John Bethell

John is a public law and human rights specialist with related expertise in public international law and information law. He is instructed by central government, local authorities, other public bodies and claimants. John has particular experience in matters involving national security or international relations issues and in applications for injunctive relief.

His recent work has included: the MOD super-injunction case, relating to a large-scale data incident; the complaint made by Apple Inc to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal; an appeal arising from the government’s detention of a Russian-owned superyacht; a judicial review of Birmingham City Council’s social care charging policy; and the litigation arising from Sri Lankan migrants’ arrival in the British Indian Ocean Territory and the UK’s sovereignty treaty with Mauritius. John has extensive experience in the High Court and Court of Appeal, both as sole counsel and as part of a larger team.