Scarlett Milligan

Scarlett Milligan is a leading and in-demand junior barrister. She is repeatedly referred to by those who instruct and work with her as “exceptional”, “hard-working”, being “meticulous” in her approach to case preparation, drafting and analysis, and as a “strong”, “tenacious” and “bold” advocate who “clearly really cares about her work” and “has a fiery determination to achieve the best possible results for her clients”.

Her practice focuses at its core on civil liability, public law, human rights, inquests, and inquiries. Her multi-disciplinary strength means she brings particular expertise in cases where practice areas and principles overlap; for example, public law challenges in typically ‘private’ law contexts, such as financial services; regulatory and disciplinary proceedings; procurement challenges; claims arising out of fatal accidents and unlawful killings; civil damage claims for breaches of human rights; and criminal and civil health and safety litigation.

Scarlett has acted in a number of the most high-profile inquests and inquiries in recent years, with particularly significant roles in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry (junior counsel to the Inquiry), the Infected Blood Inquiry (junior counsel representing victims who had campaigned for the Inquiry for over 40 years), the Covid-19 Inquiry (junior counsel for the Department of Health and Social Care), in judicial review proceedings concerning the establishment of the Manston Independent Inquiry, and acting for the bereaved family of Michaela Hall.

Scarlett was called to the Bar in November 2015. She was appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of Civil Counsel (C Panel) in August 2020. She was elevated to B Panel in August 2023. She was appointed to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s B Panel of Counsel in 2024.

Scarlett is passionate about maintaining a balance in acting for both claimants and defendants in all of her practice areas.

She has been recognised for her commitment to pro bono work, having appeared on the Pro Bono Recognition List of England and Wales (recognising practitioners who have given more than 25 hours of their time to pro bono work in a single year) since its inception in 2024. In 2024 she was shortlisted for Advocate’s Junior Pro Bono Barrister of the Year.

Young Public Law Lawyers’ Group (YPLG), Co-Chair Constitutional and Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA) Health and Safety Lawyers’ Association (HSLA) Personal Injury Bar Association (PIBA)

• University College London: LLB
• BPP Law School, London: BPTC