Inquests and inquiries

Leading Juniors

Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.

Nikita McNeill
1

Nikita McNeill

2 Hare Court
Nikita is one of the best senior juniors around. She is able to see straight to the heart of the matter and identify key risks and issues for clients, her strategic and pragmatic advice is valued by clients and instructing solicitors alike, and she's down to earth, great to work with, and a real asset to a team.
Fiona Canby
2

Fiona Canby

Temple Garden Chambers
Alex Jamieson
2

Alex Jamieson

25 Bedford Row
Alex Jamieson is an exceptional barrister whose combination of intellectual rigor, strategic insight, and advocacy skills places him among the leading juniors in his field. His cross-examination is measured, forensic, and incisive, while his submissions are concise, authoritative, and compelling. He has a calm and reassuring manner that inspires confidence in both clients and instructing solicitors, particularly in high-pressure and sensitive matters. He combines technical excellence with pragmatism and an acute understanding of the wider strategic considerations affecting a case.
Cecily White
2

Cecily White

Serjeants' Inn Chambers
Cecily White is widely recognized in policing law circles as the equivalent of a silk. She stands out as a trusted advisor, regularly sought after when cases demand not only exceptional intellectual prowess but also the highest standards of client care. Cecily is a fearless advocate, bringing clarity and determination to matters that are reputationally tricky and complex. Her ability to navigate sensitive issues with discretion and strategic insight makes her the first port of call for clients facing challenging circumstances.
Briony Ballard
3

Briony Ballard

Serjeants' Inn Chambers
In my opinion, Briony Ballard is the very best inquest barrister you can instruct in the field. Her level of expertise and experience means she can respond to unexpected twists and turns with a calm, authoritative approach. Leaders and witnesses in our organization feel hugely confident in her ability to guide us through the inquest process and ensure the right conclusion is reached. Briony's advocacy in court is assertive, and she consistently has a firm grasp of all the details in the case. As an Assistant Coroner herself, Briony provides a different perspective that is very useful. Coroners and other representatives respect her enormously. She is also very personable and collaborative in her approach.
Kevin Baumber
3

Kevin Baumber

Serjeants' Inn Chambers
Kevin operates at the level of an experienced silk. He prepares assiduously, subjecting any cases to penetrating logical analysis. He then makes detailed and compelling submissions, never shying away from a difficult point even under pressure from the court or tribunal. His inquest advocacy is perfectly judged.
Anna Bicarregui
3

Anna Bicarregui

39 Essex Chambers
Anna is clever and able to get to the nub of a problem quickly. She is a delight to work with. She is an excellent and considerate advocate, able to take evidence from vulnerable and senior witnesses. Her drafting is very good.
Saara Idelbi
3

Saara Idelbi

39 Essex Chambers
Saara is impressive, approachable, and down to earth.
Piers Marquis
3

Piers Marquis

Doughty Street Chambers
He has an extraordinary capacity for assimilating vast amounts of material and producing masterful written documentation setting out powerful submissions. He is as good on paper as he is in court. His manner as an advocate is assured and low-key, which can disarm an opponent, not least because he has all the material at his fingertips. It is the combination of that work ethic with his calmness in court that makes him so formidable. He has a knack for putting his clients at ease, no matter what their background.
Caroline Cross
4

Caroline Cross

1 Crown Office Row
Philip Dayle
4

Philip Dayle

39 Essex Chambers
Philip was able to get to grips with the material quickly. He has a lot of experience.
Charlotte Godber
4

Charlotte Godber

QEB Hollis Whiteman
Charlotte is an experienced and respected advocate who shows strong judgement, strategic thinking, and a robust approach where necessary.
Patricia Londono
4

Patricia Londono

Serjeants' Inn Chambers
Dominique Smith
4

Dominique Smith

Deka Chambers
Dominique is an exceptionally gifted barrister who combines strong advocacy with excellent strategic judgment. She has a detailed command of her cases, prepares meticulously, and is highly effective at identifying the key issues that will ultimately determine the outcome of proceedings. In my experience, she is particularly adept at analyzing complex factual and expert evidence and presenting it in a clear, persuasive, and accessible manner. Her advocacy is one of her standout strengths. She advances her client's position robustly but with credibility, and she has a talent for dealing effectively with challenges from opponents and the tribunal.
Anton van Dellen
4

Anton van Dellen

Fraser Chambers
One of the top barristers at the inquest Bar, who tackles some of the most complex inquests. He is incredibly knowledgeable about inquest law and has very persuasive advocacy; coroners really listen to him.
Rajkiran Arhestey
5

Rajkiran Arhestey

1 Crown Office Row
I have instructed Rajkiran on sensitive matters involving vulnerable clients and complex factual and medical evidence. In my experience, she is extremely strong in client-facing work. She is approachable, clear, and reassuring with clients, and is able to explain difficult issues in a way that is accessible without losing the necessary legal detail. Her manner with clients in sensitive matters is particularly impressive; she is empathetic and measured, while also remaining focused on the key issues in the case. She is also very thorough in her review of the evidence and preparation and provides careful and practical advice. She is responsive to questions and provides detailed advice in a way that is clear, considered, and useful for progressing the matter. In terms of advocacy, she is very calm, composed, and unflappable. She has a measured and courteous style, even in difficult or emotionally charged hearings, and is able to advance points firmly without being confrontational. Her approach is effective because she remains focused, controlled, and persuasive, while maintaining a professional and constructive tone throughout.
Samuel Burrett
5

Samuel Burrett

39 Essex Chambers
Samuel is highly analytical and articulate. He is also incredibly personable and skilled at giving comprehensible and concise explanations of complex legal and factual issues.
Alice Hands
5

Alice Hands

Temple Garden Chambers
Michael Harwood
5

Michael Harwood

4-5 Gray's Inn Square
Chris Johnson
5

Chris Johnson

Doughty Street Chambers
Gordon Menzies
5

Gordon Menzies

Six Pump Court
Laura Nash
5

Laura Nash

Serjeants' Inn Chambers
A tenacious junior who is able to gauge the tone of inquests just right, especially where it involves alleged failings by officers of the state. Great touch in managing professional clients and their expectations, rooted in hard work and command of the technical aspects of the case.
David Reader
5

David Reader

Serjeants' Inn Chambers
Rhys Rosser
5

Rhys Rosser

2BR
Rhys is hardworking, very bright, and dedicated. His attention to detail is excellent. He is also charming, and clients readily appreciate that he will go the extra mile.
Nick Stanage
5

Nick Stanage

Deans Court Chambers

Rising stars

Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.

Bramble Badenach-Nicolson
1

Bramble Badenach-Nicolson

Hailsham Chambers
Bramble has an excellent understanding of the inquest process and is particularly good at supporting bereaved families through what can be an extremely difficult and unfamiliar process. She takes the time to understand the family's concerns and the questions they want answered while also providing clear and realistic advice about the scope and purpose of the inquest. She is approachable and supportive throughout, including away from the courtroom, and the feedback I have received from families has always been exceptionally positive. Her advocacy on behalf of families is a particular strength. She is appropriately robust in representing families' interests and ensuring that their concerns are properly explored, while maintaining a measured, professional, and sensible approach. She has a particularly good ability to challenge witnesses where necessary and to pursue issues firmly without becoming unnecessarily adversarial. She is also very good at responding to answers as they develop and identifying when further questioning is required. Importantly, she ensures that families feel their questions have been properly heard and put to witnesses. She combines strong advocacy with a genuine sensitivity to the circumstances of bereaved families, which makes her an excellent advocate in inquests.
Isabel Bertschinger
1

Isabel Bertschinger

One Pump Court
Isabel is an extremely brave and talented advocate, who, despite her junior years, commands the Court's and her opponents' respect with her irresistible submissions.
Mirren Gidda
1

Mirren Gidda

One Pump Court
Mirren is an excellent junior. She is brave, tenacious, and trustworthy, she gives all of her cases 110% and always makes time to give advice, and she truly cares about the clients and the cases, and this shows in her approach to instructions.
Rachael Gourley
1

Rachael Gourley

Serjeants' Inn Chambers
Extremely hard-working, diligent, forensic, methodical, and excellent client care.
Chloe Hill
1

Chloe Hill

Serjeants’ Inn
Masters the details of cases well. Tenacious and confident.
Fatima Jichi
1

Fatima Jichi

Garden Court Chambers
Fatima is exceptionally good at inquiry work. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she has an ability to get to grips with huge volumes of material that never ceases to impress. Faced with thousands of pages of disclosure, she is able to pick out the points that really matter, spot connections that others might miss, and turn them into compelling and persuasive arguments. She is meticulous in her preparation and has a real command of the evidence in her cases. Her written work is consistently excellent, and she combines a forensic approach to the detail with a clear understanding of the bigger picture. Fatima is also a very effective advocate. She knows her brief inside out, is persuasive on her feet, and inspires confidence through her mastery of the material. She is someone you always feel is completely on top of the case. I would not hesitate to recommend her. She is an exceptional barrister and someone I would happily recommend to anyone looking for counsel in inquiry work or other complex, document-heavy cases.
Helena Spector
1

Helena Spector

4 New Square Chambers
Helena is simply the best. She is always thoroughly prepared and willing to push the boundaries for her clients. She is truly committed to cases and gives her all. A tenacious and superb advocate.