Inquests and Inquiries

"Renowned for its sensitive but robust representation of bereaved families, Garden Court Chambers has retained its strong reputation in the inquests and public inquiries space."

Chambers UK Bar Guide

"All the people there have such a strong ethos. It feels like a 'grass roots' chambers and everyone is incredibly approachable."

Chambers UK Bar Guide

"Garden Court Chambers is widely respected for its representation of bereaved families and victims in inquests and public inquiries."

Chambers UK Bar Guide

"The barristers have notable experience of representing the bereaved in matters examining the actions or inactions of the police and other public authorities."

Chambers UK Bar Guide

To contact the Civil Liberties Clerks, please email civillibertiesclerks@gclaw.co.uk or phone

+44 (0)20 7993 7600

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Garden Court is one of the leading barristers’ chambers in the UK representing bereaved families in inquests and core participants in public inquiries.

Our inquest barristers have been involved in most of the landmark and far-reaching inquests including the Hillsborough inquests, the Birmingham Pub Bombings Inquest, the Mark Duggan inquest, the Litvinenko inquest and inquests into historic political deaths in Northern Ireland such as the Ballymurphy Inquest.

Garden Court has also been involved in ground-breaking inquiries such as the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the Undercover Policing Inquiry, the Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry, the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry and the Mubarek Inquiry.

Members of the team have acted as counsel to the Coroner in several notable inquests and we are active members and supporters of INQUEST, the campaign group supporting families of those who have died in state custody.

Areas of Expertise

  • Actions by state agencies including surveillance
  • Police contact, such as detention, police shooting, pursuit and restraint
  • Investigations and prosecutions of crimes
  • Prison and immigration detention
  • Company negligence under health and safety legislation
  • Local authority services and social services
  • Hospital failings
  • Military service
  • Emergency service response or failings

The work we do

Our inquest and inquiries barristers specialise in representing properly interested persons and core participants throughout every stage of the inquest and inquiry process. We also advise on potential civil claims for damages and judicial review challenges to inquest and inquiry rulings or conclusions.

Garden Court Chambers is instructed in all types of inquests and inquiries, but we have particular expertise in complex cases (with or without a jury) where an individual dies in State custody or where the State may be responsible for the death, such as cases where Article 2 ECHR is engaged. In such cases we have significant expertise pursuing and winning private law claims for damages against public bodies such as the police and emergency services, the CPS, the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office, local authorities, NHS Trusts and other healthcare providers.

Inquests and Inquiries

Recent Notable Cases & News

Garden Court Chambers celebrates 50th Anniversary

This year marks 50 years of Garden Court Chambers winning ground-breaking cases of constitutional importance.

Friday 31 May 2024

Owen Greenhall delivers opening statement to Undercover Policing Inquiry Tranche 2 (Phase 2)

Owen Greenhall represents core participants Diane Abbott MP and Rt Hon Dame Joan Ruddock PC, instructed by Jules Carey of Bindmans LLP.

Tuesday 15 Oct 2024

Rajiv Menon KC delivers opening statement to Undercover Policing Inquiry Tranche 2 (Phase 2)

Our Joint Head of Chambers, Rajiv Menon KC represents core participants at the Undercover Policing Inquiry Tranche 2 (Phase 2).

Tuesday 15 Oct 2024

Kirsten Heaven delivers opening statement to Undercover Policing Inquiry Tranche 2 (Phase 2)

Our Kirsten Heaven of the Garden Court Inquests & Inquiries Team represents all of the co-operating non-police non-state core participants (‘NPSCPs’). She is instructed by Lydia Dagostino of Kellys Solicitors.

Tuesday 15 Oct 2024

Undercover Policing Inquiry Tranche 2 (Phase 2) hearings open today

Several Garden Court Barristers represent core participants at the Undercover Policing Inquiry in Tranche 2 (Phase 2).

Monday 14 Oct 2024

Danny Jay Anderson: Inquest hears of serious failures of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Sarah Hemingway of the Garden Court Inquests & Inquiries Team represents Danny's family, instructed by Keiu Kikas, Natalie Acheampong-Sarpong and Mollie Eglesfield of GT Stewart Solicitors.

Tuesday 8 Oct 2024

Past Notable Cases

 

Contact team

The Team

Rajiv Menon KC

Year of Call: 1993

Year of Silk: 2011

Stephen Simblet KC

Year of Call: 1991

Year of Silk: 2020

Henry Blaxland KC

Year of Call: 1978

Year of Silk: 2002

Peter Wilcock KC

Year of Call: 1988

Year of Silk: 2012

Stephanie Harrison KC

Year of Call: 1991

Year of Silk: 2013

Leslie Thomas KC

Year of Call: 1988

Year of Silk: 2014

Amanda Weston KC

Year of Call: 1995

Year of Silk: 2018

Allison Munroe KC

Year of Call: 1992

Year of Silk: 2020

Liz Davies KC

Year of Call: 1994

Year of Silk: 2022

Joanne Cecil KC

Year of Call: 2005

Year of Silk: 2024

Patrick Roche

Year of Call: 1977

Christopher Williams

Year of Call: 1988

Rajeev Thacker

Year of Call: 1993

Abigail Holt

Year of Call: 1993

Emma Favata

Year of Call: 1999

Marina Sergides

Year of Call: 2000

Tim Baldwin

Year of Call: 2001

Jodie Blackstock

Year of Call: 2003

Sarah Hemingway

Year of Call: 2006

Kirsten Heaven

Year of Call: 2007

Richard Reynolds

Year of Call: 2007

Hannah Wyatt

Year of Call: 2008

Thalia Maragh

Year of Call: 2009

Paul Clark

Year of Call: 2010

Owen Greenhall

Year of Call: 2010

Gráinne Mellon

Year of Call: 2010

Taimour Lay

Year of Call: 2011

Catherine Oborne

Year of Call: 2011

Alia Akram

Year of Call: 2011

Una Morris

Year of Call: 2012

Michael Etienne

Year of Call: 2012

Stephen Clark

Year of Call: 2013

Franck Magennis

Year of Call: 2016

Luke McLean

Year of Call: 2017

Fatima Jichi

Year of Call: 2019

Rachel Schon

Year of Call: 2018

Rehab Jaffer

Year of Call: 2019

Isaac Ricca-Richardson

Year of Call: 2020

Mark Robinson

Year of Call: 2020

Alex Schymyck

Year of Call: 2020

Harry Harris

Year of Call: 2021

Abby Buttle

Year of Call: 2022

Brenda Campbell KC

Year of Call: 2002

Year of Silk: 2018

Anna Morris KC

Year of Call: 2006

Year of Silk: 2023

Richard Harvey

Year of Call: 1971

James Mehigan

Year of Call: 2008

Dr Terry McGuinness

Year of Call: 2009

We are top ranked by independent legal directories and consistently win awards.

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