Chambers Review

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Inquests & Public Inquiries - London (Bar)

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

1 Crown Office Row is well known in the inquests and inquiries field for having excellent barristers at all levels of seniority, who are renowned for handling central roles in extremely high-profile cases. Recent work highlights include counsel to the inquiry instructions in the COVID-19 Inquiry, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and the Undercover Policing Inquiry, and key roles in the Thirlwall Inquiry. Barristers have acted in numerous difficult inquests, including the Reading Terror Attack Inquest. Clients include public bodies such as government departments, police forces and councils, as well as doctors, private individuals and the bereaved. An interviewee notes: "It is a broad and highly skilled set involved in many of the high-profile inquests and inquiries."

Strengths

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Notable Practitioners

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Matthew Hill
Star Individuals

Matthew Hill has an outstanding track record of instructions in very high-profile public inquiries and inquests. He is a go-to barrister for coroners and inquiry chairs and also advises medical professionals, bereaved families and other core participants. His expertise includes clinical negligence and professional discipline matters.

There is no other junior who has as broad and deep a level of experience. He is a true force of nature and is extremely impressive on expert evidence.

Matthew is hard-working and forensic in his approach, with strong advocacy and client care skills.

Matthew is outstanding. He is a very thorough, clever and measured advocate.

1
Neil Sheldon
1
Band 1

Neil Sheldon KC represents government and police departments, healthcare professionals and other participants in complex inquests and inquiries. His wide-ranging experience includes cases concerning the armed services, national security, healthcare and historic child abuse.

Neil is an excellent barrister and a really polished advocate.

Neil is a brilliant technical lawyer and tactician and an amazing advocate. He deals with clients brilliantly and he is a joy to have on the team. He is our first port of call.

Neil is an excellent all-round silk with ability to distil complex and voluminous material into simple and effective advocacy.

Neil is a class act and a really formidable and excellent advocate.

1
Peter Skelton
1
Band 1

Peter Skelton KC is frequently instructed in large inquests and inquiries which are often under considerable media scrutiny. He also routinely represents parties in inquests involving clinical negligence and is instructed to defend coronial decisions in judicial review proceedings.

Peter is practical and logical but he cares about the clients. His advocacy is fantastic - it is very sharp and very cutting. He leads witnesses to a place no one saw coming.

Peter is a calm and reassuring presence who has the gravitas of a silk but all the soft skills necessary in dealing with bereaved families.

Peter has a wonderful way with words; he brings the drafting to life. He is pragmatic and he reads the room well.

Peter is incredibly analytical with immense experience in inquiries. He is softly-spoken but hard-hitting.

2
Alasdair Henderson
2
Band 2

Alasdair Henderson possesses a breadth of inquest and inquiry expertise. He has been instructed as counsel to a number of prominent public inquiries.

He can be relied upon in challenging and complex matters. His careful handling of witnesses enables them to give their best evidence and to have confidence.

He has great judgement and is a hard-working, superb barrister.

Alasdair is a very smooth cross-examiner. He gets all the key points without the witness realising.

Alasdair is fantastic. He is clever, thoughtful and the one you want by your side in a crisis.

2
Leanne Woods
2
Band 2

Leanne Woods has received widespread commendation for her appearances in inquests or inquiries concerning deaths in medical settings. She has represented doctors, clinical commissioning groups and central government.

Leanne is good on the details yet sees the big picture.

Leanne is frequently instructed for Article 2 inquests. She has a strong reputation, tenacity and real attention to detail.

Leanne works harder than anyone I've ever worked with. She is completely unfazed by tons of documents and she knows cases and facts inside out.

2
Oliver Sanders KC
2
Band 2

Oliver Sanders KC is experienced in representing coroners and interested persons at prominent inquests. He has appeared in some of the most high-profile public inquiries of recent years.

Oliver is very bright, responsive and a very safe, reliable pair of hands.

Oliver is always consistent and his work is appreciated by the clients.

Oliver is a fantastic leader with great vision to do things differently and on behalf of our clients.

3
Jo Moore
3
Band 3

Jo Moore is described by instructing solicitors as a sophisticated advocate who can be relied upon to build a rapport with a range of lay clients. Her inquest work focuses on general and mental healthcare; she has also acted in the COVID-19 Inquiry.

Jo is a future silk with experience beyond her year's call.

Jo is really clever and extremely hard-working.

Jo is authoritative. Her advocacy is firm and very clear, and she has very good judgement.

Jo's attention to detail is fantastic, and she is personable with families and an excellent advocate.

Jo is quick to respond and always gives high-quality advice.

3
Shaheen Rahman
3
Band 3

Shaheen Rahman KC draws high praise for her assured advocacy when acting for the bereaved, or as counsel to the inquest. Her work in this field focuses on deaths in medical settings.

Shaheen is a hard-working barrister.

Clodagh Bradley
4
Clodagh Bradley
4
Band 4

Clodagh Bradley KC has wide-ranging experience in medical inquests. She is instructed by bereaved families, NHS trusts and pharmaceutical companies.

She is absolutely superb and a brilliant advocate. She handled a challenging inquest with tremendous expertise and was on top of all the complex issues.

Clodagh shows determination in court but delivers it carefully. She is a very effective cross-examiner who leaves no stone left unturned.

Clodagh is a tough negotiator and is always available to deal with queries.

4
David Manknell
4
Band 4

David Manknell KC offers comprehensive experience in inquests, particularly those concerning accidents in aviation or on the railways. He has represented the Air and Rail Accident Investigation Branches on a number of occasions.

David provides very good and clear advice.

David is a very knowledgeable and strong operator.

4
Emma-Louise Fenelon
4
Band 4

Emma-Louise Fenelon has acted in a number of high-profile Article 2 inquests including those concerning domestic abuse or psychiatric care. She has an impressive depth of knowledge on medical matters and has been instructed for the government in the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Emma is exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable. She is passionate, empathetic and has a real drive to seek justice, leaving no stone unturned. As a family, we knew we were fully supported.

Emma is a brilliant advocate and is excellent with family members. She gives good commercial advice and is adept at managing expectations.

5
Gideon Barth
5
Band 5

Gideon Barth is a well-regarded junior barrister who has acted for the bereaved as well as emergency services in a number of high-profile inquests.

Gideon is a really effective advocate. He works collaboratively and has a real keen eye for detail.

Clients instinctively trust Gideon, and rightly so. His judgement is very good and he clearly cares about his work. He is always well prepared and is clear and commanding advocate.

Gideon is impressive on his feet and great in front of clients.

5
Jessica Elliott
5
Band 5

Jessica Elliott is a highly esteemed barrister with an active inquest practice. She represents bereaved families, government bodies and healthcare organisations.

Jess is very good with bereaved families and she has very broad experience.

5
Jim Duffy
5
Band 5

Jim Duffy is an experienced barrister who has impressive expertise in inquests. His work in the field focuses on healthcare and mental health-related deaths.

Jim is my go-to for inquests. He digests disclosure imminently and knows which tactical points to take. He is brilliant on his feet and tenacious.

Jim has an excellent manner with clients - the right balance of compassion and gravitas. He puts clients at their ease and is incredibly knowledgeable on coronial law.

Jim is very friendly and approachable. He is able to get to the nub of the argument really quickly.

5
Jonathan Metzer
5
Band 5

Jonathan Metzer is a junior barrister with notable experience acting in Article 2 inquests and high-profile public inquiries. His inquest work often involves issues of mental healthcare.

He was really forensic and very thorough in going through the papers. His drafting was great, as was his advocacy.

Jonathan is doggedly determined to obtain the answers bereaved relatives need and is adept at flexing his approach and tacking when unexpected evidence comes to light.

Jonathan's drafting is very comprehensive. He is capable on his feet and able to adapt.

Jonathan is a thorough, considered and highly capable counsel. He has a measured and considerate manner with witnesses, giving them confidence and support.

5
Shahram Sharghy
5
Band 5

Shahram Sharghy is an adept barrister who has expertise in inquests as well as appearing in high-profile public inquiries. He draws upon his healthcare experience, focusing on clinical negligence and mental health-related deaths.

Shahram is very approachable. He pushes things forward and is really good on his feet.

Shahram deals really well with some of the most distressing and sensitive issues. He explains things really carefully and understands clients' concerns and worries.

5
Suzanne Lambert
5
Band 5

Suzanne Lambert is active in both inquest and public inquiry proceedings. She is routinely instructed by central government and public bodies in healthcare-related matters.

Suzanne is a very measured advocate and gets her points across. She is so detailed, thorough and wonderful to work with.

U
Thomas Beamont
U
Up and Coming

Thomas Beamont is recommended for his appearances in some of the most high-profile public inquiries of recent years. He also regularly acts on behalf of bereaved families in a wide range of inquests.

Thomas has a keen eye for detail and delivers high-quality service.

Thomas is extremely approachable and has a fantastic and reassuring manner with clients.

Tom is a brilliant barrister asking pertinent questions, having led the groundwork slowly and diligently with witnesses.

Tom is absolutely excellent. His handling of complex issues and senior individuals is impressive.

Thomas is fantastic with clients in very emotive and difficult situations. He is always highly prepared and gets to grips with vast amounts of documentation with ease.

Amy Mannion
Amy Mannion
New Silks

Amy Mannion KC is a sought-after barrister for major public inquiries involving the police. She also handles judicial review challenges to the decisions of inquiry chairs.

Amy has the ability to diagnose and get the remedy. She is an excellent problem solver and a huge asset to any team.

Amy is a first-class advocate, and her appointment as a silk was thoroughly deserved.

Amy has excellent judgement and clean, precise advocacy. She gets good results for her client by taking sensible positions and delivering arguments with fluency and clarity.

Amy is phenomenally bright. She has a way of formulating arguments that sit well with judges.

Amy is a formidable advocate, intellectually ferocious and a master at handling sensitive cases with deftness and tact.

Ranked Barristers at
1 Crown Office Row

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Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Inquests & Public Inquiries

1
Neil Sheldon KC
1
Band 1
1
Peter Skelton KC
1
Band 1
2
Oliver Sanders KC
2
Band 2
3
Shaheen Rahman KC
3
Band 3
Clodagh Bradley KC
4
Clodagh Bradley KC
4
Band 4
4
David Manknell KC
4
Band 4
Amy Mannion KC
Amy Mannion KC
New Silks

Juniors

London (Bar)

Inquests & Public Inquiries

Matthew Hill
Star Individuals
2
Alasdair Henderson
2
Band 2
2
Leanne Woods
2
Band 2
3
Jo Moore
3
Band 3
4
Emma-Louise Fenelon
4
Band 4
5
Gideon Barth
5
Band 5
5
Jessica Elliott
5
Band 5
5
Jim Duffy
5
Band 5
5
Jonathan Metzer
5
Band 5
5
Shahram Sharghy
5
Band 5
5
Suzanne Lambert
5
Band 5
U
Thomas Beamont
U
Up and Coming