No5 Chambers is proud to announce that on 1 October 2018 three pupils commence in our successful Public Law group.

Michael Etienne commences his third-six pupillage with us after completion of his training at Matrix Chambers. Prior to this Michael spent time working at Deighton Pierce Glynn and at Bindmans LLP solicitors, as well as a period at the European Court of Human Rights. He is active within Liberty and sits on the executive board, and is involved with INQUEST and the Human Rights Lawyers Association. He is presently working on the Grenfell Inquiry (where another of our group, Philip Dayle, is also engaged). Michael is co-convener of the Police Action Lawyers Group and has a strong interest on claimant-focused civil actions against the police. Amongst other things, he also undertakes education matters, inquest work, and criminal defence. Michael will be primarily based in our London office.

Michael will immediately join a team of excellent and committed junior tenants, including pupils of years gone past who have rapidly established themselves as successful and sought after junior counsel. The group boasts Rachel Riley, Varsha Jagadesham, Alex Cisneros, David Gardner and Jake Rylatt. Two pupil barristers also commence their pupillage with the group on the same date.

Ben Harrison joins us from 7 Bedford Row where he had been employed as the Data Protection and Compliance Officer, as well as conduting paralegal work. Ben has worked as an Education Advocate at CEN (the Communities Empowerment Network school exclusions project) representing students at appeals before school Governing Bodies, and Independent Review Panels, challenging the decision to exclude them. He has particular interests in public, planning, civil and ecclesiastical law.

Avril Rushe joins us from the Institute for International Law at Kiel University where she is a research associate and teaching assistant. She has a Masters in Public International Law, and is undertaking her PhD. She has previously been a legal caseworker at the AIRE Centre. She is a member of the Human Rights Lawyers Association and Association for Professionals in Humanitarian Law and Assistance. Avril is interested in judicial and statutory review, and public inquiries. She has a particular wish to develop her practice in immigration, asylum and nationality law and has a keen interest in Article 5 deprivation of liberty claims in the realm of both prison law and the Court of Protection. With her background in public international law she is also interested in cases involving international human rights instruments.