Eleanor Guildford

Eleanor Guildford gained tenancy at St Pauls Chambers in September 2023 following the successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Sophie Mitchell.

Eleanor has a diverse and busy civil practice including international and domestic cases, with a particular focus on Harassment, Defamation, Data Protection and Privacy. She is regularly instructed in her own name and as junior counsel to our senior civil barristers.

Most recently, Eleanor was successful in a trial against a public authority which had mistaken the identity of the Claimant for another and further processed this misinformation at a multi-agency safeguarding meeting. Consequently, the Claimant mother recovered damages for breaches of the Data Protection Act and torts of Misuse of Private Information and Breach of Confidence following an unnecessary and distressing visit from social services causing her to fear the removal of her children.

Eleanor is a member of the Government Legal Department’s ‘Junior Junior Panel’ and often accepts instructions routinely reserved for B/C panel members. Eleanor has successfully represented the Ministry of Justice in strike out applications and is often asked to advise and draft statements of case in her specialist areas.

Eleanor has a particular interest in Police Law and has acted for police authorities seeking civil injunctions and protective orders.

In addition, Eleanor has a keen interest in Education Law, having gained experience during her pupillage whilst shadowing Chambers’ Hannah Lynch. Most recently, Eleanor was instructed by a local authority to defend a responsible body accused of failing to make reasonable adjustments for a child with special educational needs and discriminating against the child on the basis of their disability. Following a two day hearing at the First Tier SEN and Disability Tribunal, the panel concluded her client did not discriminate against the child contrary to Section 85 of the Equality Act and that the responsible body had not failed to make reasonable adjustments by their application of government coronavirus guidance regarding the provision of online learning. Eleanor received the following feedback from the responsible body;

“she was amazing…I found it extremely reassuring that she was there for us”

Eleanor also frequents the Court of Protection, acting for the Office of the Public Guardian on matters concerning the validity of lasting powers of attorney.

Further, during her pupillage Eleanor assisted with matters including:

• Privacy/Confidentiality – Emergency Injunction/Anonymity Application/Undertakings;
• Defamation – Serious Harm Threshold/Single Publication Rule/Defamatory Meaning/Malice;
• Harassment – Drafting Pleadings/Skeleton Arguments/Criminal and Civil Trials;
• Data Protection – De Minimis Principle/Accuracy/Exemptions;
• Inquests – Article 2 Deaths in Custody;
• Public Law – Human Rights Act and Equality Act Claims/Drafting Pleadings;
• Personal Injury – Analysis of Medical Evidence/Causation Disputes/Vulnerable Clients;
• Contract Law – Consumer/Commercial;
• Civil Procedure – Strike Out/Summary Judgment/Part 36 Offers/CCMs;
• Family – Contested Child Contact Disputes/Adoption;
• Special Educational Needs (SEN) – Drafting Position Statement/Drafting Orders/Tribunal Hearing.

Prior To St Pauls Chambers

Ellie was awarded the Senior Advocacy Scholarship during her barrister training course, a role reserved for the best advocate of the year.

Ellie worked as a Legal Advisor at the Government Legal Department in the Banking and Insurance Team working on the Future Regulatory Framework. Ellie worked alongside senior Civil Servants and Government Ministers, including Rishi Sunak.