Chambers Review

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Inquests & Public Inquiries - The Regions (Bar)

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Park Square Barristers is a go-to set for interested persons in inquests, including government departments, police forces, healthcare organisations, local authorities and education bodies. Members additionally act for bereaved families. The set boasts an impressive bench of barristers skilled in the inquests field, with several government panel members and assistant coroners among its roster. One interviewee reports that "there is clearly a real collegiate atmosphere in the set; the support and knowledge sharing gives the barristers a real edge." The group has represented The Health & Safety Executive on an inquest arising out of the 2011 Gleision Mining Disaster. Other high-profile mandates handled by Park Square Barristers include the UK COVID-19 Inquiry and the inquest into the death of Jacob Billington.

Richard Sadler is the senior managing clerk.

Strengths

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Notable Practitioners

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Craig Hassall
1
Craig Hassall
1
Band 1

Craig Hassall KC is instructed for bereaved families and institutional clients in large-scale inquests and inquiries. He has substantial experience in matters concerning health and safety or medical issues.

Craig is very strategic, extremely organised and an effective questioner.

Craig made the right points and had a deft touch. He managed to be sensitive to the family and realistic with the court, being very courteous and polite all around. I was impressed.

Craig Hassall KC was brilliant in the inquest.

Janine Wolstenholme
1
Janine Wolstenholme
1
Band 1

Janine Wolstenholme has substantial experience acting on behalf of government bodies in inquests. She is particularly adept in matters involving deaths in prison, or scrutinising the decisions of the National Probation Service. Wolstenholme sits as assistant coroner for West Yorkshire (Eastern) and Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen.

Janine has an approachable and helpful manner, coupled with great experience in the coronial setting.

She is an excellent advocate. She works collaboratively to achieve excellent results but is not afraid to be robust when needed. Janine has a high degree of knowledge and expertise.

Janine is a coroner herself so she gets the way that people are thinking, which is a real advantage.

Janine Wolstenholme gets to the heart of issues quickly.

Kate Wilson
1
Kate Wilson
1
Band 1

Kate Wilson has particular strengths in inquests involving complex medical issues and expert evidence. She has been instructed by the Ministry of Justice in Article 2 inquests, as well as acting for families, local authorities and other parties. She is appointed as an assistant coroner for Liverpool and Wirral and a deputy district judge of the North Eastern Circuit.

Kate is efficient and detailed, easy to work with and strategic.

Kate Wilson was really good. She knew her stuff and did a good job in representing the family.

Kate is incredibly organised; she takes it to another level. A clear, calm and totally pleasant person to deal with.

Kirsten Mercer
1
Kirsten Mercer
1
Band 1

Kirsten Mercer is joint head of Park Square Barristers' inquest team. She is highly sought after by government departments to provide counsel in relation to inquests, typically involving the management of prison services or probation. Mercer sits as assistant coroner for Newcastle and North Tyneside and Northumberland (North and South).

Her in-depth knowledge and experience allows her to see the wider picture and take clients along with her to achieve excellent results. Kirsten has a calm and effective in-court manner.

Kirsten has a very disarming manner with witnesses and provides clear advice, coupled with great advocacy.

Kirsten is a good advocate whose criminal law experience shows when it comes to inquests.

Kirsten Mercer is very knowledgeable and provides very good submissions.

Richard Wright
1
Richard Wright
1
Band 1

Richard Wright KC is a heavyweight silk in the North East region. He offers significant experience in high-profile inquests and public inquiries, bringing to bear his broader skill set, which includes crime and health and safety. He has recently been instructed as part of the UK COVID-19 Inquiry counsel team and has previously acted in the Manchester Arena Inquiry.

Richard Wright KC is quite excellent.

Simon Connolly
1
Simon Connolly
1
Band 1

Simon Connolly has developed a substantial practice in the area. He is regularly sought out to act in Article 2 inquests and is instructed by public and private bodies, with recent work for care providers and the police. He sits as an assistant coroner for County Durham and Darlington.

Simon Connolly has served us well.

A fierce advocate, Simon will battle for his client but is astute enough to know when to stay quiet.

Matthew Stanbury
2
Matthew Stanbury
2
Band 2

Matthew Stanbury offers a diverse set of experience including acting for families in prison or care-related inquests and in 'justice after acquittal' cases. Alongside this, Stanbury sits as an assistant coroner in South Yorkshire East (Doncaster).

Matthew Stanbury has a nice court manner.

I thought Matthew was very good and easy to work with.

Matthew is an effective advocate with real skill with his clients and an ability to read the room to achieve excellent outcomes. He has real knowledge and expertise.

Caroline Wood
3
Caroline Wood
3
Band 3

Caroline Wood earns plaudits for her representation of both bereaved families and defendants in inquests. A significant portion of her practice pertains to deaths occurring in or around healthcare units. She has notable experience appearing in jury and Article 2 inquests.

Caroline is superb. She did an incredible job for the family and is an impressive advocate. I would recommend her highly.

Caroline Wood is a sensible barrister who knew about the field and was good in collaborating.

Holly Clegg
3
Holly Clegg
3
Band 3

Holly Clegg draws upon her regulatory and public law practice to represent local authorities, the police and prison healthcare facilities in various inquests. She has experience handling Article 2 inquests and those involving a jury, frequently acting as sole lead counsel.

I find Holly to be very approachable, sensible and practical. She is excellent on her feet, fully aware of her audience and aware of what direction the case is potentially heading.

Holly Clegg continues to be a rising star. She is well prepared and makes her arguments persuasively.

Holly is a very good junior whose manner comes across well.

Robert Stevenson
3
Robert Stevenson
3
Band 3

Robert Stevenson has developed a strong practice within the field of inquests and public inquiries, alongside his specialism as a regulatory advocate. He often acts for HSE or other interested parties at the Coroner’s Court in connection with inquests into death.

Robert Stevenson brings his forensic skills to inquests. He is a very effective advocate.

Joseph Hudson
U
Joseph Hudson
U
Up and Coming

Joseph Hudson is increasingly recognised for his involvement in high-profile inquiries, such as the Undercover Policing and UK COVID-19 Inquiries. He has also engaged in a variety of coronial cases from road accidents to care home incidents.

Joseph's analytical skills are high. He never gives plain vanilla answers and always thinks two steps ahead.

Joseph's mastery of the subject matter made him best placed to provide the practical, procedural and legal advice required, and the matter was successfully navigated.

Joseph Hudson is a rapidly rising star in inquiry work, who punches well above his call.

Naomi McLoughlin
U
Naomi McLoughlin
U
Up and Coming

Naomi McLoughlin is a rising star in the regions who advises a broad range of clients, including private professionals, police departments, healthcare providers and bereaved families. She has notable experience with inquests concerning prisons, in addition to both Article 2 and jury inquests. She also sits as an assistant coroner in Yorkshire West (Eastern).

Naomi McLoughlin is confident and well prepared. She is a safe pair of hands.

Naomi is an excellent advocate who also supports clients and witnesses well.

Ranked Barristers at
Park Square Barristers

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Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

The Regions (Bar)

Inquests & Public Inquiries

Craig Hassall KC
1
Craig Hassall KC
1
Band 1
Richard Wright KC
1
Richard Wright KC
1
Band 1

Juniors

The Regions (Bar)

Inquests & Public Inquiries

Janine Wolstenholme
1
Janine Wolstenholme
1
Band 1
Kate Wilson
1
Kate Wilson
1
Band 1
Kirsten Mercer
1
Kirsten Mercer
1
Band 1
Simon Connolly
1
Simon Connolly
1
Band 1
Matthew Stanbury
2
Matthew Stanbury
2
Band 2
Caroline Wood
3
Caroline Wood
3
Band 3
Holly Clegg
3
Holly Clegg
3
Band 3
Robert Stevenson
3
Robert Stevenson
3
Band 3
Joseph Hudson
U
Joseph Hudson
U
Up and Coming
Naomi McLoughlin
U
Naomi McLoughlin
U
Up and Coming