Ranking tables

Public Inquiries | UK

UK-wide

Our Inquest and Public Inquiries tables recognises lawyers who have demonstrated expertise in major public inquiries and high-profile coroners' inquests. The Inquests table recognises lawyers who have expertise in representing clients in high-profile and contentious inquests. These inquests typically arise in the context of mental health, police contact and domestic terrorism, but are by no means limited to these areas. Lawyers ranked here represent bereaved families, organisations and individual staff members. The Public Inquiries table focuses on lawyers who act for a range of clients in connection with statutory inquiries. Clients of these lawyers include inquiry chairs, government witnesses and other core participants. At present, this table predominantly focuses on statutory inquiries, as opposed to independent reviews and non-statutory inquiries.

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1

Band 1

  1. Fieldfisher
    1
    Fieldfisher
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 1 | 2 Years Ranked
    Fieldfisher is prominent for its depth of experience representing various parties in connection with public inquiries. The firm is particularly adept at acting in the role of solicitor to the inquiry, but is equally strong at representing core participants and witnesses. Recent instructions the firm has handled include acting on the Manchester Arena, Dawn Sturgess and UK Covid-19 inquiries.
  2. 1
    Kingsley Napley LLP
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 1 | 2 Years Ranked
    Kingsley Napley is renowned for its ability to advise core participants and key witnesses in connection with a variety of public inquiries. The firm's depth of expertise in the complementary area of public law assists the firm in navigating complex inquiries law.
  3. Eversheds Sutherland
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 1
2

Band 2

  1. Addleshaw Goddard LLP
    2
    Addleshaw Goddard LLP
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked
    Addleshaw Goddard has a variety of experience in representing core participants in connection with high-profile inquiries. The firm's client base includes corporate entities, families and governmental bodies, among others. The team brings its extensive health and safety expertise to bear in order to support clients in public inquiries.
  2. Bhatt Murphy
    2
    Bhatt Murphy
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked
    Bhatt Murphy has a substantial presence acting for clients in connection with both inquests and public inquiries. The firm predominantly represents bereaved families and NGOs. It has particular expertise handling matters where deaths occur following police or state contact, as well as deaths which occur through self-harm. Recent matters the firm have handled include the Sheku Bayoh, Brook House and Grenfell Tower inquiries.
  3. Brodies LLP
    2
    Brodies LLP
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked
    Brodies boasts noteworthy experience in representing clients in high-profile inquiries based in Scotland and the rest of the UK. The firm acts for a wide variety of clientele including charitable and independent organisations, central and local government bodies, and commercial clients.
  4. Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
    2
    Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked
    Herbert Smith Freehills has a solid reputation for its representation of a range of public and commercial sector clients in significant public inquiries. The firm's practice is strengthened by its market-leading administrative and public law offering.
  5. Hodge Jones & Allen
    2
    Hodge Jones & Allen
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked
    Hodge Jones & Allen is heavily experienced in representing core participants in a wide variety of high-profile public inquiries. The firm also has deep expertise handling inquests on behalf of bereaved families following deaths in contexts such as immigration detention, military deaths or police custody, among others. It has recently acted on matters including the Post Office Horizon IT and Grenfell Tower inquiries, as well as the inquest into the death of Wayne Hurren who died whilst imprisoned at HMP Wormwood Scrubs.
  6. Hudgell Solicitors
    2
    Hudgell Solicitors
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked
    Hudgell Solicitors is well known for its broad inquests and public inquiries practice. The firm is notable for its representation of bereaved families in high-profile public inquiries including the Post Office Horizon IT and UK Covid-19 inquiries.
  7. Leigh Day
    2
    Leigh Day
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked
    Leigh Day has a wide array of expertise in handling both inquests and public inquiries. The team has substantial expertise representing bereaved families in some of the most complex and high-profile inquest proceedings. It also handles major instructions on behalf of core participants to a public inquiry. The firm has handled matters including the Infected Blood and Undercover Policing inquiries, as well as inquests touching on deaths of prisoners, maternity and baby deaths, and food safety and allergies.
  8. Broudie Jackson Canter
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 2
  9. TLT LLP
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 2
3

Band 3

  1. Bevan Brittan LLP
    3
    Bevan Brittan LLP
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 3 | 2 Years Ranked
    Bevan Brittan advises a variety of healthcare, charitable and independent organisations in connection with complex, highly sensitive inquests. It also fields multi-disciplinary teams to advise clients such as regulators, healthcare bodies and government authorities in connection with high-profile public inquiries. In addition, the firm benefits clients with its strong offering of employed barristers and solicitor advocates.
  2. Burges Salmon LLP
    3
    Burges Salmon LLP
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 3 | 1 Years Ranked
    Burges Salmon houses a substantial team of practitioners known for tackling high-profile public inquiries. It regularly advises both government departments and corporate clients.
  3. Harper Macleod LLP
    3
    Harper Macleod LLP
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 3 | 1 Years Ranked
    Harper Macleod houses a respected team with experience handling highly sensitive and complex public inquiries particularly based in Scotland. The team regularly acts on behalf of core participants including government departments and local authorities.
  4. Innovo Law
    3
    Innovo Law
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 3 | 1 Years Ranked
    Innovo Law is notable for its representation of clients in high-profile public inquiries based in Scotland and the rest of the UK. The team is particularly well-established in the commercial sector with further notable experience in advising charities in cases.
  5. Morton Fraser MacRoberts
    3
    Morton Fraser MacRoberts
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 3 | 2 Years Ranked
    Morton Fraser MacRoberts has notable experience appearing in high-profile inquiries across England and Scotland. The firm represents a range of clients including government departments, as well as private organisations. It is also able to provide clients with the benefit of in-house counsel to conduct advocacy during public inquiries. In November 2023, Morton Fraser and MacRoberts merged; the combined firm is called Morton Fraser MacRoberts.
  6. PA Duffy & Co
    3
    PA Duffy & Co
    Public Inquiries
    2025 | Band 3 | 1 Years Ranked
    PA Duffy & Co is a distinguished team of public inquiry practitioners based in Northern Ireland with strength in highly sensitive public inquiries. The firm has recently acted on matters including the Omagh Bombing and Billy Kenneally Inquiries.