JUNIOR PROFILE
Russell Fortt

Russell Fortt

UK Bar 2026

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Ranked in 1 practice area

About

Provided by 5 Essex Chambers

UK Bar

Practice Areas

Police law, inquests, inquiries, public and administrative law, human rights, personal injury, clinical negligence, immigration (including human trafficking claims) and FOI.

Notable work includes: Advising on mail intercept for the NCA, acting for the Prison Service in a claim brought by the killer of Drummer Rigby, drafting grounds for the MHT in a JR brought by Ian Brady, acting for the MOD in a JR concerning its media policy by a BMA committee Chair, advising Home Office on policy and legislation relating to the travelling community, advising CPS on its media protocol, advising MoJ on its policy on pornographic material in prisons, advising MoJ on powers of prisoner custody officers, acting for HMRC IN A £100 million+ damages claim for malicious prosecution.

Cases of note include: Jones v MOD [2020] EWHC 1603 (QB), Jackson & Sanderson v CC Northumbria [2020] 6 WLUK 74, CC Kent v Godfrey [2019] EWHC 3005 (QB), CC Northumbria v PAT & Barratt [2019] EWHC 3352 (Admin), Sandhu v CC West Midlands [2019] EWHC 3316 (Admin), Coghlan v DG of NCA [2018] EWHC 34 (QB), Demetrio v IPCC [2015] EWCA Civ 1248, Isaacs v Met Police Commissioner [2013] EWHC 4157 QB, Marley v Commissioner of City of London Police [2013] EWHC 4584 (Admin), Hicks & Others v Met Police Commissioner [2012] EWHC 1947 (Admin), Perinpanathan v Met Police Commissioner [2010] EWCA Civ 40 and 11 other recent Court of Appeal cases, The Billy Wright Inquiry (2007-2010).

Civil Service. Called 1999. AG’s ‘A’ Panel 2018

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Police Law: Mainly Defendant - All Circuits

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial

Russell Fortt defends the police against civil claims in relation to deaths in custody, misfeasance, malicious prosecution, the retention of information and false imprisonment.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Russell is very competent technically and has an ability to break down complex matters and present them in a favourable manner to the judge.

    Police Law: Mainly DefendantUK Bar
  • Russell Fortt is very good on complex cases and anything to do with the Humans Rights Act.

    Police Law: Mainly DefendantUK Bar
  • I use Russell Fortt for bigger cases. He is brilliant on paper and I hear he is great in court.

    Police Law: Mainly DefendantUK Bar
  • Russell is a tough negotiator, he doesn't suffer fools. He looks under every stone to find a solution. I'm impressed by his fortitude. He rolls the sleeves up and gets involved: that's a real asset.

    Police Law: Mainly DefendantUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at 5 Essex Chambers (73)

All Circuits

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