Inquests & Inquiries

"Three Raymond Buildings offers considerable expertise in handling inquests as a result of its long-standing practice in this area."

Chambers UK 2024

"Three Raymond Buildings has effective and high-quality barristers across all levels of seniority, which gives them a very strong offering for this kind of work as it needs a substantial team of counsel in varying roles."

Chambers UK 2024

‘A great set with a number of hugely impressive KCs and juniors‘ with key strengths in coronial law."

Legal 500 2024

"Three Raymond Buildings leverages its criminal and regulatory expertise for complex, sensitive and controversial inquests and inquiries."

Legal 500 2022

“In three words: competent, professional, outstanding.”

Chambers UK 2021

Three Raymond Buildings has unrivalled expertise in the field of inquests and public inquiries. Historically, members have appeared in the most complex, high profile and publicly important of the time. Past inquests and inquiries include the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, the Jean Charles de Menezes Inquest, the Baha Mousa Inquiry, the Inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the inquests into the deaths of those killed in the 7/7 bombings and the Victoria Climbié Inquiry. This depth of experience is reflected in the work which Three Raymond Buildings continues to do in this field. Members of these chambers have a wealth of experience built upon advising on, appearing in (and appearing for) the most demanding and difficult of inquests and inquiries.

Hugo Keith QC has recently been appointed counsel to the Covid-19 Inquiry. Clair Dobbin QC was counsel to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in its work on children in the care of local authorities. Nine members of Chambers represent individual and organisational Core Participants in the ongoing Manchester Arena Public Inquiry.  Five members represent Core Participants in the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry. Other ongoing or recent notable inquiries, in which members are instructed, include the Dawn Sturgess Public Inquiry, the East London Inquests into the murders of four young men by Stephen Port, the Jermaine Baker Public Inquiry, the Fishmongers’ Hall Inquests, the London Bridge Inquests and the Inquiry into Undercover Policing.

Seven QCs and four juniors are currently ranked in the 2022 edition of Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 for their expertise in this field. Saba Naqshbandi, Edmund Gritt, Kevin Baumber and Sarah Le Fevre also sit as Assistant Coroners.

Three Raymond Buildings brings its reputation for outstanding advocacy to bear upon its work in inquests and inquiries. We represent a broad range of core participants and interested parties including families, commercial organisations, public institutions, employees and professionals. Three Raymond Buildings has a particular specialism in representing the police, fire rescue services, government bodies and individuals employed by those organisations.

Find the right barrister

To find the right inquests & inquiries barrister, and to discuss any possible instructions, please contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7400 6400 or email clerks@3rblaw.com.

Manchester Arena Public Inquiry (Ongoing)

Public inquiry established following the May 2017 attack at the Manchester Arena which resulted in the deaths of 22 people. Greater Manchester Police are represented by Richard Horwell QC, Guy Ladenburg, Daniel Mansell, John Greany and Ruby Shrimpton. British Transport Police are represented by Patrick Gibbs QC and Reka Hollos. Matthew Butt QC represents Counter-Terrorism Police Headquarters. Hugh Davies QC represents two specialist GMP command officers. Saba Naqshbandi represents an individual Core Participant.

Grenfell Tower Inquiry (Ongoing)

Public inquiry established following the high-rise fire which broke out in the Grenfell Tower block of flats in North Kensington, London resulting in the deaths of 72 people. The London Fire Commissioner is represented by Stephen Walsh QC, Sarah Le Fevre, Emma Collins and Bo-Eun Jung. The National House Building Council is represented by Matthew Butt QC and Saba Naqshbandi.

Public Inquiry into the Death of Jermaine Baker (Ongoing)

Public inquiry following a police shooting in the course of the operation surrounding an attempted escape from custody on the way to Wood Green Crown Court. Matthew Butt QC and Ruby Shrimpton appear on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service.

East London Inquests (2021)

Inquests into the death of four young men in Barking murdered by Stephen Port. Hugh Davies QC and Clair Dobbin QC represented fourteen police officers designated as Interested Persons. Robert Morris advised three police officers appearing as witnesses.

Fishmongers’ Hall Inquest (2021)

Jury inquest arising from the deaths of two individuals in the terror attack at Fishmongers’ Hall on 29 November 2019. Matthew Butt QC and Genevieve Woods appeared on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service. Sarah Le Fevre appeared on behalf of The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers. Kevin Baumber represented a number of ‘Prevent’ officers.

Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Ongoing)

Clair Dobbin QC was leading junior counsel to two of the Inquiry’s investigations: children in the care of Lambeth Council and Rochdale. Richard Horwell QC and Genevieve Woods represented the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham as part of the Roman Catholic Church investigation. Reka Hollos represents The Purcell School for Young Musicians and Genevieve Woods represents Wells Cathedral School and the Yehudi Menuhin School, both as part of the Residential Schools Investigation.

Croydon Tramlink Inquests (2021)

Inquest into the deaths of seven individuals following a tram crash in Croydon in November 2016. Jonathan Ashley-Norman QC and Bo-Eun Jung appeared on behalf of the Office of Rail and Road, the regulator of tramways and the prosecuting authority in relation to criminal proceedings arising out of the incident.

Undercover Policing Inquiry (Ongoing)

Public inquiry examining the conduct of undercover officers attached to two historic units: the Special Demonstration Squad and the National Public Order Intelligence Unit. Reka Hollos is junior counsel on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service.

Public Inquiry into the Death of Dawn Sturgess (Ongoing):

Public inquiry established following the death of Dawn Sturgess by Novichok poisoning in connection with the Salisbury Novichok attacks. Ruby Shrimpton is instructed as junior counsel for the Metropolitan Police Service.

“Offers considerable expertise in handling inquests as a result of its longstanding practice in this area.”  Chambers UK 2021

“They have unrivalled experience in this area.”  Chambers UK 2021

“An outstanding set of chambers both in terms of the counsel we instruct, and the way in which the clerks conduct their business and the chambers is administered.” Chambers UK 2021

“In three words: competent, professional, outstanding.”  Chambers UK 2021

“An excellent set of chambers with a wealth of talent.” Legal 500 2021

Inquests & Inquiries barristers

King's Counsel

James Lewis KC

Call: 1987 / Silk: 2002

Barrister - James Lewis KC

Hugo Keith KC

Call: 1989 / Silk: 2009

Barrister - Hugo Keith KC

Richard Horwell KC

Call: 1976 / Silk: 2006

Barrister - Richard Horwell KC

Michael Borrelli KC

Call: 1977 / Silk: 2000

Barrister - Michael Borrelli KC

Michael Bromley-Martin KC

Call: 1979 / Silk: 2002

Barrister - Michael Bromley-Martin KC

Patrick Gibbs KC

Call: 1986 / Silk: 2006

Barrister - Patrick Gibbs KC

Stephen Walsh KC

Call: 1983 / Silk: 2009

Barrister - Stephen Walsh KC

Hugh Davies OBE KC

Call: 1990 / Silk: 2013

Barrister - Hugh Davies OBE KC

James Hines KC

Call: 1982 / Silk: 2015

Barrister - James Hines KC

Jonathan Ashley-Norman KC

Call: 1989 / Silk: 2016

Barrister - Jonathan Ashley-Norman KC

Alisdair Williamson KC

Call: 1994 / Silk: 2017

Barrister - Alisdair Williamson KC

Richard Wormald KC

Call: 1993 / Silk: 2019

Barrister - Richard Wormald KC

Matthew Butt KC

Call: 2002 / Silk: 2020

Barrister - Matthew Butt KC

William Emlyn Jones KC

Call: 1996 / Silk: 2021

Barrister - William Emlyn Jones KC

Sophie Cartwright KC

Call: 1998 / Silk: 2021

Barrister - Sophie Cartwright KC

Clair Dobbin KC

Call: 1999 / Silk: 2021

Barrister - Clair Dobbin KC

Ben Watson KC

Call: 2002 / Silk: 2021

Barrister - Ben Watson KC

Rachel Barnes KC

Call: 2004 / Silk: 2022

Barrister - Rachel Barnes KC

Saba Naqshbandi KC

Call: 1996 / Silk: 2024

Barrister - Saba Naqshbandi KC
Junior Barristers

Neil Saunders

Call: 1983

Barrister - Neil Saunders

Edmund Gritt

Call: 1997

Barrister - Edmund Gritt

Ailsa Williamson

Call: 1997

Barrister - Ailsa Williamson

Kevin Baumber

Call: 1998

Barrister - Kevin Baumber

Guy Ladenburg

Call: 2000

Barrister - Guy Ladenburg

Nicholas Yeo

Call: 1999

Barrister - Nicholas Yeo

Sarah Le Fevre

Call: 2001

Barrister - Sarah Le Fevre

Luke Ponte

Call: 2003

Barrister - Luke Ponte

Rachel Scott

Call: 2004

Barrister - Rachel Scott

Bo-Eun Jung

Call: 2005

Barrister - Bo-Eun Jung

Robert Morris

Call: 2008

Barrister - Robert Morris

Emma Collins

Call: 2008

Barrister - Emma Collins

Amanda Bostock

Call: 2008

Barrister - Amanda Bostock

Heather Oliver

Call: 2010

Barrister - Heather Oliver

Patrick Hill

Call: 2010

Barrister - Patrick Hill

John Greany

Call: 2012

Barrister - John Greany

Daniel Mansell

Call: 2012

Barrister - Daniel Mansell

Eva Niculiu

Call: 2013

Barrister - Eva Niculiu

Reka Hollos

Call: 2014

Barrister - Reka Hollos

Rebecca Hadgett

Call: 2015

Barrister - Rebecca Hadgett

Genevieve Woods

Call: 2016

Barrister - Genevieve Woods

Ciju Puthuppally

Call: 2017

Barrister - Ciju Puthuppally

Ruby Shrimpton

Call: 2018

Barrister - Ruby Shrimpton

Jessica Hocking

Call: 2013

Barrister - Jessica Hocking

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