Nicholas Griffin QC

Extremely experienced in public inquiries, Nicholas Griffin QC impresses with his conscientious, imperturbable and authoritative approach; he is a natural leader.

Overview 

With his intelligence, integrity, commitment and astute, tactical problem solving, Nicholas Griffin QC is highly sought-after in this field of law. He provides expert advice and advocacy in respect of public inquiries of all types and in relation to other inquisitorial proceedings, including coroners' inquests. He is currently instructed in two major public inquiries and has recently acted as an independent expert witness in another. He advises and appears in the full range of public law matters, often where there is a connection with a criminal law issue, for example in relation to investigatory powers and surveillance law or the protection of Articles 2, 3 and 8 ECHR in the context of special measures or defendant anonymity applications. He is recognised as a true expert in this field. Nicholas holds various senior and minister appointed positions. He is an expert commentator, speaking on the Today Programme and other news broadcasts. He founded and leads the QEB Hollis Whiteman Public Law Group and he is the head of Chambers’ Business and Human Rights Group.

Experience

Nicholas’ involvement in the field of public law has included every possible role in all types of public inquiry and inquisitorial proceedings, frequently at the very highest level.

His experience has included inquiries on the largest scale and public law litigation of the utmost sensitivity and complexity.” He represented defendants in linked cases concerning allegations of UK collusion in rendition and torture in Guantánamo Bay (Al Rawi & Others v Security Service, Secret Intelligence Service, Attorney General, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Home Office). This was an unprecedented case in terms of the combination of scale, sensitivity and complexity. Nicholas had primary responsibility for disclosure for the Government, leading 25 junior barristers. 

Nicholas was also instructed in the Bloody Sunday Inquiry where he represented a large number of soldiers of all ranks, including several who were alleged unlawfully to have killed demonstrators at a civil rights march in 1972. Instructed by the Treasury Solicitor between 1998 and 2010, it was the longest public inquiry in UK legal history.

Nicholas is currently representing corporate core participants at the ongoing inquiry into the June 2017 fire at Grenfell Tower in London. He is also representing a government department in the ongoing Inquiry into allegations of inappropriate activity by undercover officers and units. Nicholas is also representing the Home Office in the ongoing Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. 

He gave evidence at the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry as an independent expert witness; he provided evidence about police investigations into allegations of sexual abuse in care homes and similar institutions on the island.

He never fails to impress the market with his knowledge, experience and approach; he is justifiably one of the first choices in this field.

Notable Cases

Independent Jersey Care Inquiry
Giving evidence as independent expert witness about police investigations into allegations of sexual abuse in care homes and similar institutions on the island.

Al Rawi & Others v Security Service, SIS, Attorney General, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Home Office
The Guantánamo Bay litigation concerning allegations of UK collusion in illegal rendition and torture, acting for the defendants.

The Rosemary Nelson Inquiry
Representing chief constable and large number of police officers involved in investigation of Mrs Nelson’s death, in an inquiry considering allegations of state collusion in this terrorist murder.

The Bloody Sunday Inquiry (1998 - 2010)
Nicholas Griffin QC represented a large number of soldiers of all ranks - involving allegations of murder.

Boundary Commission for England / District Electoral Areas Commissioner (Northern Ireland)
Sitting as Assistant Commissioner on public inquiries concerning the siting of electoral boundaries.

Reviews 

Nicholas has been consistently featured in Chambers & Partners and is currently listed in its 2020 edition as an expert in Inquests & Public Inquiries. He is also listed in the Legal 500 2020 as an expert in Inquests and Inquiries. 

‘Highly intelligent, outstanding thorough and industrious, with sound judgment and impeccable integrity.’ Legal 500 Inquests and Inquiries (2020)

‘Regularly involved in significant public inquiries … His inquiries practice extends beyond England and includes significant instructions in Jersey and Northern Ireland … "He's thorough and able to grapple with complex issues quickly." "He gets to grips with instructions and understands public law on top of his criminal background."’ Chambers UK Inquests & Public Inquiries (2020)

‘He's very approachable, thorough and knowledgeable. He's always able to tackle the most complex points in a case.’ Chambers UK Inquests & Public Inquiries (2019)

‘He is extremely experienced in public inquiries and provides excellent advice.’ ‘He is practical and conscientious beyond belief. Also, he delivers and is pretty much unflappable.’ Chambers UK Inquests & Public Inquiries (2018)

‘Great intelligence, integrity and commitment. He brings an astute, tactical approach to problems as well as a determination to solve them.’ Chambers UK Inquests & Public Inquiries (2017)

‘He is the best leader of a large team, is an incredibly persuasive advocate and has a great breadth of range in his expertise.’ Chambers UK Inquests & Public Inquiries (2016)