Brian Altman KC
2BRA class act who instilled genuine confidence in his clients.
Inquests and inquiries
Leading Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
Fiona Barton KC
5 Essex ChambersFiona is a tough, direct, and well-regarded silk, particularly in police matters.
Jason Beer KC
5 Essex ChambersJason is, quite simply, one of the best barristers. He is extremely approachable and his key strength is his ability to advise the client on complex matters in a way that is easily understood. Jason's advocacy is, of course, outstanding.
John Beggs KC
Serjeants' Inn Chambers
Kate Blackwell KC
2 Hare CourtKate is a very skilled and confident advocate who is sensitive to witnesses and puts them at ease with her questioning, which is essential in this field of work.
Hugh Davies OBE KC
Three Raymond BuildingsHugh is a polished and highly effective advocate. His cross-examination is elegant but relentless, conducted with a deep understanding of the case and an insight into the witness's psychology and motivation. His submissions are well-targeted and efficient, giving the impression that there is really no other way of looking at the case.
Bridget Dolan KC
Serjeants' Inn ChambersShe knows coronial law inside and out. Coroners love her. She is excellent counsel for inquests.
Patrick Gibbs KC
Three Raymond Buildings
Nicholas Griffin KC
QEB Hollis Whiteman
Jonathan Hough KC
4 New Square ChambersHe is extremely knowledgeable about the law surrounding inquests. He is recognized by all his peers as being the expert, and he is invariably correct. He is hardworking, always very well prepared, knows what evidence he wishes to adduce, and does so in a clear way. His advocacy is authoritative and persuasive. I can't imagine that there is anyone better in this field.
Hugo Keith KC
Three Raymond BuildingsHugo is a charming and persuasive advocate who is immaculate in court and always prepared in conferences.
Samantha Leek KC
5 Essex Chambers
Keith Morton KC
Temple Garden ChambersVery experienced and charming counsel. Safe hands for tricky cases.
Fiona Murphy KC
Doughty Street ChambersFiona's particular strength is identifying systemic issues, and she is really strong at identifying evidence that shows widespread malpractice. She is instructed by core participants and works incredibly hard to bring her experience of trials and civil litigation to inquiries.
Andrew O’Connor KC
Temple Garden Chambers
Prashant Popat KC
Henderson ChambersPrashant Popat KC combines intellectual firepower with complete composure under pressure. In complex, high-stakes inquest proceedings, he has the rare ability to distill vast technical detail into clear, persuasive advocacy that clients (and Coroners) immediately trust. Watching Prash in action is to see someone who can genuinely deliver a legal masterclass in court.
Neil Sheldon KC
1 Crown Office Row
Peter Skelton KC
1 Crown Office Row
Leslie Thomas KC
Garden Court ChambersLeslie has unparalleled expertise in inquiries and inquest work. It is unusual advocacy being inquisitorial, and he is able to identify the issues and points that will resonate well with the Chair/coroner.
Simon Antrobus KC
Crown Office Chambers
David Barr KC
Temple Garden Chambers
Gerard Boyle KC
Serjeants' Inn Chambers
Matthew Butt KC
Three Raymond BuildingsMatthew is a brilliant courtroom advocate. He is very clever and highly persuasive.
Jacqueline Carey KC
2BRJacqueline is a star silk for public inquiries work. She is now widely seen as a leader in the field, and justifiably so, as she provides excellent strategic support while being lovely to work with.
Clair Dobbin KC
Three Raymond BuildingsClair is incredibly dedicated to her cases and her clients, she operates at the highest level in public law work, and she consistently delivers forensically skilled, legally astute, and comprehensive submissions in writing and orally. Her oral advocacy is precise and incredibly persuasive and she has a cool logic about her in court.
Danny Friedman KC
Matrix Chambers
Oliver Glasgow KC
2 Hare CourtOli Glasgow is an absolute star. I rate him extremely highly. His advocacy is focused, clear, and persuasive. He is an outstanding cross-examiner. One of the very best.
Jonathan Glasson KC
Matrix ChambersTechnically superb. Great with clients. Masters the details and presents them simply with clarity and style.
Eleanor Grey KC
39 Essex Chambers
Phillippa Kaufmann KC
Matrix Chambers
Dermot Keating KC
25 Bedford RowAn excellent leader, a calm and measured advocate, and a strategic thinker.
Andrew Kinnier KC
Henderson ChambersHe is highly regarded by colleagues for his measured approach and sharp mind. He has excellent judgement.
Jonathan Laidlaw KC
2 Hare Court
James Maxwell-Scott KC
Crown Office ChambersIncredibly intelligent, hardworking, and very responsive with his instructing solicitors. A strong advocate and someone you would want with you in the trenches.
Rajiv Menon KC
Garden Court Chambers
Nicholas Moss KC
Temple Garden Chambers
Allison Munroe KC
Garden Court ChambersAllison is an outstanding advocate whose strengths lie in her forensic preparation, sound judgement, and exceptional advocacy skills. She combines meticulous attention to detail with a clear strategic understanding of complex litigation, she has an impressive ability to absorb vast quantities of evidence and identify the issues that genuinely matter, and her preparation is always thorough, and her analysis is incisive.
Shaheen Rahman KC
1 Crown Office RowShaheen is a committed and thoughtful leader who is creative in her approach to complex matters. She is strategic and insightful in her approach to document-heavy work, remaining focused on the goals and objectives of the client at all times. Her style is deft, commanding the confidence of clients, opponents, and the bench.
Jenni Richards KC
39 Essex ChambersJenni's advocacy is, quite simply, beautiful, as she possesses a rare ability to identify and develop a strong point in her client's favour, demonstrating the kind of forensic creativity that distinguishes the very best barristers. She approaches cases with a clear and well-constructed case theory, which she pursues with discipline and consistency throughout, both in her questioning of witnesses and in her submissions.
Fiona Scolding KC
Landmark ChambersFiona is a force of nature. Her enthusiasm, knowledge, drive, and determination make her a go-to silk in the inquiries world.
Maya Sikand KC
Doughty Street ChambersMaya is a determined advocate who will skillfully fight her client's corner. She imbues even the most vulnerable clients with confidence.
Anne Studd KC
5 Essex ChambersAnne is very knowledgeable, incisive, and calm. She inspires confidence in particularly difficult or stressful matters.
Stephen Walsh KC
Three Raymond BuildingsStephen really is exceptional. It goes without saying that he is legally excellent, but he combines this with a high degree of pragmatism, which is of great value, particularly in relation to the inquest work that we do with him. He also builds excellent rapport with other parties, which can also be incredibly helpful during such difficult proceedings. Stephen's advocacy is also clear and to the point. He does not overcomplicate matters and does not speak for the sake of it, only when a point needs to be made.
Francesca Whitelaw KC
5 Essex Chambers
Dominic Adamson KC
Temple Garden ChambersDominic is a star performer and leader in his field. He understands both the granular detail of a case as well as the high-level strategy, he is extremely hard-working and highly impressive on his feet when addressing judges and juries, and he devises innovative legal strategies and is not scared of a fight.
Clodagh Bradley KC
1 Crown Office RowClodagh's attention to detail is formidable, as is her work ethic. She uncovers every stone, and this leads her to get fantastic results, her advocacy is excellent, and she is notable for her rigorous preparation and her skill in questioning witnesses.
Oliver Campbell KC
Henderson ChambersOliver's advocacy is superb. He is very good at dealing with expert evidence. He is an exceptional tactician.
John Cooper KC
Crown Office ChambersJohn is a hugely experienced inquests barrister who provides a seamless approach to any related criminal proceedings. A powerful advocate who is great to work with.
Gerard Forlin KC
Cornerstone BarristersAn outstanding advocate for jury and public inquiry work.
Kate Grange KC
39 Essex ChambersI was extremely impressed by Kate’s skillful mastery of a wide range of complex technical issues across multiple expert disciplines and her excellent command of a plethora of technical detail. Kate handled the oral examination of a great number and variety of factual and expert witnesses at the Inquiry with enormous skill and subtlety. Her questioning on topics of crucial importance to the construction industry at large, and the regulatory framework governing it, was highly effective and searching.
Richard Horwell KC
Three Raymond Buildings
Laura Johnson KC
Deka ChambersLaura is exceptional. She always demonstrates outstanding professionalism and judgement at every stage, she manages client relationships with considerable skill, maintaining trust and confidence while providing clear, pragmatic advice and ensuring the client's interests are effectively represented, and she is able to remain calm, responsive, and solutions-focused in order to help navigate sensitive, complex, and difficult issues.
Dominic Kay KC
Crown Office ChambersDominic is highly knowledgeable, with a sharp strategic mind. He is user-friendly and instills confidence in clients.
Andrew Kennedy KC
1 Crown Office RowNageena Khalique KC
Serjeants' Inn Chambers
Rachel Langdale KC
7BRRachel is a superb leader. She has a keen eye for the key details and how to build a team to conduct the most complex of cases, she is an absolute pleasure to work with, and she is a real team player, highly pragmatic, and a very astute legal adviser.
Richard Lissack KC
Fountain Court ChambersRichard brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience that readily garners solicitors' and clients' confidence in his advice and strategy, which he delivers with an uncommon grace. He is a thoughtful and strategic KC and is a supportive and hardworking team member to the counsel teams he leads, the solicitors he works with, and the clients whose position he explains while assisting the inquiry.
Tom Little KC
Deka Chambers
Richard Matthews KC
Mayfair Place Chambers
Angus McCullough KC
1 Crown Office RowAngus is knowledgeable, erudite, and charming. Clients love his manner, and he always brings something extra.
Cathryn McGahey KC
Temple Garden Chambers
Eleena Misra KC
Old Square ChambersA really high-class silk, who has owned the role from the moment she was elevated. Exceptionally intelligent and knowledgeable, but also calm, empathetic, and with excellent judgement.
Tim Moloney KC
Doughty Street ChambersTim is simply a first-rate leader and an exceptional lawyer. He brings a balance of intellectual rigor and real humanity to each of his cases. He thinks strategically but never at the expense of client care. These are invaluable skills in inquest and inquiry practice. He brings decades of experience in criminal practice as a jury advocate, and he commands the attention of the court on even the most complex of narratives.
Alan Payne KC
39 Essex ChambersAn ability to gain the confidence of his clients, coupled with a thorough understanding of the law and how it applies to the particular case at hand.
Debra Powell KC
Serjeants' Inn Chambers
Oliver Sanders KC
1 Crown Office RowOliver has the expertise and confidence to successfully challenge a public inquiry by way of judicial review. He is an extremely able and intellectual counsel who fights his client's corner effectively, and he is well prepared and accurate, whether in court or in an inquiry hearing room.
Malcolm Sheehan KC
Henderson ChambersDeeply experienced in handling very complex life sciences inquests and very skilled at managing both coroners and clients.
Stephen Simblet KC
Garden Court ChambersStephen is very personable and approachable. He is responsive to queries.
Steven Snowden KC
12 King's Bench WalkA class act - I would describe him as the 'go to' Counsel for victims/survivors. He represents his clients' interests and perspectives very effectively, whilst at the same time acknowledging the perspectives of others, which makes his advocacy all the more powerful. He engages with the arguments of others, rather than ignoring them. He is also someone who is willing to build relationships with other participants and their legal representatives, fostering collaboration rather than conflict when possible, in a way that helps a tribunal and ultimately his clients.
Hugh Southey KC
Matrix ChambersHugh is an excellent advocate with a great ability to distil dense information and technical legal concepts into clear, persuasive arguments. His technical ability and judgement are exceptional, he argues strongly and fearlessly for his client and does not shy away from difficult arguments where they need to be advanced, and he is a great team leader and a pleasure to work with.
Adam Straw KC
Doughty Street Chambers
David Travers KC
Gough Square ChambersDavid is an accomplished barrister and a skilled advocate. His drafting is particularly powerful and persuasive, his ability to condense extremely complicated law into compelling and comprehensible arguments is first-rate, and he is punctual, personable, assertive, thorough, well-researched, and well-read.
Ben Watson KC
Three Raymond BuildingsHe is a very effective advocate who makes forceful submissions.
Claire Watson KC
Serjeants' Inn ChambersVery strong advocate and approachable - clinicians trust her, which is a large part of the battle.
Geraint Webb KC
Henderson ChambersGeraint is highly sought after and typically the first choice of silk for inquests and inquiries with a product liability angle. His ability to absorb complex technical information quickly is phenomenal, his advocacy is extremely impressive, and he is a commanding presence in the courtroom.
Anne Whyte KC
QEB Hollis WhitemanAnne is calm, clear, and easy to work with. She is rightly seen as an exceptional leader in the field of safeguarding and her expertise and sensitivity are evident.
Nick Armstrong KC
Matrix ChambersNick is a creative, thoughtful, and collegiate barrister who is a pleasure to work with. He is an expert in complex inquests, and his courtroom advocacy is disarming and effective.
Richard Baker KC
7BRRichard is very approachable and friendly with clients, including bereaved families at inquests. On his feet in the Coroner's Court, he is quick-witted and a tenacious and intelligent cross-examiner of witnesses.
Dijen Basu KC
Serjeants' Inn Chambers
Jude Bunting KC
Doughty Street Chambers
Jamie Burton KC
Doughty Street Chambers
Brenda Campbell KC
Lincoln House Chambers
Sarah Clarke KC
Serjeants' Inn ChambersSarah is one of the most assured Counsel to the Inquest there is. She is able to consume huge amounts of information and process complex issues and arguments at pace, her advocacy is effortless, and she must be one of the most sought-after CTIs in the country to deal with the most difficult and knotty cases.
Rory Dunlop KC
39 Essex Chambers
Niazi Fetto KC
2 Temple GardensA fantastic strategist and thoughtful lawyer. Always on top of his brief.
Sarah Fraser Butlin KC
Cloisters
Katharine Gollop KC
Serjeants' Inn Chambers
Nicola Greaney KC
39 Essex Chambers
Tim Green KC
Henderson ChambersTim is very knowledgeable and is able to give clients valuable insight into this area of work with a calm and reassuring approach. His experience means his advice is well-informed as to the reality of the particular circumstances, and his strategic advice is helpful.
Jeremy Hyam KC
1 Crown Office Row
Susannah Johnson KC
7BR
Tom Kark KC
QEB Hollis Whiteman
Sarah Lambert KC
1 Crown Office Row
James Leonard KC
Outer Temple Chambers
David Manknell KC
1 Crown Office RowDavid is a first-class lawyer. A meticulous, firm, and clear advocate.
Fenella Morris KC
39 Essex Chambers
Sonali Naik KC
Garden Court Chambers
Saba Naqshbandi KC
Three Raymond BuildingsSaba is a truly brilliant silk who is hugely experienced in inquests and inquiries, has great judgement, and gives excellent advice. Her manner with clients is exemplary; compassionate when necessary but always clear and forensic too.
Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC
Matrix ChambersFiercely bright, articulate, and committed. Quietly authoritative advocacy.
Richard O’Brien KC
4 New Square Chambers
Rory Phillips KC
3 Verulam BuildingsMeticulous, extremely engaging, and highly effective.
Jonathan Polnay KC
QEB Hollis Whiteman
Selva Ramasamy KC
QEB Hollis WhitemanA class act. Brilliant, charming, and a delight to work with.
Michael Rawlinson KC
12 King's Bench Walk
Toby Riley-Smith KC
Henderson ChambersToby is a meticulously well-prepared advocate who leaves no stone unturned to further his client's cause. He is able to grasp the details of complex matters and assist the court by making the issues comprehensible, he has a charming manner with the court, which is very persuasive, and is unfailingly courteous with witnesses and opponents.
Philip Rule KC
No5 Barristers' Chambers
Ian Skelt KC
Serjeants' Inn ChambersIan's attention to detail and ability to relate to the client in their particular situation is commendable. He can condense huge amounts of material into much smaller, understandable tranches in order to guide the client through it so that they are fully aware of the issues that are live in the matter and how best to deal with them.
James Strachan KC
39 Essex ChambersJames has a ferocious intellect, good judgement, and is able to stay calm in a crisis. He remains unflappable under the most intense pressure. He is also completely charming and great to work with.
Susanne Tanner KC
Crown Office ChambersSusanne has an excellent strategic brain, is very well prepared, engages with clients on their level, and develops strong relationships.
Katy Thorne KC
Doughty Street ChambersKaty Thorne KC is an exceptional jury advocate. Hands-on preparation makes her a dream for the solicitor. She builds trust easily with clients who value her responsiveness, creative approach, and control over difficult situations.
Aswini Weereratne KC
Doughty Street ChambersExcellent advocate who is incredibly thorough in her preparation and effective. She is also great with clients and very approachable.
Richard Whittam KC
Matrix Chambers
Peter Wilcock KC
Doughty Street ChambersPeter is a very assured Silk who operates well under pressure. This comes from years of experience, dealing with cases at the very highest levels. He provides confidence to clients and is respected and listened to carefully by the judiciary.
Angus Withington KC
Henderson ChambersSeriously intelligent, even more personable, a great in-court advocate, and his superpower is the relationship he builds with the lay client.
2025 Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
James Berry KC
Serjeants' Inn ChambersMelanie Cumberland KC
6KBW College HillShe is brilliant, one of the best there is. She is analytical, wonderful to work with, and a superb advocate. A real all-round star.
Amy Mannion KC
1 Crown Office RowExceptionally bright
Oliver Powell KC
Outer Temple ChambersOliver is at the top of his game. His client handling is brilliant, and he is able to put clients at ease effortlessly. He is forensic in his examination of the details of a case, and his advocacy is clear and succinct. He is quickly becoming our "go-to" silk.
Bilal Rawat KC
5 Essex ChambersTenacious, tactically astute
Adam Wagner KC
Doughty Street ChambersAdam is highly intelligent, thoughtful, pragmatic, and strategic. His way of working is respectful to all voices.
Kate Wilkinson KC
6KBW College HillKate is an exceptional advocate with a calm, authoritative presence. Her advocacy is clear, structured, and highly effective, particularly in the context of complex and sensitive material, and she has a strong ability to distill large volumes of evidence into concise and persuasive submissions.
Emma Zeb KC
Gatehouse ChambersEmma is highly experienced in inquest work and advising on the civil claims that sometimes follow. She is a highly persuasive and second to none advocate who is extremely well regarded by judges and coroners, as well as the public sector bodies she represents.
2026 Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
Nicholas Chapman KC
Temple Garden ChambersFantastic leader of a team. Unflappable and capable of handling the most complex and sensitive cases.
Steven Gray KC
7BRSteven’s strengths include an ability to manage all the details whilst retaining sight of the strategic issues in an inquiry, and his ability to read the courtroom sets him apart from many of his peers.
Luke Ponte KC
Three Raymond BuildingsLuke is an exceptional barrister and always provides a confident and pragmatic approach. His advocacy is firm but fair, and I always trust in his abilities and knowledge, no matter how complex the matter is.
James Purnell KC
Henderson Chambers
Alexander dos Santos KC
Serjeants' Inn ChambersAlex very quickly got up to speed with a large number of documents and gave very clear advice about the strengths and weaknesses of our position. His advocacy is extremely good. He provides very clear submissions both in writing and orally.
Michael Walsh KC
Serjeants' Inn ChambersI cannot recommend Michael highly enough for inquest work. His meticulous preparation ensures that all relevant evidence and lines of inquiry are thoroughly explored. He combines this with an approachable manner, communicating complex issues with clarity and supporting clients with sensitivity throughout the process, demonstrating sound judgment, integrity, and a clear understanding of the demands of the coronial jurisdiction.
Overall, Michael is an outstanding advocate in the coronial jurisdiction, combining technical excellence with sensitivity and professionalism that inspires confidence and trust.