Daniel Rutherford

Daniel is a Partner and Head of Emergency Services. He is ranked in the Chambers and Partners UK 2024 guide and leads the only Band 1 defendant police law team in the country. Interviewees reported to Chambers and Partners UK that he works "incredibly hard" and is a "trusted player".

Daniel is frequently instructed in high profile and sensitive civil claims. He represented Sussex Police in the litigation which arose following the drone incursions at Gatwick Airport. He has significant experience in providing advice to those involved in high profile inquests. He recently represented Surrey Police in the inquests following the Guildford Pub Bombings in 1974. He represented the British Transport Police at the inquests following the Croydon Tram disaster, the terrorist attack at Fishmongers’ Hall and the terrorist attack at London Bridge and Borough Market. This included representation of PC Wayne Marques GM who was stabbed on multiple occasions whilst challenging the three terrorists. He also advised the British Transport Police at the inquest into the death of Belly Mujinga which received widespread media coverage following an allegation that she contracted COVID-19 after being spat on by a member of the public.

Daniel has been involved in the two leading cases addressing the applicability of qualified one way costs shifting (QOCS) to actions against the police. He advised the Metropolitan Police Service in Jeffreys v The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2017] EWHC 1505 and Brown v (1) The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (2) Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police and the Equality and Human Rights Commissioner (Intervener) [2019] EWCA Civ 1724.

Notable cases include:

• Countess of Caledon v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2016] EWHC 2214 (QB);
• Jeffreys v The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2017] EWHC 1505 (QB);
• Dr Pal v The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2018] EWHC 2988 (QB); and
• Brown v (1) The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (2) Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police and the Equality and Human Rights Commissioner (Intervener) [2019] EWCA Civ 1724.

Notable inquests include:

• Inquest into the death of Private Sean Benton at Deepcut barracks (2018);
• Inquest into the death of Private Geoff Gray at Deepcut barracks (2019);
• Inquests into the terrorist attack at London Bridge and Borough Market (2019);
• Inquests into the seven deaths following the Croydon tram disaster (2021);
• Inquests into the deaths following the terrorist attack at Fishmongers' Hall (2021);
• Inquests into the five deaths following the Guildford pub bombings in 1974 (2022); and
• Inquest into the death of Belly Mujinga (2022).

Daniel has a particular interest in force vetting and is instructed by a number of forces to act as a legal advisor to their vetting appeals panel.