Being involved in a public inquiry can have a significant impact on both individuals and organisations, potentially leading to legal, financial, or reputational consequences.
Our Regulatory and Investigations team has extensive experience in advising and supporting corporate clients and individuals through some of the most high-profile statutory and non-statutory public inquiries. We recognise that these situations are often complex, sensitive, and subject to intense public scrutiny. Our goal is to guide clients through every stage of the process, ensuring their interests are protected and their responses are effective.
We offer clear, practical advice on all aspects of the inquiry process, including understanding the relevant Inquiry’s powers, responding to witness evidence requests, assessing potential challenges to the Inquiry’s demands, navigating issues of legal professional privilege, managing media attention, advising on Maxwellisation, and ensuring the client's right to comment on any draft inquiry reports before publication. These steps are crucial for clients, providing the opportunity to address and mitigate potentially unfair criticisms.
Very professional, very knowledgeable, excellent at handling and managing very sensitive issues and circumstances.’
The Legal 500 UK 2025
Our expertise in corporate crime and contentious regulatory matters means we are well-placed to advise clients facing parallel police investigations or regulatory proceedings or following civil claims. By working with us, clients gain a team that is committed to safeguarding their interests, minimising risks, and helping navigate the complexities of public inquiries with confidence.
Our Experience
Our experience includes:
Grenfell Tower Inquiry
- Advising a corporate entity on both the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry and the criminal investigations being conducted by the Metropolitan Police into the Grenfell fire.
Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry
- Advising the former General Counsel of the Post Office, including in relation to being required to give written and oral evidence to the Inquiry.
- Advising a former senior legal advisor at Royal Mail in respect of giving a witness statement.
Covid-19 Public Inquiry
- Representing a pharmaceutical company in connection with evidence provided to Module 4 of the Covid-19 Public Inquiry.
- Separately, representing a train operating company in connection with Module 9 of the Inquiry.
Infected Blood Inquiry
- Advising a company and its board in relation to their role in the supply chain and the provision of evidence to the Inquiry and responding to its questions.
The Leveson Inquiry
- Representing a Core Participant in the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices, and ethics of the British press following the phone hacking scandal and in relation to the related Parliamentary Inquiry (Culture, Media and Sport Committee).
HBOS Inquiry
- Acting for an individual in the HBOS inquiry in relation to reviewing the report to ensure what was published about our client was fair.
The Fuller Inquiry
- Representing a regulatory body in relation to this non-statutory Inquiry.
FCA Interest Rate Swap Mis-Selling Lessons Learned Report
- Between 2019 and 2022, Partner David Capps led the team advising John Swift KC in relation to his FCA "Lessons learned" review into FCA’s handing of £2 billion mis-selling of interest rate swaps.*
*before Partner, David Capps joined the firm.
