Public & Fatal Accident Inquiries

Geoffrey Mitchell KC earns acclaim for his representation of key parties in high-profile inquiries. He possesses an impressive depth of expertise in the field. Recently, he was appointed as lead counsel to the Scottish Government on the COVID-19 inquiries.

Jamie Dawson KC accepts leading instructions in high-profile public inquiries. He garners praise for his appointment as Senior Counsel to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, leading the Scottish 2A Module. He has also acted for core Scottish participants in the UK Infected Blood Inquiry.

Jennifer Nicholson-White is a leading choice of junior for public inquiry work. She has experience acting on high-profile instructions. She is a popular choice of counsel for the Scottish Government Legal Directorate, having been appointed as a Standing Junior in 2022. She draws strength from her broader experience handling complex clinical negligence and personal injury claims.

Lisa Henderson KC earns national acclaim for her sophisticated clinical negligence and catastrophic injury claims practices. She draws aptly on this background to advise clients on high-stakes public and fatal accident inquiries. Lisa is a qualified to practise in England and Wales.

Simon Bowie KC is a distinguished senior practitioner at the Scottish Bar. He has vast experience of acting on high-profile public inquiries. In recent years, he has been instructed on both the UK and Scottish COVID-19 Inquiries and the Infected Blood Inquiry. Alongside his busy inquiry work, Bowie is a leading defender in personal injury and clinical negligence cases.

Susanne Tanner KC has an impressive inquiries practice. She has appeared on several of the highest-profile mandates in recent years, including the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry. In addition to her counsel work, Tanner accepts appointments as independent chair and review lead. She has deep expertise in matters concerning whistle-blowers. She is dual-qualified as a barrister in England and Wales.

Ayla Iridag is viewed as a rising star. She primarily practises in the health and safety and public and administrative law spaces, but has also gained a strong reputation for inquiry work. Her representation of NHS bodies and government authorities in fatal accident inquiries has earned her plaudits from the market. Prior to being called to the bar, Iridag worked as a solicitor at a leading international law firm.

Michael Way is recognised as an up-and-coming force in the Scottish inquiry space. He punches well above his call, having been instructed on several of the highest-profile mandates in recent years, including both the UK and Scottish COVID-19 inquiries. His broader practice consists of work in a broad range of civil, commercial and public law areas, such as immigration and real estate litigation.

Fiona Drysdale KC has hit the ground sprinting since taking silk in 2023. She has been instructed on several high-profile mandates for core participants. She is widely recognised for her prowess in the clinical negligence field.

James McConnell is a highly regarded silk who regularly appears for Scottish NHS bodies and health boards in fatal accident inquiries and public inquiries with medical aspects. He has appeared on several headline mandates, including both the UK and Scottish COVID-19 inquiries, acting for NHS National Services Scotland and Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

Paul Reid KC is a go-to choice of counsel for the Scottish Government and the Scottish Prison Service. He draws on deep expertise to adeptly represent his clients in fatal accident inquiries, often concerning prison deaths. Since taking silk in 2023, Reid has continued to go from strength to strength. Most recently, he was instructed to represent one of the most important clinical experts in the UK Infected Bloody Inquiry.