5th February 2026
The Cranston Inquiry
The Cranston Inquiry published its report into the events of 23-24 November 2021, when over 30 people died attempting to...
Reka Hollos is a leading junior practising at the intersection of public and criminal law, with a particular emphasis on public inquiries, inquests and extradition. Much of her work has a national security dimension and she is particularly well-placed to advise on the use of covert and investigatory powers. Reka represents clients before a range of courts and tribunals, including specialist tribunals like the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. In 2025, she was appointed to the Attorney-General’s Panel of Special Advocate to represent the interests of excluded parties in closed material proceedings. She is recognised by Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 for her work in her areas of specialism.
Reka is recognised by the directories as a leading junior in the field of inquests and inquiries (Band 3, Chambers and Partners; Band 4, Legal 500) in which she is described as an “absolute star” with a “calm and authoritative” advocacy style. Reka has been involved in most of the major public inquiries in recent years on behalf of Core Participants and as Counsel to the Inquiry including the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, the Cranston Inquiry, the Covid-19 Inquiry, the Undercover Policing Inquiry, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, and the Manchester Arena Inquiry.
Current instructions include:
Omagh Bombing Inquiry: Reka is currently instructed as Counsel to the Inquiry led by Paul Greaney KC.
Covid-19 Inquiry: Reka is currently instructed for the Ministry of Justice led by James Maxwell-Scott KC.
Cranston Inquiry: Reka is currently instructed as Counsel to the Inquiry led by Rory Phillips KC.
Undercover Policing Inquiry: Since 2016, Reka has been instructed for the Metropolitan Police Service led by Peter Skelton KC.
Reka is regularly instructed to represent Interested Persons in coronial proceedings, with a particular specialism in representing police forces and corporate bodies. She is able to provide strategic advice for the benefit of her clients, including dealing with expert evidence, advising on the application of the privilege against self-incrimination and associated regulatory proceedings.
Current and recent instructions include:
Inquest touching the death of NH: Reka represents the MPS. The inquest will examine the adequacy of arrangements between the MPS, Essex Police, Essex Social Services and other organisations to manage the risk posed to a vulnerable individual of domestic violence and child sexual exploitation.
Inquest touching the death of RG: Reka represents six Lincolnshire Police officers led by Hugh Davies KC. The inquest arose from the death of RG from acute cocaine toxicity following police restraint.
Inquest touching the death of PV: Reka represented the MPS. The inquest examined the adequacy of the transfer of information regarding the mental health of a detainee between healthcare professionals, police officers and the prison service.
Inquest touching the death of GS: Reka represented two Derbyshire Police officers. The actions of the officers were found not to be probably or possibly causative of death.
Reka is recognised in the directories as a leading junior in the field of extradition (Band 3: Legal 500) who is described as an “impressive opponent” with a “forceful advocacy style [who] will go very far”. She is routinely instructed to appear on behalf of requested persons, issuing judicial authorities and requesting governments in proceedings under both Part 1 and Part 2 of the Extradition Act 2003. She is admitted to the CPS Advocate Panel for Extradition at Level 3.
She is able to advise on the mechanisms available under mutual legal assistance to secure cross-border evidence and has successfully secured the release of a client from a request to provide evidence in an overseas investigation following a request for MLA.
Current and recent instructions include:
Belgium v A and others: Reka represents the requesting Belgian judicial authority in a request for the surrender of six requested persons to stand trial for allegations of human trafficking. Extradition having been ordered at first instance, the proceedings are presently on appeal.
Sweden v S: Reka represents the requesting Swedish judicial authorities in appeal proceedings which will examine the compatibility of prison conditions in Sweden with Article 3 of the ECHR.
Ireland v B: Reka represents the requesting Irish judicial authority in the lead case on appeal to examine the compatibility of prison conditions in Ireland with Article 3 of the ECHR
Reka has significant experience in advising on and appearing in public law proceedings, with particular emphasis on decisions involving matters of national security, covert policing and investigatory powers. This includes judicial review proceedings as well as complaints and claims before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal arising out of the alleged misuse of covert and investigatory powers.
Reka is appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of Special Advocates and is available to accept instructions to appear in Closed Material Proceedings.
Current and recent instructions include:
Advised the MPS in threatened litigation arising out of the conduct of a stop under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Advised the MPS in threatened judicial review proceedings challenging the conduct of the police investigation into the commission of terrorism offences by the prospective claimant.
Represented the respondent MPS in proceedings before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal challenging the issue of a notice under section 49 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 requiring the claimant to provide the PIN to his mobile phone.
AAS v Secretary of State for the Home Department and Government of Switzerland: Reka represented the first defendant in judicial review proceedings challenging the first defendant’s decision to extradite the claimant prior to the determination of his statelessness application. Interim relief was also refused following contested oral hearings in the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Wilson v Metropolitan Police Service and National Police Chiefs’ Council: Reka represented the respondents led by David Perry KC in proceedings before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. The claim concerned violations of the claimant’s rights under Articles 3, 8, 10, 11 and 14 of the ECHR arising out of the conduct of an undercover police officer.
“Reka Hollos is an extremely skilled advocate. She makes difficult submissions look effortless.” Chambers UK 2026: Inquests & Public Inquiries
“Reka is really clever and personable. She is everything you want in a barrister.” Chambers UK 2026: Inquests & Public Inquiries
“Reka is an impressive opponent, and is carving a solid practice at the extradition Bar.” Legal 500 2026: International Crime and Extradition
“She has a forceful advocacy style, and will go very far.” Legal 500 2026: International Crime and Extradition
“Reka is an absolute star. Her advocacy in court is calm and authoritative.” Legal 500 2026: Inquests and Inquiries
“Reka displays very good judgement on which issues to put forward.” Chambers UK 2025: Inquests & Public Inquiries
“Reka is a very precise questioner and very clever.” Chambers UK 2025: Inquests & Public Inquiries
“She is very clever, hardworking and reliable.” Legal 500 2025: Extradition
“Reka is incredibly bright, charismatic and hard-working. Her written advocacy is very strong.” Legal 500 2024: International Crime and Extradition
“Reka is very thorough and supportive.” Chambers UK 2024: Inquests and Inquiries
“Reka is stellar; she works really hard.” Chambers UK 2024: Inquests and Inquiries
“Reka is incredibly bright, charismatic and hard-working. Her written advocacy is very strong.” Legal 500 2024: International Crime and Extradition
“Reka’s legal analysis is consistently first rate, and her efficiency second to none. A real star in the making.” Legal 500 2023: Inquests and Inquiries
“Reka is brilliant to work with – she has an excellent, reassuring manner with clients, and produces a high standard of written work.” Chambers UK 2023: Inquests and Inquiries
“Reka is excellent. Her work is efficient and detailed and she keeps us up to date.” Chambers UK 2023: Inquests & Inquiries
“Solicitors are staggered when they remember Reka’s call – she is far above her years. Chambers UK 2023: Inquests and Inquiries
Superb organisational skills, lovely written style and excellent judgement.” Legal 500 2022: Inquests and Inquiries
“I have to constantly check myself to remind myself of her call. She really does become indispensable.” Chambers UK 2022: Inquests and Inquiries
Before coming to the Bar, Reka gained considerable experience in the field of public international law. She has worked as a research assistant advising on such matters as diplomatic immunity, law of the sea and arbitrary detention. Prior to this, she served as a law clerk to Judge van den Wyngaert at the International Criminal Court on the cases of Prosecutor v Germain Katanga and Prosecutor v Laurent Gbagbo working in both English and French.
While undertaking her legal training, Reka volunteered for the Media Legal Defence Initiative assisting in the drafting of a communication to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights concerning the arbitrary detention of journalists imprisoned under Ethiopia’s Anti-Terrorism Proclamation.
Languages:
I, Reka Hollos, am a data controller and can be contacted at 3 Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5BH or by telephone on 020 7400 6400 or by email at reka.hollos@3rblaw.com. My Data Protection Policy can be found below.
All personal data that I process is for the purposes of providing legal services, conducting conflict-checks, marketing, defending potential complaints, legal proceedings or fee disputes, keeping anti-money laundering records, training other barristers and pupils and when providing work-shadowing opportunities, and/or exercising a right to a lien. The types of data I process vary upon the nature of the legal matter in relation to which I am engaged to advise, but can include names, contact details, biographic details and ‘special category personal data’ (such as details of racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, health, sex life and criminal convictions and proceedings).
Depending upon the circumstances of the case, the legal bases upon which I process personal data are (i) the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract, (ii) the processing is necessary to comply with legal obligations to which I am subject, or (iii) the processing is necessary for the legitimate interests set out above, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subjects which require protection of personal data, in particular where the data subject is a child. When I rely on (iii) legitimate interests, my ‘Legitimate Interests Assessment’ can be found here. When I process data which has not be obtained directly from the data subject (e.g. personal data contained in evidential materials), it will have been supplied to me as part of my instructions in circumstances covered by legal professional privilege.
Depending upon the circumstances of the case, I may share the personal data with:
I retain personal data for no longer than 7 years after the case has come to an end or as otherwise required by law.
I do not intend to transfer data to any country which is not either within the European Union, ‘white listed’ by the EU or otherwise permitted by EU law (e.g. to the USA under the provisions of the ‘Privacy Shield’).
Under the GDPR, data subjects whose personal data I process have the right to request from me access to, and rectification or erasure of, their personal data, the right to the restriction of processing concerning them, the right to object to processing as well as the right to data portability. Data subjects also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.org.uk).
In cases where there is a contract between me and the data subject, the provision of personal data is a contractual requirement and the data subject is obliged to provide the personal data in order that I can supply legal services. A failure to provide such data may mean that I will not be able to provide the legal services.
Rev 1.1 – 25.05.2018
Reka Hollos is qualified to accept instructions direct from clients under the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme. This means that members of the public who seek specialist advice can come direct to her. In addition, she welcomes instructions from solicitors, in-house law departments, qualified foreign lawyers, and clients licensed by the Bar Council to give instructions direct to barristers under the Bar Council’s Licensed Access Scheme.
For further information please contact our Clerks.
| Address | 3 Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5BH |
|---|---|
| DX | 237 LDE |
| Opening hours | 08:30 – 18:30 |
| Telephone | +44 (0)20 7400 6400 |
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| clerks@3rblaw.com | |
| Senior clerk | Reka Hollos |
