KBW Chambers offers the highest quality of advice and representation at inquests and public inquiries. The team has vast experience of representing a range of interested persons and core participants including corporate bodies and companies, healthcare providers and healthcare professionals, bereaved families, police officers and a range of police forces and prisons.
We are able to offer continuing advice and representation in respect of inter-related criminal, health and safety, disciplinary and civil proceedings and can provide continuity of effective representation and overall strategic advice and support during what are often uniquely demanding and sensitive proceedings.
We have extensive experience of representing interested persons at legally and factually complex and long-running inquests, often where Article 2 of the ECHR is engaged, and where a jury has been summoned, at inquests where reputational issues are at stake and at inquests which attract significant media attention.
We also have experience of judicial review proceeding arising from inquest proceedings, particularly in relation to Coroner’s decisions regarding the scope of inquests and whether Article 2 is engaged, and are able to act in such proceedings should they arise.
Several members of the team are among only a few barristers outside London to have Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance. This allows them to act in inquests and inquiries where highly sensitive material is being considered.
Members of Chambers have been instructed in:
– Inquest into the 7/7 London bombings;
– Undercover Policing Inquiry (‘The Pitchford Inquiry’);
– Deaths in police custody;
– Death following police restraint or contact, including death caused by police dogs;
– Prison deaths;
– Deaths following alleged medical maltreatment;
– Deaths where the deceased was vulnerable by reason of age or mental illness;
– Inquest following the death of a stunt pilot, acting on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority.
Several team members have public access accreditation and so can accept instructions directly from lay clients and will consider flexible funding arrangements including fixed or capped fees where appropriate.
Head of Team: Ian Mullarkey (Recommended Leading Junior; in Inquests and Inquiries in Legal 500 2017 and 2018)