Inquests & Inquiries

Since 1998, we have been helping organisations deal with inquests and inquiries that follow unexpected deaths, serious incidents and failures in a variety of circumstances, including care. Our clients come to us at difficult moments, when they face close public and regulatory scrutiny and need clear, confident support.

We work with a diverse range of clients, including housing and care providers, health and social care organisations, local authorities, justice and custodial services, the military and construction businesses. Many matters involve overlapping investigations by coroners, regulators, the police and other agencies, together with the risk of civil claims or criminal proceedings. We help you understand that wider picture and decide what to do next.

Our team has extensive knowledge and experience in both inquests and health and safety law. We prepare boards, senior leaders and witnesses, coordinate responses across multiple investigations and help you manage legal, operational and reputational risk. We also support with independent reviews and learning exercises, so you can strengthen governance and reduce the risk of future incidents.

Our Services

We advise on the full range of issues that arise before, during and after inquests and inquiries. Our work includes:

• Representation at inquests and inquiries.
• Strategic support where regulators are involved, including; the HSE, the Care Quality Commission, the Regulator of Social Housing, and the Charity Commission, with clear advice on how each investigation fits together and what it means for your organisation.
• Cases involving fatalities at work or on property owned or managed by our clients, including workplace incidents, contractor activity, building safety issues and other health and safety concerns.
• Advice on follow-on civil claims, including employer and public liability claims, and matters involving alleged corporate manslaughter or gross negligence.
• Support after deaths in custody.
• Advising on complex safeguarding cases, including failures in care pathways and high-risk environments.
• Military and historic inquests, where careful handling, sensitive disclosure and close liaison with investigating bodies are essential.
• Advisory services for housing and care providers, drawing on our specialist housing and care sector expertise.
• Crisis response planning, document reviews and independent investigations, helping you understand what happened, respond to regulators and improve future practice.
• Defence of enforcement and prosecution, including health and safety and related regulatory proceedings, so you have consistent advice from first incident through to final resolution.

At every stage, we focus on what you need to do next, the risks you face and the practical steps that will put you in the strongest position.