Department profile
Doughty Street Chambers

Inquests & Public Inquiries

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


Doughty Street Chambers

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Inquests & Public Inquiries - London (Bar)

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Doughty Street Chambers has an established reputation as a leader in the field of inquests and inquiries. One source highlights the "large number of brilliant and experienced barristers". Members of the set have substantial experience in extremely high-profile matters, typically representing victims and bereaved family members, or acting as counsel to the inquiry. The chambers is praised as a "leading set with particular expertise in representing core participants". The barristers' expertise covers a range of areas including mental health, and police and prison law. Recent work includes notable instructions in the Lampard Inquiry, the Undercover Policing Inquiry, the inquest into the death of Sean Fitzgerald and the COVID-19 Inquiry.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Sian Wilkins and Grace Walton are excellent. They are very responsive, clear and make themselves available to help. They make our lives much easier.

    Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks at Doughty Street are very good and proficient.

    Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are responsive across the board, helpful and accommodating.

    Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • They are always quick to respond to emails and to identify suitable counsel. Grace Walton, Callum Stebbing and Freddie Wilkins are particularly helpful.

    Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • Doughty Street's clerks are particularly helpful to us, especially Ben Davis and Grace Walton.

    Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 2Adam Straw
    Band 2Adam Straw

    Adam Straw

    Adam Straw KC has a strong track record of being instructed in major inquests and inquiries, typically on behalf of bereaved families. He also frequently appears in public law proceedings and human rights litigation arising out of inquests and public inquiries.

    • Adam is like a walking encyclopedia about the important cases. He has incredible knowledge and experience, and is very open to discussions and suggestions.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Adam is very intellectually able. His strength lies in difficult legal arguments.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Adam is impressively forensic and his intellectual analysis stands out.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Alison Seaman
    Band 2Alison Seaman

    Alison Seaman

    Alison Seaman brings her deep expertise in human rights law to bear on her inquests practice. She typically acts in Article 2 proceedings that involve deaths in prison, police custody and mental health institutions.

    • Alison is simply superb. She is a wonderful advocate, on top of the law, fantastic with clients and a collaborative, supportive person to work with.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Alison is great with clients. She displays a highly creative and effective approach.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • She is a brilliant barrister who keeps a client's objectives at the forefront and is adept at explaining difficult points. She has good judgement and very strong advocacy.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Angela Patrick
    Band 2Angela Patrick

    Angela Patrick

    Angela Patrick has notable expertise in public law, which she draws upon to represent participants in complex inquiries and inquests.

    • Angela's advocacy is great because she is so thoroughly prepared. She is all over every document and she knows every point.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Angela is reliable, responsive and a real battler throughout, which is what we needed.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Angela is exceptionally strong on the details. Her questions were the most insightful questions. She is a hard worker and is committed to the clients.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Angela is a great barrister who listens to her clients, decides where they want to go and takes her client on the journey with her.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Kirsten Heaven
    Band 2Kirsten Heaven

    Kirsten Heaven

    Kirsten Heaven has extensive experience in inquests and inquiries. She possesses expertise in various key areas, including deaths in prison and cases where the investigative duties of the police are placed under scrutiny.

    • Kirsten is thorough and knowledgeable.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Kirsten is excellent, with incredibly good jury skills, and very good at implementing clients' goals. She is a very persuasive advocate and is a tactician.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • She is a passionate advocate and a very skilled cross-examiner.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Sam Jacobs
    Band 2Sam Jacobs

    Sam Jacobs

    Sam Jacobs is a popular barrister with considerable experience acting in inquests and public inquiries such as the IICSA and the Undercover Policing Inquiry. He is particularly well equipped to represent families in inquests concerning prisons and police custody, or mental health services.

    • Sam will be a silk soon. He is really exceptional on his feet and all over the details.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Sam is a charming and punchy advocate.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Tom Stoate
    Band 2Tom Stoate

    Tom Stoate

    Tom Stoate is praised as a barrister who brings a high level of skill and sensitivity to his representation of bereaved families at death in custody and mental health-related inquests, as well as those arising from acts of terrorism.

    • Tom is very impressive. He has a lot of inquest and inquiry experience.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Tom is a passionate advocate. There are no points he won't fight but he does not over-lawyer the inquest.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Tom has a charming and highly effective style of advocacy. He gets the best possible evidence out of witnesses and is good with vulnerable clients.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Jude Bunting
    Band 3Jude Bunting

    Jude Bunting

    Jude Bunting KC has wide-reaching experience which includes inquests arising from deaths in prison, deaths in police custody and proceedings arising from the Troubles in Northern Ireland. His deep expertise in public and administrative law means he is also well placed to advise on judicial reviews concerning coronial decisions.

    • Jude is a very bright silk and he is very good at the law.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Jude is brilliant, creative and clever. He is a nightmare as an opponent because he is so good.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Jude is a highly effective advocate who is highly creative.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Maya Sikand
    Band 3Maya Sikand

    Maya Sikand

    Maya Sikand KC excels in the representation of bereaved families in complex Article 2 inquests, particularly those involving examination of policing or prisons. She has further experience acting in high-profile inquiries, including the Undercover Policing Inquiry.

    • Maya is a very passionate and tenacious advocate. She is extremely thorough and doesn't leave stones unturned.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Maya does not get bogged down. She wins people around and defeats silks acting for state bodies.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Maya is formidable and can be terrifying in all the right ways. Her advocacy is amazing - she could convince anyone to do anything.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Maya's questioning and cross-examination were really good. She was great in terms of tactical considerations and strategy.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Aswini Weereratne
    Band 4Aswini Weereratne

    Aswini Weereratne

    Aswini Weereratne KC has attracted acclaim for her work in numerous inquiries, particularly the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, of which she has acted in multiple strands.

    • Aswini has a very calming air of confidence about her. Her advice is always very well thought out and she puts you in a good position of strength.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Fiona Murphy
    Band 4Fiona Murphy

    Fiona Murphy

    Fiona Murphy KC brings to the Bar her years of experience as a solicitor handling inquests and inquiries. She predominantly advocates on behalf of bereaved families in a wide range of matters, with a particular emphasis on inquests touching on police conduct.

    • Fiona has meticulous attention to detail.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Fiona is a very detailed and very powerful advocate.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Fiona has a trauma-informed approach, which puts clients at ease even in the face of the worst state abuse.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5Frederick Powell
    Band 5Frederick Powell

    Frederick Powell

    Frederick Powell is a junior barrister trusted by bereaved families in Article 2 inquests.

    • Frederick is an enthusiastic and passionate advocate.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • He is a measured and very effective advocate who fights good points.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Frederick is a very eloquent advocate, and clients' expectations are well managed. He explains things to clients in a way they understand and has a very collaborative approach.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5Laura Profumo
    Band 5Laura Profumo

    Laura Profumo

    Laura Profumo has notable expertise in inquests concerning mental healthcare settings and frequently acts for bereaved families. She has also represented core participants in the Brook House Inquiry and the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

    • Laura is highly intelligent and extremely hard-working, with great attention to detail.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Laura is absolutely excellent. She works extremely hard and is all over the detail, her advocacy is excellent and she is very good indeed with bereaved families.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Laura is really bright and has good instincts. She gets through things without missing anything.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Laura works incredibly hard, her devotion to each case is exceptional and her clients quickly trust and respect her. Her oral and written presentation are both excellent.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5Matthew Turner
    Band 5Matthew Turner

    Matthew Turner

    Matthew Turner has expertise in representing bereaved families at inquests, with a focus on deaths in medical and prison settings. He is notable for having secured findings of neglect in multiple inquests.

    • He picks his battles and is mindful of the client's priorities, but there is a ferocity and resolve to his legal argument. This makes him incredibly persuasive and a force to be reckoned with.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Matthew is an excellent advocate for families at inquests. He is very sharp, with impressive advocacy skills, and gives clients clear and practical advice of what to expect.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5Oliver Lewis
    Band 5Oliver Lewis

    Oliver Lewis

    Oliver Lewis is a highly capable inquest and public inquiry barrister. He represents bereaved families in complex Article 2 inquests and has acted for a large bereaved families group in the COVID-19 Inquiry.

    • Oliver's cross-examination is lovely. He is very approachable and a real team player.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5Shanthi Sivakumaran
    Band 5Shanthi Sivakumaran

    Shanthi Sivakumaran

    Shanthi Sivakumaran has appeared in multiple public inquiries, including the Grenfell Tower, Undercover Policing and COVID-19 Inquiries.

    • Shanthi is a rising star who has worked as counsel to the inquiry and for a core participant. She is an excellent lawyer with great client care skills.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Shanthi works incredibly hard. Barristers rely heavily on her to tunnel through the material.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Shanthi is incredibly diligent and hard-working. She has fantastic judgement. She understands what it is to be an advocate at an inquest as opposed to in court.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • Up and ComingCian Murphy
    Up and ComingCian Murphy

    Cian Murphy

    Cian Murphy is a rising star in the inquest space, where he is regularly instructed in proceedings involving police custody and prisons.

    • Cian is very intuitive and sharp. He resolved various difficult complexities and has a depth of knowledge and skill well beyond his year of call.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Cian is one of the most impressive barristers I have worked with. He has a gentle way about him but at every single turn he has a strategy.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Cian has a particular strength for eliciting the relevant evidence from witnesses. He can see the evidence from all angles and takes a strategic approach.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • Cian fights for clients in really impressive ways.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
  • New SilksAdam Wagner
    New SilksAdam Wagner

    Adam Wagner

    Adam Wagner KC is gaining prominence for his ability to handle high-profile and politically sensitive public inquiries. Of particular note is his recent engagement in the COVID-19 Public Inquiry, alongside the inquiry into the departure of Chief Commissioner of the Gibraltar Police Ian McGrail from his post.

    • Adam Wagner KC gave very helpful advice and was easy to work with.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar
    • There are often tight deadlines and turnarounds, but Adam has been very good with that and very on top of everything. He is tactful, respectful and very responsive. Clients really like him.

      Inquests & Public Inquiries respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Doughty Street Chambers (17)

London (Bar)

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