• Exceptional for crime and financial services regulation, as well as inquests and inquiries.'  Legal 500, 2023
  • ''Very professional and very efficient, and the actual offices are well laid out to provide privacy and confidentiality to anyone attending.' Legal 500, 2023
  • 'A set with a lot of strength that sets itself high standards. You can rely on everyone here to be clever and committed to the cause'  Chambers UK, 2019

Inquests, Inquiries and Public Law

An impressive team with expertise across the field of Public Law; particularly sought-after in matters arising from criminal and regulatory investigations and proceedings.

Overview

QEB Hollis Whiteman’s Public Law team provides expert advice and advocacy in the full range of Public Law matters where there is a connection with a criminal or regulatory law issue. We have in-depth knowledge of the sectors we work in and provide strategically astute advice and persuasive advocacy where Public Law matters arise.

Our Experience

Our Public Law team are experts in matters arising from industry regulation and the criminal justice system.

We bring or defend challenges, by way of judicial review or case stated, in all of the fields we practise in.

We offer advice and advocacy at every stage of the process in both public inquiries and inquests; we have appeared in most of the major inquiries of the last two decades and in many significant inquests.

We conduct internal investigations for organisations concerned about inappropriate activity, drawing on our broad experience in general crime, financial & economic crime, financial regulation and inquiries.

We have experience in major Public Law litigation, acting on behalf of government departments in cases such as Al Rawi & Others v The Security Service & Others (Guantánamo Bay litigation).

We have recently launched the QEB Hollis Whiteman Business & Human Rights Group, advising on individual and corporate liability for human rights abuses.

Members of the Public Law group are regularly called upon to lecture, comment and write about the work we do to experts in the field. We often provide bespoke training on niche areas of interest.

Notable Cases

The Whyte Review into Allegations of Mistreatment  Within the Sport of Gymnastics 2022

The Inquest into the Death of Footballer Emiliano Sala Who Died in an Air Crash

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry

Sowande v CPS, (2017) 
Case stated on citizens’ power to arrest under s. 24A(1)(b) of PACE. 

Undercover Policing Inquiry

Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

Independent Jersey Care Inquiry

Mid-Staffs Inquiry

Al Rawi & Others v Security Service, Secret Intelligence Service, Attorney General, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Home Office

Inquest into the death of Lance Corporal Brynin, who was killed in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan (2017)

Inquest of Captain Thomas Clarke, a Lynx Helicopter Pilot killed in a crash in Afghanistan (2016) 

 

News

Nicholas Griffin KC writes about modern slavery and supply chain transparency in the current issue of the I.C.C.L.R

The article,  The Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the evolution of supply chain transparency in the UK (I.C.C.L.R. 2024, 35(1), 4-16), was written with Sian Lea, who is the Business and Human Rights Manager at Anti-Slavery...

Nicholas Griffin KC and Bar in the Community

QEB takes its outreach work very seriously, as Nick Griffin KC discusses in the most recent edition of Counsel Magazine. Nick Griffin KC, explains in the December edition of Counsel Magazine how he came to volunteering though Bar in the Community (BIC),...

Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan continues with Kerry Broome calling evidence from Brigadier Matthew Cansdale

The Inquiry continued with evidence from Brigadier Matthew Cansdale this morning, who is the Commander of the Army’s Collective Training Group to give evidence regarding Operational Staff Work and Consequence Management. The full Terms of...

Nicholas Griffin KC of QEB Hollis Whiteman is announced as Counsel to the Lampard Inquiry.

Nicholas Griffin KC  of  QEB Hollis Whiteman  is announced as Counsel to the Lampard Inquiry. The Lampard Inquiry is Chaired by Baroness Kate Lampard CBE and is investigating matters surrounding the deaths of mental health inpatients across...

Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan continues with Kerry Broome calling evidence from key witnesses for the Ministry of Defence.

The Inquiry continued with evidence from Brigadier Keith Eble and Gareth Martin, both Corporate Witnesses for the Ministry of Defence.  Kerry Broome called Gareth Martin, Ministry of Defence Director National Security, as part of the proceedings...

Patient evidence concludes in the Muckamore Inquiry. The next phase relating to staff members to follow in November. Tom Kark KC is the Chair.

Thursday 12th October 2023 marked the end of the inquiry hearing from patients about their experiences of Muckamore. Since the hearings began in June 2022, the panel has heard evidence from more than 90 witnesses. Chair to the Inquiry, Tom Kark KC of QEB...

Counsel to the inquiry makes the opening statement at the start of the Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan. Kerry Broome is Counsel to the Inquiry

Counsel to the inquiry made the opening statement in the Royal Courts of Justice this week, at what marks the start of the Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan.  Oliver Glasgow KC of 2 Hare Court  leads, supported by ...

Articles

A Podcast: Fit and Proper Person Test: will the Government reconsider post Letby?

  The Thirlwall Inquiry was established in the wake of Lucy Letby's convictions to examine events at the Countess of Chester Hospital and their implications.  Although there have been previous inquiries and...

Nicholas Griffin KC writes about modern slavery and supply chain transparency in the current issue of the I.C.C.L.R

The article,  The Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the evolution of supply chain transparency in the UK (I.C.C.L.R. 2024, 35(1), 4-16), was written with Sian Lea, who is the Business and Human Rights Manager at Anti-Slavery...

In The Times: Lucy Letby - The Power of the Inquiry by Nicholas Griffin KC and Rebecca Harris

In this article for  The Times ,  Nicholas Griffin KC  and  Rebecca Harris  of  QEB Hollis Whiteman  explore the additional powers of the statutory inquiry and whether they actually make a positive difference in the...

Bullied in court? Here's what our chambers can do about it

It is vital that chambers support individuals who have suffered bullying. QEB Hollis Whiteman has now adopted an external bullying policy. A panel of barristers within Chambers (including a senior QC) will now address complaints of bullying by judges,...

The Angiolini inquiry: Missing the big picture?

Ruth Broadbent examines the scope of the inquiry into Sarah Everard’s murder: what exactly does it seek to prevent, & how far is it willing to go? The full article can be accessed  here. ...

A Podcast: A Public Inquiry into Covid-19 A Series of Discussions Hosted by QEBHW Part 2: Women - Has the pandemic had a disproportionate impact on Women?

This is the second in a series of podcasts by QEB Hollis Whiteman looking at the topic of a public inquiry into Covid -19 from a variety of perspectives. In this podcast, we explore whether or not the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on...

A Podcast: A Public Inquiry into Covid-19 - a Series of Discussions Hosted by QEBHW Part 1: The NHS - Might the Hand-clapping Turn to Finger-pointing?

The government has now committed to a full statutory public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic.  This is the first of a series of podcasts by QEB Hollis Whiteman looking at the topic of a public inquiry into Covid -19 from a variety of perspectives. We...