Jason Beer is the leading barrister in many fields. He is an incisive and robust advocate.

    Police Law: Mainly DefendantUK Bar
  • Jason is the leading police barrister, full stop. He is instructed by pretty much every police force in the country. He has a commanding presence in the court. The judges listen to him closely.

    Police Law: Mainly DefendantUK Bar
  • Any counsel should be worried when they are up against Jason, he is that good. You cannot take your eye off the ball for a moment with him. He is focused, creative, analytical and persuasive.

    Police Law: Mainly DefendantUK Bar
  • Jason is the top man in public inquiries. He is a really good leader.

    Inquests & Public InquiriesUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at 5 Essex Chambers (72)

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