Wednesday, 5th November 2025
Registration & Refreshments
Hugh Davies OBE KC, Three Raymond Buildings
Welcome
Kevin Baumber
Practical vetting considerations
Isabel Aughterson
Pitstop: Recent judicial review decisions of interest. Isabel’s presentation is available here.
Refreshments
Guy Ladenburg
Historical and future trends in misconduct outcomes. Guy’s presentation is available here.
Patrick Gibbs KC and Luke Ponte
The Trial of NX121: a worked example from the frontline
Lunch
Elizabeth Fox and Hugh Davies OBE KC
Overcrowded prisons, mass protests and the custody officer. The presentation is available here.
Dalia Naaman and Kevin Baumber
A client’s perspective: In conversation with BX140 and Mark Scrutton
Closing Remarks
Networking Drinks
The Pregnant Man, Chancery Lane
Elizabeth Fox
Elizabeth has been representing and advising police officers in criminal and conduct matters, Inquests, judicial reviews and Post Incident Processes for more than 20 years. Recent instructions include in relation to the Charing Cross sergeants affected by the Panorama programme, PC Perry Lathwood and PC Imran Mahmood as well as the British Army in PIP training, advising officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands and domestically advising in conjunction with Hugh Davies KC in the impact of the Palestinian protests upon custody suites.
She is also instructed by BALPA.
Dalia Naaman
Dalia is a senior solicitor with over 20 years’ experience specialising in criminal law, police discipline, Post Incident Procedures, judicial review and inquests. She has experience of working on sensitive and operationally complex matters including deaths in custody, firearms incidents, high profile cases including the criminal and misconduct investigations and inquest proceedings following the death of Rashan Charles, and has recently represented officers in the misconduct proceedings in connection with the strip search of Child Q.
Demand for her knowledge and experience has led to her training most recently BTP fed reps and presentations to the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
Patrick Gibbs KC
Patrick represents police officers accused of misconduct, with a particular focus on individual officers facing criminal charges, inquests or public inquiries.
2025 – Legal 500 Silk of the Year
2024 – NX121 [Chris Kaba]
2023 – “The Sheriff of Soho”
2022 – Manchester Arena [BTP and its officers]
2021 – PC Benjamin Monk [Dalian Atkinson]
Previously – Jean Charles de Menezes, Victoria Climbie, 7/7, “Elveden”, “Plebgate”, Sean Rigg, Thomas Orchard and Ian Tomlinson
Currently representing the investigating officers in Judicial Review proceedings arising from the 2003 death of Sabina Rizvi.
Hugh Davies OBE KC
Hugh is recognised expert in his field, specialising in inquests, public inquiries, and police law. He has acted in many high-profile inquests, including those concerning Roger Sylvester, Collette Lynch, Jean Charles de Menezes, Baby P, Paul Coker, Raoul Moat, Reece Staples, the London Bombings, Yassar Yaqub, Stephen Port and Sean Fitzgerald as well as inquiries involving deaths in custody and fatal police shootings. He is presently instructed in the Nottingham Inquiry and the Undercover Policing Inquiry. He is regularly instructed in matters of significant public and international interest. He represents both individual officers and police forces in complex and sensitive cases concerning the use of force, restraint, and operational decision-making. His work also includes acting for senior command officers in major public inquiries and advising on judicial reviews that have helped shape the law on police accountability, oversight, and professional standards. Hugh lectures nationally and co-authored Police Complaints, Misconduct and Public Regulation (OUP), with the second edition due for publication in 2026.
Matthew Butt KC
Matthew is a leading KC in police law. He is regularly instructed in judicial review, civil claims, and professional misconduct matters of significance. He has particular experience in the law and policy relating to the deployment of armed officers having appeared many high profile cases including all recent terrorist inquests, the Mark Duggan inquest and Jeramine Baker Inquiry. Other recent instructions include presenting the gross misconduct case against former Commander Julian Bennett and representing the MPS in the Home Office Accountability Review.
Kevin Baumber
Kevin is Head of Chambers’ Professional Discipline Practice Group and was awarded ‘Best Professional Discipline Junior’ at the UK Bar Awards 2019, and shortlisted for the Legal 500 Public Services barrister of the year 2025, he won The Times Lawyer of the Week for the defence of BX140. He is ranked as a leading practitioner in Band 1 in both Chambers UK 2025 and the Legal 500 2025 and is quoted as ‘increasingly regarded as a leading authority, if not the authority, in matters relating to police misconduct’. He has appeared on Federation behalf in the recent landmark cases shaping police discipline: Vetting (Di Maria, Victor, Quirke), Pre-attestation (Watson, TVP), Private Life (Philpot). He continues to defend in high profile misconduct cases such as Panorama documentary, PC Lathwood, and others.
Guy Ladenburg
Guy is widely recognised for his extensive experience advising and representing police officers and forces across the country. His practice spans public inquiries, inquests, criminal proceedings, disciplinary hearings, and judicial reviews. He regularly acts to protect and advance the interests of the police in coroner’s inquests, including those concerning deaths in custody and other complex or sensitive fatalities. Over the years, Guy has represented officers from forces nationwide and is increasingly instructed by the Metropolitan Police to advise and appear in a broad spectrum of high-profile and challenging matters.
Luke Ponte
Luke specialises in defending police officers in criminal, misconduct, and coronial proceedings. He has represented Inspectors, Sergeants, and numerous PCs in gross misconduct hearings across multiple forces nationwide, covering a broad spectrum of allegations including use of force, confidentiality, computer misuse, honesty and integrity, sexual allegations, harassment, and discrimination. He has acted in some of the most high-profile police cases in recent years, including the murder trial of NX121, the misconduct proceedings concerning Child Q, and R v Lewis (the officer who took a “selfie” at a double murder scene). Recognised in the legal directories for his expertise, Luke is noted for his excellent client interaction and incisive advocacy.
Heather Oliver
Heather has a particular specialism in representing police officers, both in criminal trials and in professional misconduct hearings, and is familiar with the unique issues and sensitivities that arise in such cases. She has considerable experience in providing advice, drafting, and advocacy services, and has successfully resisted gross misconduct findings in relation to allegations concerning discrimination, sexual touching, excessive force and dishonesty. Heather also represents officers in Coroners’ inquests, notably the inquest into the death of Edson Da Costa, representing five officers who detained an individual who had swallowed a large quantity of Class A drugs.
Isabel Aughterson
Isabel accepts instructions from individuals and forces on a range of issues. She acts for officers accused of gross misconduct before discipline panels including recent instructions for several Sergeants accused of failing to challenge messages sent via WhatsApp. Isabel regularly advises and acts for the Metropolitan Police in civil matters including behavioural orders (such as Sexual Risk Orders) and forfeiture. Isabel also acts for individuals and forces in licensing matters concerning premises and under the Firearms Act 1968.
| Address | 3 Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5BH |
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| DX | 237 LDE |
| Opening hours | 08:30 – 18:30 |
| Telephone | +44 (0)20 7400 6400 |
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| clerks@3rblaw.com | |
| Senior clerk | Conferences & Seminars |
