Deans Court Chambers is praised as ‘the best in Manchester’, and the inquests and inquiries team houses the reputable Sophie Cartwright KC, who formed part of the counsel to the inquiry team in the Manchester Arena Inquiry. Elizabeth Dudley-Jones acts for local authorities, private companies, professional regulators, and regulatory defence unions, and she has particular expertise in inquests that engage Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, including deaths in custody and deaths resulting from domestic violence. She represented Serco in an inquest into the death of Mitchell Rudge, a sex offender who was allegedly bullied by fellow inmates into testing synthetic cannabis. The set is also home to Tom Gent, who has strengths in defending companies facing allegations of breaching health and safety laws, and Joseph Hart, who predominately acts in large inquests concerning fatal accidents.
Inquests and inquiries in
Regional Bar
Deans Court Chambers
Testimonials
‘Matthew Gibbons runs a very tight ship. He is extremely knowledgeable of the industry in general and displays great etiquette.’
‘Both Peter Kelly and Steve McCormack are industrious and diligent.’
‘Nothing is too much trouble for the clerks and Pete Kelly is particularly helpful.’
Garden Court North Chambers
Garden Court North Chambers ‘has a very strong inquests and inquiries practice’ that has ‘a ferocious dedication to representing some of the most disadvantaged people’. Pete Weatherby KC specialises in public law matters, and he has a well-established presence in this space; he represented the partner of Anthony Grainger in the public inquiry regarding his fatal shooting by police firearms officers. Anna Morris KC was appointed to silk in 2023, and both she and Weatherby KC have appeared for bereaved families in the Manchester Arena Inquiry. Kate Stone has substantial experience representing bereaved families in Article 2 inquests, and the set also includes Ciara Bartlam, who specialises in representing the bereaved families of young people who have died in community and care settings.
Testimonials
‘The clerks are always helpful and will try to solve any issues. Gavin Reeves and Christian Wolfenden are particularly helpful.’
‘The Clerking team is fantastic, especially Christian Wolfenden and Gavin Reeves. They are quick to get back to you and always happy to assist.’
‘Christian Wolfenden is a brilliant clerk. He is responsive to emails and able to achieve fees on cases that are pleasing for barristers and instructing solicitors.’
‘The clerks are approachable and always happy to assist.’
‘The clerks are approachable and helpful and will always go above and beyond to help.’
‘Garden Court North Chambers has a very strong inquests and inquiries practice. The team has clearly been trained well, as they are knowledgeable and dedicated to their work. They also offer a number of training seminars and support charities and organisations.’
‘Garden Court North Chambers has a huge impact. It is a progressive set that has a ferocious dedication to representing some of the most disadvantaged people. Their barristers are at the legal aid coalface, and their cases often aim to advance social justice and equality.’
‘Counsel at Garden Court North Chambers have a multidisciplinary practice and background experience, enabling them to advise and support clients on wide-reaching matters. They are extremely committed to their clients and are fearless in the pursuit of justice, both on individual cases and systemically.’
Exchange Chambers
The inquests and inquiries team at Exchange Chambers represents a diverse range of individuals and groups, from bereaved families, trade unions, and clinical practitioners, to government bodies, local authorities, police forces, and police and prison officers. It is active in Middleton inquests concerning deaths in psychiatric institutions, police custody and prisons, as well as matters in workplaces. Louis Browne KC is a key name of note, and represented the University of Salford (where the bomber was a student) and the Fire Officers Association in the Manchester Arena and Grenfell Tower inquiries respectively. The set is also home to David Sandiford, who has expertise in prison deaths and deaths after police contact, and Sara Sutherland, who is skilled in inquests into deaths in medical contexts.
Kings Chambers
Kings Chambers‘ inquests team is often instructed by a range of clients, including bereaved families, local authorities, NHS trusts, insurance companies, police forces, and governmental departments. Michael Rawlinson KC is a key name in this area; he is acting for the wife of the deceased and the Police Federation in an inquest into the death of a motorway patrol officer caused by an engine fire in the BMW he was driving at high speed on the M6. Richard Borrett is particularly active in inquests into the deaths of service personnel and suicides, as well as safeguarding and community care inquests. He represented the wife of the deceased in an inquest into the death of a man, who was being transported to hospital for an urgent cardiac procedure in an ambulance which struck a wall to avoid hitting a turning HGV.
Testimonials
‘Steve Loxton is great. He is always happy and able to diffuse stressful situations.’
‘Good service from the clerks, especially Steve Loxton.’
‘Stephen Loxton is very good at what he does and is very well known in the world of the senior clerks.’
Lincoln House Chambers
Lincoln House Chambers is praised as ‘a stellar set’ with ‘an extensive pool of highly experienced and talented counsel to choose from’. Its members are instructed by a range of interested parties, from government and professional bodies, to insurance-backed solicitor firms. The set houses Kate Blackwell KC, who appears in high-profile public inquiries alongside her criminal practice. It is also home to Austin Welch, who has a strong focus on inquests and public inquiries concerning health and safety issues, and he represents companies and individuals. Welch has been instructed in the UK Covid Inquiry for the Health and Safety Executive. The junior end of the set was recently bolstered by the arrival of David Pojur in September 2023.
Testimonials
Set
‘Lincoln House Chambers is a top-tier, reliable, and strong set of chambers. You have peace of mind instructing any barrister from this set, knowing they are experienced and diligent.’
‘Lincoln House Chambers has a breadth of excellent regulatory counsel with a vast range of experiences; it has long been established as a go-to set.’
‘Lincoln House Chambers is a stellar set. They have an extensive pool of highly experienced and talented counsel to choose from.’
‘A shining example of how to get things right in the North of England for public inquiries and inquests.’
‘Lincoln House Chambers remains at the top of its game in Manchester; a go-to set.’
Clerking
‘Director of Clerking David Wright is fantastic, and Ty Price is highly responsive.’
St John's Buildings
St John’s Buildings‘ ‘offering for inquests is strong’, and its members have expertise in matters across the space. In recent instructions for the set, Laura Nash represented the Earlsheaton Conservative Club in an inquest into the death of a patron who fell down the stairs of the club.
Testimonials
‘The clerks are fantastic, particularly Mark Heald.’
‘Joe Murphy is very organised and efficient.’
‘They are very approachable, easy to work with, and understanding of the importance of quick and effective communication in urgent cases.’
‘St John’s Buildings are always willing to offer training sessions to support firms. They have a number of excellent members and are working to increase their numbers in this field.’
‘The offering for inquests is strong and they offer bespoke training.’
‘The clerks are all excellent. They respond quickly and always do what they can to assist. Mark Heald and Joe Murphy in particular are excellent to work with.’
‘The clerks respond quickly and helpfully.’
‘The clerks are efficient.’
Deans Court Chambers
Testimonials
‘Matthew Gibbons runs a very tight ship. He is extremely knowledgeable of the industry in general and displays great etiquette.’
‘Both Peter Kelly and Steve McCormack are industrious and diligent.’
‘Nothing is too much trouble for the clerks and Pete Kelly is particularly helpful.’
Garden Court North Chambers
Garden Court North Chambers ‘has a very strong inquests and inquiries practice’ that has ‘a ferocious dedication to representing some of the most disadvantaged people’. Pete Weatherby KC specialises in public law matters, and he has a well-established presence in this space; he represented the partner of Anthony Grainger in the public inquiry regarding his fatal shooting by police firearms officers. Anna Morris KC was appointed to silk in 2023, and both she and Weatherby KC have appeared for bereaved families in the Manchester Arena Inquiry. Kate Stone has substantial experience representing bereaved families in Article 2 inquests, and the set also includes Ciara Bartlam, who specialises in representing the bereaved families of young people who have died in community and care settings.
Testimonials
‘The clerks are always helpful and will try to solve any issues. Gavin Reeves and Christian Wolfenden are particularly helpful.’
‘The Clerking team is fantastic, especially Christian Wolfenden and Gavin Reeves. They are quick to get back to you and always happy to assist.’
‘Christian Wolfenden is a brilliant clerk. He is responsive to emails and able to achieve fees on cases that are pleasing for barristers and instructing solicitors.’
‘The clerks are approachable and always happy to assist.’
‘The clerks are approachable and helpful and will always go above and beyond to help.’
‘Garden Court North Chambers has a very strong inquests and inquiries practice. The team has clearly been trained well, as they are knowledgeable and dedicated to their work. They also offer a number of training seminars and support charities and organisations.’
‘Garden Court North Chambers has a huge impact. It is a progressive set that has a ferocious dedication to representing some of the most disadvantaged people. Their barristers are at the legal aid coalface, and their cases often aim to advance social justice and equality.’
‘Counsel at Garden Court North Chambers have a multidisciplinary practice and background experience, enabling them to advise and support clients on wide-reaching matters. They are extremely committed to their clients and are fearless in the pursuit of justice, both on individual cases and systemically.’
Exchange Chambers
The inquests and inquiries team at Exchange Chambers represents a diverse range of individuals and groups, from bereaved families, trade unions, and clinical practitioners, to government bodies, local authorities, police forces, and police and prison officers. It is active in Middleton inquests concerning deaths in psychiatric institutions, police custody and prisons, as well as matters in workplaces. Louis Browne KC is a key name of note, and represented the University of Salford (where the bomber was a student) and the Fire Officers Association in the Manchester Arena and Grenfell Tower inquiries respectively. The set is also home to David Sandiford, who has expertise in prison deaths and deaths after police contact, and Sara Sutherland, who is skilled in inquests into deaths in medical contexts.
Kings Chambers
Kings Chambers‘ inquests team is often instructed by a range of clients, including bereaved families, local authorities, NHS trusts, insurance companies, police forces, and governmental departments. Michael Rawlinson KC is a key name in this area; he is acting for the wife of the deceased and the Police Federation in an inquest into the death of a motorway patrol officer caused by an engine fire in the BMW he was driving at high speed on the M6. Richard Borrett is particularly active in inquests into the deaths of service personnel and suicides, as well as safeguarding and community care inquests. He represented the wife of the deceased in an inquest into the death of a man, who was being transported to hospital for an urgent cardiac procedure in an ambulance which struck a wall to avoid hitting a turning HGV.
Testimonials
‘Steve Loxton is great. He is always happy and able to diffuse stressful situations.’
‘Good service from the clerks, especially Steve Loxton.’
‘Stephen Loxton is very good at what he does and is very well known in the world of the senior clerks.’
Lincoln House Chambers
Lincoln House Chambers is praised as ‘a stellar set’ with ‘an extensive pool of highly experienced and talented counsel to choose from’. Its members are instructed by a range of interested parties, from government and professional bodies, to insurance-backed solicitor firms. The set houses Kate Blackwell KC, who appears in high-profile public inquiries alongside her criminal practice. It is also home to Austin Welch, who has a strong focus on inquests and public inquiries concerning health and safety issues, and he represents companies and individuals. Welch has been instructed in the UK Covid Inquiry for the Health and Safety Executive. The junior end of the set was recently bolstered by the arrival of David Pojur in September 2023.
Testimonials
Set
‘Lincoln House Chambers is a top-tier, reliable, and strong set of chambers. You have peace of mind instructing any barrister from this set, knowing they are experienced and diligent.’
‘Lincoln House Chambers has a breadth of excellent regulatory counsel with a vast range of experiences; it has long been established as a go-to set.’
‘Lincoln House Chambers is a stellar set. They have an extensive pool of highly experienced and talented counsel to choose from.’
‘A shining example of how to get things right in the North of England for public inquiries and inquests.’
‘Lincoln House Chambers remains at the top of its game in Manchester; a go-to set.’
Clerking
‘Director of Clerking David Wright is fantastic, and Ty Price is highly responsive.’
St John's Buildings
St John’s Buildings‘ ‘offering for inquests is strong’, and its members have expertise in matters across the space. In recent instructions for the set, Laura Nash represented the Earlsheaton Conservative Club in an inquest into the death of a patron who fell down the stairs of the club.
Testimonials
‘The clerks are fantastic, particularly Mark Heald.’
‘Joe Murphy is very organised and efficient.’
‘They are very approachable, easy to work with, and understanding of the importance of quick and effective communication in urgent cases.’
‘St John’s Buildings are always willing to offer training sessions to support firms. They have a number of excellent members and are working to increase their numbers in this field.’
‘The offering for inquests is strong and they offer bespoke training.’
‘The clerks are all excellent. They respond quickly and always do what they can to assist. Mark Heald and Joe Murphy in particular are excellent to work with.’
‘The clerks respond quickly and helpfully.’
‘The clerks are efficient.’