Direct Access Barrister
John Goss
Direct Access Barrister
John Goss
Area of Law
Freedom of Information and Data Protection
I have appeared in the First Tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal in FOIA cases, and have acted for requesters, public authorities and the Information Commissioner.
In data protection, I act for both data subjects and data controllers, in judicial review proceedings, civil claims under the DPA 1998/2018, and advising on all aspects of the UK GDPR and DPAs. I have particular expertise advising small businesses and charities.
Inquests and Public Inquiries
I am an experienced inquests and inquiries practitioner, and am ranked as a Leading Junior for Inquests & Inquiries in Chambers UK. I acted in the Reading Terror Attack Inquests and two of the three new Deepcut Inquests. I have appeared in inquests relating to deaths arising from Covid vaccines, deaths in police and prison custody, deaths following police contact, deaths of British service personnel on operations or in training, deaths linked to mental health and treatment at work, and deaths occurring overseas. I typically act for police, central government or large organisations, but also accept instructions from families and individuals.
In public inquiries, my focus is on national security cases. I am currently acting in the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry (into her death by novichok poisoning), the Afghanistan Inquiry, and the Omagh Bombing Inquiry. I previously worked on the Grenfell and Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiries.
Public and Administrative Law
I regularly appear in judicial review claims in the Administrative Court, mostly for defendants but also for claimants. My work usually relates to challenges to decisions of other courts or tribunals (including inquests), challenges relating to information law, or decisions about policy relating to prisons or immigration.
What sort of work do I do?
I act in public law cases, especially judicial review, data protection and information law, inquests and inquiries, and civil claims, including under the Human Rights Act. I have particular expertise in claims relating to the legal system, to law enforcement, and to data protection and information rights.
Who do I work for?
While most of my practice is for public authorities such as the Government, police forces, local authorities, the Information Commissioner and the Charities Commission, I also act on a direct access basis for families (in inquests), for data subjects in claims under the Data Protection Act or GDPR, for requesters under FOIA/EIR, and for charities and unincorporated associations.