Inquests & inquiries

Inquests & inquiries overview

Gatehouse Chambers offers a first class and highly specialised team of Inquest and public inquiry barristers with significant experience in the most complex and high profile cases.

Strengthened by the recent addition to chambers of specialist inquest barrister, Emma Zeb and Assistant Coroner, Vanessa McKinlay, our team provides expertise at all levels of seniority with a focus on complex inquest work.  Our established reputation as leaders in the fields of clinical negligence and personal injury make us well placed to provide advice and representation throughout the whole inquest or inquiry process including any associated litigation, with a team who understand the importance and implications of inquest findings on any potential claim.

Members of the team are instructed as junior Counsel to the high-profile Grenfell Tower Inquiry, an independent public inquiry, set up to examine the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the fatal fire at Grenfell Tower on 14 June 2017.

The team represent all types of interested persons including:

• Bereaved family / loved ones
• NHS Trusts / Health Boards
• Providers of mental health services
• Emergency Services including the police and fire authority
• Prisons and other custodial services in the private and public sector
• Local Authorities
• Private care and nursing homes
• Employers
• Individuals whose actions may be relevant to the death

Members of the team have extensive experience in dealing with the most complex of cases occupying many weeks or months, often engaging Article 2 of the ECHR and before a jury.  With an in-depth knowledge of the nuances of the coronial procedures and jurisdiction, the team provide their clients with advice at every step of the way including advice upon preparation for inquest, representation at PIR hearings, advice and representation at judicial review, matters pertaining to PFD reports and witness support including the complex issues around Rule 22.

Particular experience of the team includes inquests involving:

• Murders in state detention and the community
• Self-inflicted prison deaths
• Death following positional asphyxiation
• Deaths in custody
• Deaths of those vulnerable by reason of their age, mental or physical health
• Death following a fire
• Construction site accidents (see also our construction expertise)
• Care home deaths
• Deaths following complex medical treatment
• Road traffic collisions

Members have drafted written submissions/ responses, appeared as advocates before (and sat on/chaired) a wide range of different panels, tribunals, inquiries and committees.

The team regularly write and speak on all matters related to Inquests and Inquiries.  If you would like to discuss this further, please contact Natasha Devlin-Clingham.