Inquests and public inquiries arise in some of the most serious and sensitive circumstances. They are often conducted under intense scrutiny, frequently in the glare of public and media attention, and can carry significant legal, reputational and personal consequences.
We advise individuals, families, corporates and public bodies through inquests and public inquiries in the UK. Our focus is on providing clear, calm and strategic advice at every stage of the process, helping clients navigate complexity while managing risk, scrutiny and competing demands.
How we help in inquests and public inquiries
We support clients throughout the full lifecycle of inquests and inquiries, from the earliest stages through to hearings, findings and any subsequent proceedings.
Our work includes:
- Strategic advice at an early stage following a death or incident
- Representation at coronial inquests and statutory and non‑statutory public inquiries
- Managing disclosure, evidence and witness preparation
- Advising on parallel criminal, regulatory and civil exposure
- Supporting clients through public, media and stakeholder scrutiny
We tailor our approach to the circumstances of each client, recognising that the priorities of bereaved families, individuals, corporates and public bodies will differ.
Inquests
An inquest is a judicial fact‑finding process, led by a coroner, concerned with the circumstances of a particular death. While limited in scope, inquests can be complex, highly sensitive and, in some cases, adversarial.
We have extensive experience advising both private individuals and organisations through every stage of the inquest process, including:
- Engagement with coroners and other interested persons
- Managing disclosure and evidential issues
- Representation at inquest hearings
- Advice on Regulation 28 - Prevention of Future Deaths reports
We regularly act in inquests involving:
- Infant and child deaths
- Fatal road traffic collisions
- Medical treatment and alleged negligence
- Care home and healthcare‑related deaths
- Deaths involving drug misuse or suspected suicide
We also advise in more complex cases, including institutional and Article 2 inquests, deaths in custody, workplace fatalities, blue‑light road traffic collisions and fatalities involving specialist firearms officers.
Our experience extends to cross‑border issues, including the repatriation of bodies, out‑of‑jurisdiction deaths, assisted dying matters and associated probate and forfeiture considerations.
Public Inquiries
Public inquiries in the UK examine matters of significant public concern and often involve multiple participants, substantial disclosure exercises and prolonged hearings.
We have acted in many of the most significant statutory and non‑statutory public inquiries in the UK over the past 20 years. Our advice spans all stages of inquiry proceedings, including:
- Applications for participant status
- Disclosure, anonymity and data protection issues
- Privilege, immunity and self‑incrimination
- Inquiry strategy and reputation management
Our experience includes acting in inquiries such as the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, the Manchester Arena Inquiry, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the Leveson Inquiry and the Undercover Policing Inquiry.