Rachel Best KC scaled e1725550704771

Rachel Best KC

Year of Call: 2006
Year of Silk: 2024
Email Address: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 7583 8055

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Clerks Details

  • Clerk Name: Russell Porter
  • Clerk Telephone: 01865 793736
  • Clerk Email: [email protected]
  • Clerk Name: Gemma Faulkner
  • Clerk Telephone: 020 7583 8055
  • Clerk Email: [email protected]

Overview

Rachel Best KC is an associate member of 3PB and has nearly 20 years experience as a barrister specialising in employment and discrimination disputes, judicial reviews, inquests and personal injury cases. She was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2006, the Bar of Ireland in 2021 and was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 2022. She was promoted to Silk in 2024.

Rachel has extensive experience in advising and conducting litigation in a wide range of courts whether Employment Tribunals, County Courts, Coroners' Courts, the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Rachel regularly acts on behalf of Government Departments in the UK including the Department of Justice, Department of Infrastructure,  Police Service of Northern Ireland as well as representing a host of businesses, insurers and private clients.

She recently produced a major amended report for the UK Covid-19 Inquiry which was a "Fact-finding investigation on behalf of the Head of the Civil Service."

An experienced speaker on employment law and employers' liability, Rachel has been invited to speak by the IPLS (QUB), Employment Lawyers Association (UK), Education Authority and Department for Infrastructure. She was also a regular contributor to - and a former sub-editor of - the Bulletin of Northern Ireland Law.

Administrative and Public Law

Rachel Best KC is a very experienced public law barrister who has acted in many judicial review cases for both respondents and claimants.

Reported cases include: 

Belo v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2023] NIKB 20: judicial review of a Timor-Leste national who had originally been interviewed without an interpreter by immigration officer. Acted for Home Office and judge upheld applicant's refused application to apply to visit the UK.

Ryan, Veronica & anor v Secretary of State [2021] NICA 42 : acted for respondent in the judicial review of a decision by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland refusing the applicant's application for compensation for miscarriage of justice.

In The Matter Of An Application By Veronica Ryan For Judicial Review [2020] NIQB 47: initial trial judge decision to refuse the application for compensation for miscarriage of justice (see above).

Tadeusz Stach V Department For Communities And Department For Work And Pensions [2020] NICA 4: Court of Appeal case, acting successfully for the respondent Crown, in a case brought by a Polish national who was a jobseeker to get housing benefit as well.

O’Neill, Luke; in re application for judicial review [2017] NIQB 68: Judicial Review of a decision to refuse to transfer a prisoner to a separate landing for Republican Prisoners. Acted for Prison Service of Northern Ireland and Secretary of State for NI. Decision upheld.

Cook, Jonathan; in re application for judicial review [2016] NIQB 38 (for the Respondent): senior police officer had unsuccessfully sued Rachel's client, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), as he had expectations that he would remain on select list for promotion without needing to take further examinations. Temporarily promoted on a six-month contract. Application for a judicial review was dismissed.

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