Freedom of Information Journal - Editorial Board
The following FOI experts are members of the Editorial Board of Freedom of Information Journal
Christopher Knight
Barrister: 11KBW
Christopher Knight is a well-established junior with a broad public law practice and a particular specialism in media and privacy law, the devolution settlement and in Brexit-related matters. He has appeared in the most significant constitutional law cases of the last few years, including the Article 50 Brexit case, the Scottish independence referendum reference and the challenge to the prorogation of Parliament. He has acted as sole advocate before the High Court, Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and the Court of Justice of the EU. He is a leading expert in information and data protection law. Christopher is also a highly regarded academic writer, publishing widely in journals and is the co-author of the leading textbook Bradley, Ewing & Knight on Constitutional and Administrative Law (2022, Pearson). He is an editor of the White Book and a member of the Editorial Committee of Public Law.
In 2025, Christopher achieved the unusual distinction of being named Public Law junior of the year in both the Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 Bar Awards. He previously won the Legal 500 award in the same category in 2022, and has been nominated for both awards on various other occasions. He is ranked as the sole Star Individual for Administrative and Public Law, and a Star Individual for Data Protection by Chambers & Partners.
He has written on information law issues in Public Law and the Law Quarterly Review, is a contributor to The White Book and is the co-author of the classic student textbook Bradley, Ewing & Knight, Constitutional and Administrative Law (2014, 16th ed). He is listed in 2015 Chambers & Partners for Data Protection and for Administrative and Public Law.
Vicki Bowles
Partner: Bevan Brittan
Vicki Bowles Partner and barrister, specialising in information and privacy law. She has been providing pragmatic, clear and strategic advice on data protection, privacy, confidentiality and access to information since 2005, when working as in house legal advisor within the government legal service.
She advises on all areas of data protection, including compliance (audits, policies and accountability), data subject requests – particularly in the context of complex disputes where practical and strategic advice is required, data breaches, the data protection elements of cybersecurity, corporate due diligence, requests for disclosure made by authorities such as the police or courts, international transfers and TRAs, and contractual clauses relevant to information sharing.
She also advises in relation to the Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations – usually in relation to sensitive or complex matters and the applicability of exemptions and internal reviews, but she has also supervised junior in-house specialist teams and assisted with procedures for dealing with requests. She has experience with the Information Rights Tribunal, in the context of Freedom of Information Act appeals, and regularly contribute articles in the PDP FOI Journal.
John Fitzsimons
Barrister: Cornerstone Barristers
John Fitzsimons is a versatile junior barrister who maintains a deliberately diverse practice encompassing data protection/information law, planning/environmental law, and general local government and public law work, including inquests.
He is regularly instructed by a wide variety of public and private clients and is ranked in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 as a leading junior. He has also been ranked among the top-rated planning juniors under 35 in Planning Magazine’s Planning Law Survey (2025).
In 2024 John co-authored “Data Protection, Privacy and Information Law” with Ben Mitchell and Leo Davidson (Law Society, 1st ed, 2024).
Liz Fitzsimons
Managing Associate: Eversheds Sutherland
Liz Fitzsimons is Partner at Eversheds Sutherland specialising in data protection and freedom of information. She works for a wide range of clients, both public and private sector, including in the education, health, transport, energy and government arenas. Liz has experience in helping clients with complex and sensitive information requests, internal appeals, defending complaints to the ICO and working with the Information Tribunal. She has advised on publication schemes, FOI planning and strategy, contractual provisions and negotiations, confidentiality arrangements and related data rooms, policies and procedures. Liz also advises on EIR issues.
Damien Welfare
Former Public Law Barrister
Damien Welfare is a former public law barrister. He came to the Bar in 2001 after a career in local government, and also worked in central government. In his practice, he specialised in Information Law (data protection, freedom of information, and environmental information).
He is the author of Cornerstone on Information Law (Bloomsbury, 2019), a one-volume guide to the GDPR, Environmental Information Regulations, and FOI Act. He is a contributor to Data Protection – A Practical Guide to UK Law (ed. Peter Carey) (OUP, 6th ed., 2020). Damien is a Member of the Examination Board for the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection.
Robin Hopkins
Barrister: 11KBW
Robin Hopkins is a Barrister at 11KBW in London. A major part of Robin’s practice involves advisory and litigation work on freedom of information, data protection and environmental information matters. He regularly appears in the First-Tier and Upper Tribunals on issues ranging from national security to commercial confidentiality, often against or alongside silks or senior juniors.
Robin’s notable recent cases include Bruton v IC and Duchy of Cornwall (Duchy of Cornwall a public authority for EIR purposes), Marriott v IC and Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis (police information on the “Jack the Ripper” case), All Party Parliamentary Group on Extraordinary Rendition v IC and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (UK’s role in rendition to Guantanamo Bay) and Chichester District Council v IC and Friel (local authority planning decisions and commercial confidentiality).
Together with Tim Pitt-Payne QC and Anya Proops, Robin edits the Information Law Reports. He also regularly advises public and private sector parties on data protection duties and on the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
Robin is a Member of the Examination Board for the Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information.
Paul Gibbons
Head of Information Access: Bank of England
Paul Gibbons is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in information governance and compliance. Currently serving as the Head of Information Access at the Bank of England since October 2022, Gibbons has held key roles including Information Compliance Associate at the Pension Protection Fund and Information Rights Consultant at FOIMan Training. Previous positions include Information Compliance Manager at SOAS, Information Governance Manager at both Croydon Health Services NHS Trust and the Greater London Authority, and Parliamentary Records Manager at the UK House of Lords. Gibbons began career as a Modern Records Archivist at Portsmouth City Council and as an Assistant Records Manager at Pfizer. Gibbons holds a Master of Laws in Information Rights from Northumbria University, an MSc in Archives Administration & Records Management from Aberystwyth University, and a BA in Ancient and Medieval History from the University of Birmingham.