Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Inquests & Public Inquiries - The Regions (Bar)
What the Team is Known For
Garden Court North Chambers excels in the representation of bereaved families and survivors in public inquiries and Article 2 inquests. Barristers from the set provide expert handling of a wide range of matters, including deaths involving policing and prisons, or immigration detention. The set has also had counsel appear in most of the major public inquiries undertaken in recent years, including the Undercover Policing Inquiry and UK COVID-19 Inquiry. A commentator notes that Garden Court North Chambers is "responsive to questions and approachable", has "a whole range of experience and can handle the most complicated of issues". Barristers at the set are acting for the families of Christie Harnett, Nadia Sharif and Emily Moore in their inquests against Tees and Esk Valley Mental Health Trust.
Annmarie Nightingale is head of practice management at the set.
Strengths
The clerks are very responsive and are prepared to go the extra mile. They adopt a team approach.
They are all fantastic clerks at Garden Court North Chambers.
Garden Court North Chambers' clerks are very responsive, and they help when finding someone.
Notable practitioners
Kate Stone is a strong choice of barrister for the representation of bereaved families in Article 2 inquests involving the police, prisons or other elements of the criminal justice system. She is also knowledgeable about relevant mental health issues.
Kate Stone had a really structured approach to all of the witnesses and built a clear picture. She really took things through in a calm and measured pace.
We had a lot of tricky waters to navigate, but Kate steered us through that and built a great sense of trust between herself and the client.
Pete Weatherby KC has consistently represented survivors and the bereaved in investigations scrutinising the circumstances of the very gravest of tragedies. In recent years, he has been instructed in the Grenfell Tower, Undercover Policing and UK COVID-19 Inquiries.
I hugely respect Pete. He is very successful and has made a real name for himself.
Pete has such extensive experience in matters.
I rate Pete Weatherby KC extremely highly.
Pete is an iconic figure in inquests and inquiries work. He is incredibly strategic, and his brain is always switched on to the high-level, strategic path.
Anna Morris KC has significant experience representing bereaved families in both inquests and public inquiries. She has strong expertise in Article 2 inquests, and has notably acted in a number of matters examining historic miscarriages of justice. Alongside her counsel practice, Morris sits as an assistant coroner.
Anna Morris KC is excellent all round. Families love her.
She is very approachable and technically brilliant. Her advocacy is excellent. Anna clearly and comprehensively gets her points across while managing courtroom details.
Anna is a fearless advocate with a plethora of knowledge and expertise.
Anna is really collaborative and down to earth. Her drafting is very good, and her advocacy is really good as well.
Christian Weaver is noted for his expertise in representing bereaved families in complex inquests and inquiries. He has strong experience of sensitive issues including mental health and duty of care in institutions.
He is a very courteous and effective advocate. I would definitely recommend Christian for this work. He is diligent and hard-working.
Christian Weaver is an incredible lawyer and very strategic. He is very straightforward and has a great capacity to make complex facts very simple.
Ciara Bartlam acts for bereaved families in jury inquests, often concerning the management of mental health conditions. She is regarded as an accomplished and reliable advocate in sensitive cases.
Ciara Bartlam can explain complex issues to clients expertly, with ease.
I don't know how Ciara does it all. She is so on top of all her papers and so good at thinking multiple steps ahead, and she really understands clients' priorities and needs.
Ciara Bartlam is incredibly hard-working. We wouldn't have done it without her. She definitely secured the trust of her clients.
Ciara is fearless in her commitment to doing the best she can. She is future-focused so can advise on various likely outcomes, ensuring a client feels fully informed and supported throughout.
Mira Hammad has received notable instructions in the Grenfell Tower and Manchester Arena Inquiries, alongside work in inquests concerning prisons, emergency response and other issues. Her practice is focused on representing the bereaved families.
Mira Hammad is very good. She is hard-working.