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Inquests & Public Inquiries

Chambers Review

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Inquests & Public Inquiries - London (Bar)

3
Band 3

What the Team is Known For

Crown Office Chambers possesses a robust practice in public inquiries and inquests, with members generally acting for companies or public bodies. Barristers from the set have a strong track record in a wide range of matters, including inquests concerning deaths in custody, and those arising from accidents in numerous contexts including on construction sites and at care homes. One source praises the set for the "large number of individuals with niche specialisms", while another comments that they are "highly knowledgeable, approachable and always appreciate the bigger picture". Renowned for its health and safety expertise, the set can boast considerable experience in corresponding criminal regulatory and civil proceedings arising from inquests. Key instructions include significant roles in the Grenfell Tower and Post Office Horizon IT Inquiries.

James Wilkinson is the senior clerk.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

They have a strong and efficient clerking support team who will always try to help.

Inquests & Public Inquiries respondent
UK Bar

I always find the clerking to be excellent. They are professional, responsive and consistently high in quality, specifically team clerk Jack May-Davis.

Inquests & Public Inquiries respondent
UK Bar

Toby Sparrow and Lisa Searle are super responsive. They are incredibly helpful and you always feel like you're one step ahead.

Inquests & Public Inquiries respondent
UK Bar

Toby Sparrow is so good to deal with. I call him to problem-solve and he is open to creative ideas.

Inquests & Public Inquiries respondent
UK Bar

Crown Office has excellent clerking. They are quick to respond and approachable.

Inquests & Public Inquiries respondent
UK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

2
James Maxwell-Scott
2
Band 2

James Maxwell-Scott KC is instructed in a diverse range of inquests and public inquiries, regularly appearing as counsel to the inquiry. He has particular experience appearing in inquiries involving a health and safety aspect.

I was very impressed by James Maxwell-Scott KC. He had meticulous organisation and sensitive and thoughtful submissions.

James has a really lovely manner with clients and is very practical. He gets what clients are trying to achieve and has a way of explaining really technical laws in a really palatable fashion.

His attention to detail is extraordinary. He is courteous and calm. James can distil huge quantities of information and advance difficult points for his clients.

James Maxwell-Scott KC was exceptional in all areas and went well beyond the call of duty.

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Simon Antrobus
2
Simon Antrobus
2
Band 2

Simon Antrobus KC is a renowned health and safety specialist who has significant experience handling very high-profile inquests and public inquiries. He typically acts on behalf of commercial clients in inquests and in related health and safety prosecutions.

Simon is incredibly personable with the client and understands the pressures and commercial needs of the client. He is an excellent advocate.

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3
Jack Murphy
3
Band 3

Jack Murphy is a strong choice of barrister for healthcare providers, construction companies, public bodies and families in complex inquests and public inquiries. He has notable capabilities in respect of deaths in the health and social care sphere.

Jack Murphy was very good. He was very clear and his preparation was first rate.

You can tell Jack's got a lot of courtroom experience. He's quick on his feet and a slick operator.

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Mike Atkins
4
Mike Atkins
4
Band 4

Mike Atkins is a strong choice for commercial clients involved in health and safety-related inquests arising in contexts including rail and transport. Alongside this, he has a well-established practice in criminal regulatory law.

Mike is a really reassuring presence. He works really hard to understand the details and communicates well with the clients.

You feel Mike's really on top of the case and the detail, and he is very quick to respond to questions. He is a very good advocate, liked by judges.

Mike Atkins has a great, client-friendly manner about him.

Mike drafted some very impressive submissions. He is brilliant on the law, good on his feet and great with clients.

Mike Atkins' advocacy was really clear. He is able to disseminate detail very well.

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5
Julia Kendrick
5
Band 5

Julia Kendrick is a specialist in criminal regulatory law who frequently acts in notable inquests. She has particular expertise in Article 2 inquests, advising on cases which involve universities, care facilities and public bodies.

Julia Kendrick cuts through the nonsense and gets good results.

Julia is very empathetic with the clients and very good at explaining things. She is good on her feet and very impressive as an advocate; she sets the right tone for an inquest.

The thing about Julia is that she devotes herself to cases. She is immaculately prepared, really quite astute and an assertive advocate. She is tenacious.

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Katie Sage
5
Katie Sage
5
Band 5

Katie Sage is an impressive junior barrister who is instructed in various inquiries and inquests by local authorities and commercial entities. Of particular note is her representation of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

She knows a lot about the law and is extremely diligent and organised. You need someone like Katie, who is structured in their thinking and can communicate well.

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5
Sandesh Singh
5
Band 5

Sandesh Singh is a junior barrister with expertise in inquests. He often represents clients in inquests arising from a healthcare context and those involving accidents at work, including several high-profile cases.

Sandesh Singh is amazing. He knows the law, has great strategy and is always fully prepared. His advocacy is clear; it's straight to the point.

He offers attention to detail and is strong on his feet. He has helped to navigate difficult issues. I can't praise Sandesh enough.

Sandesh Singh is a very calm advocate.

Sandesh is a very clever tactician.

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Ranked Barristers at
Crown Office Chambers

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Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Inquests & Public Inquiries
2
James Maxwell-Scott KC
2
Band 2
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Simon Antrobus KC
2
Simon Antrobus KC
2
Band 2
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Juniors

London (Bar)

Inquests & Public Inquiries
3
Jack Murphy
3
Band 3
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Mike Atkins
4
Mike Atkins
4
Band 4
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5
Julia Kendrick
5
Band 5
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Katie Sage
5
Katie Sage
5
Band 5
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5
Sandesh Singh
5
Band 5
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