HH Jeffrey Burke

Silk 1985 Call 1965

His Honour Jeffrey Burke KC re-joined Devereux in 2019 as part of the mediation and arbitration team, following an extensive judicial career.

He is available to accept appointments as both an arbitrator and mediator in matters involving employment, personal injury, insurance and commercial law, both in the UK and internationally. He is also able to conduct investigations within organisations, either independently or acting as part of a team.  Jeffrey will draw on his wide-ranging experience, both at the Bar and as a Judge, in seeking to resolve disputes outside the formal court and tribunal structure. 

Jeffrey Burke first joined Devereux Chambers in 1968. Jeffrey had a broad and varied practice in both civil and criminal law, with particular emphasis on employment and personal injury, and a substantial commercial and planning practice. He specialised in catastrophic injury claims and major employment disputes, including individual disputes and collective disputes between employers and trade unions. He also acted in insurance arbitrations, in the UK and elsewhere and in the area of professional discipline.  He has chaired a number of inquiries into professional misconduct.

At the Bar, Jeffrey appeared many times in the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords. A list of reported cases can be provided on request.

Jeffrey was appointed as an Assistant Recorder of the Crown Court in 1983 and a full Recorder in 1985.

In 1998 he was appointed a deputy judge of the Queen’s Bench Division and a judge of the Employment Appeal Tribunal and, in 1995, he became a legal chair of the Mental Health Review Tribunal. He was appointed as a Circuit Judge in 2002 and, in that capacity, undertook both civil and criminal work. Jeffrey continued to sit as a judge of the Employment Appeal Tribunal, the Mental Health Tribunal and, from 2008, as a judicial member of the Parole Board.

Expertise
  • Investigations

    His Honour Jeffrey Burke QC re-joined Devereux in 2019 as part of the mediation and arbitration team, following an extensive judicial career.  He is also able to conduct investigations within organisations, either independently or acting as part of a team.  Jeffrey will draw on his wide-ranging experience, both at the Bar and as a Judge, in seeking to resolve disputes outside the formal court and tribunal structure.  In 1998 he was appointed a deputy judge of the Queen’s Bench Division and a judge of the Employment Appeal Tribunal and, in 1995, he became a legal chair of the Mental Health Review Tribunal. He was appointed as a Circuit Judge in 2002 and, in that capacity, undertook both civil and criminal work. Jeffrey continued to sit as a judge of the Employment Appeal Tribunal until 2013, and as a judicial member of the Parole Board up to 2018. Between 2017-18, Jeffrey was appointed as Acting Certification Officer of Trade Unions and Employers Associations.

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Areas of Expertise
  • Appointments

    2017-18 - Appointed as Acting Certification Officer of Trade Unions and Employers Associations

    2015 - Appointed as Chair of the Hertfordshire Police Stop and Search Scrutiny Committee

    2013-18 - Appointed Specialist Chair of the Parole Board

    2008-2018 - Judicial member of the Parole Board

    2002-12 - Circuit Judge

    1998-2013 - Judge of the Employment Appeal Tribunal

    1998 - Deputy Judge of Queens Bench Division

    1995 - Appointed judicial member of Mental Health Review Tribunal

    1996 - Elected as a Bencher of Inner Temple

    1995 - Elected as Head of Chambers

    1985 - Appointed as Queen's Counsel

    1985 - Appointed as a Recorder

    1983 - Appointed as an Assistant Recorder

    1965 - Called to the Bar

  • Education

    1963-1964 Inns of Court School of Law

    1960-1963 Brasenose College, Oxford            

    1955-1960 Shrewsbury School, Shrewsbury

    1949-1954 Prestfelde School, Shrewsbury

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