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    Public Inquiries, Investigations and Inquests

Public Inquiries, Investigations and Inquests

Public Law - Public Inquiries Investigations and Inquests (UK)  - website - banner - image

Overview

Inquiries, reviews and investigations can be high profile, raising issues of significant importance leading to intense public and media scrutiny and reputational risk. Whether you are leading an inquiry or review, providing evidence, or facing or conducting an investigation, our specialist Public Inquiries and Investigations team can support you through these challenging times with sensitivity and carefully balanced judgment as well as strategic legal advice.

We can provide you with advice, support and guidance at all stages of inquiries, both statutory and non-statutory, reviews, investigations and inquests. Our team's breadth and depth of experience is rooted in many years of supporting local and central government (including government ministers and officials), private sector organisations, regulatory bodies and high profile individuals in inquisitorial processes.

Working on some of the most high profile and complex matters for a wide range of clients, our team provides targeted legal and strategic advice and engages collaboratively across a wide spectrum of stakeholders whilst protecting the interests of those we support. We are an agile, responsive team and can mobilise quickly where required.

Why choose us?

Additional to the extensive services we offer, our dedicated team has unique experience gained at the very centre of government in high profile investigations and policy as well as supporting high profile corporate organisations in inquiries. We are able to provide wider perspectives, handle multiple and competing interests successfully and deliver workable strategies in complex, political and challenging circumstances.

We conduct investigations with a high level of integrity leading to robust and credible findings, which withstand board, public and media scrutiny. Recognising that not every inquiry, review or investigation requires the same approach we adapt our services to your requirements. Offering a combination of technical excellence with effective project management skills, we draw on a wealth of knowledge across practice areas as a full service law firm.

We appreciate that decision making in inquisitorial processes must be in accordance with public law principles and, with a depth of knowledge and experience of public law and judicial review in these contexts, we can help you to navigate around such challenges. We have broad experience of drafting terms of reference and high profile reports, including lessons learned, as well as assisting with cultural change implementation following internal investigations and reviews.

Members of our team have supported the Financial Reporting Council, British Bankers Association, the Cabinet Office, the Home Office, the Ministry of Defence, Department for Health & Social Security, Ofqual, large housing associations, care home providers, local authorities and non-departmental public bodies. Our team also has a depth of experience in regulatory investigations and has investigated and supported listed companies, banks, insurance companies, investment managers, senior directors, Heads of Compliance and MLROs in FCA investigations and enforcement proceedings.

Inquiries, reviews and investigations can be high profile, raising issues of significant importance leading to intense public and media scrutiny and reputational risk. Whether you are leading an inquiry or review, providing evidence, or facing or conducting an investigation, our specialist Public Inquiries and Investigations team can support you through these challenging times with sensitivity and carefully balanced judgment as well as strategic legal advice.

We can provide you with advice, support and guidance at all stages of inquiries, both statutory and non-statutory, reviews, investigations and inquests. Our team's breadth and depth of experience is rooted in many years of supporting local and central government (including government ministers and officials), private sector organisations, regulatory bodies and high profile individuals in inquisitorial processes.

Working on some of the most high profile and complex matters for a wide range of clients, our team provides targeted legal and strategic advice and engages collaboratively across a wide spectrum of stakeholders whilst protecting the interests of those we support. We are an agile, responsive team and can mobilise quickly where required.

Why choose us?

Additional to the extensive services we offer, our dedicated team has unique experience gained at the very centre of government in high profile investigations and policy as well as supporting high profile corporate organisations in inquiries. We are able to provide wider perspectives, handle multiple and competing interests successfully and deliver workable strategies in complex, political and challenging circumstances.

We conduct investigations with a high level of integrity leading to robust and credible findings, which withstand board, public and media scrutiny. Recognising that not every inquiry, review or investigation requires the same approach we adapt our services to your requirements. Offering a combination of technical excellence with effective project management skills, we draw on a wealth of knowledge across practice areas as a full service law firm.

We appreciate that decision making in inquisitorial processes must be in accordance with public law principles and, with a depth of knowledge and experience of public law and judicial review in these contexts, we can help you to navigate around such challenges. We have broad experience of drafting terms of reference and high profile reports, including lessons learned, as well as assisting with cultural change implementation following internal investigations and reviews.

Members of our team have supported the Financial Reporting Council, British Bankers Association, the Cabinet Office, the Home Office, the Ministry of Defence, Department for Health & Social Security, Ofqual, large housing associations, care home providers, local authorities and non-departmental public bodies. Our team also has a depth of experience in regulatory investigations and has investigated and supported listed companies, banks, insurance companies, investment managers, senior directors, Heads of Compliance and MLROs in FCA investigations and enforcement proceedings.

Client work

240503-client-work-public-inquries-private

Private sector and living sector inquests

Private sector and living sector inquests

Advising and representing registered the private sector, social housing and care home providers in a number of inquests.
240503-client-work-public-inquiries

Grenfell Tower Statutory Inquiry

Grenfell Tower Statutory Inquiry

Providing advice and ongoing in-depth support to a high profile core participant organisation in the Grenfell Inquiry.
240503-client-work-public-inquiries-covid

COVID-19 statutory inquiry

COVID-19 statutory inquiry

Retained by the Department for International Trade ("DIT") to provide support during the COVID-19 Inquiry.
240503-client-work-public-inquiries-beis

BEIS investigation

BEIS investigation

Investigating allegations of company/Director fraud and misconduct for BEIS.
240503-client-work-public-inquries-private

Private sector and living sector inquests

Private sector and living sector inquests

Advising and representing registered the private sector, social housing and care home providers in a number of inquests.
240503-client-work-public-inquiries

Grenfell Tower Statutory Inquiry

Grenfell Tower Statutory Inquiry

Providing advice and ongoing in-depth support to a high profile core participant organisation in the Grenfell Inquiry.
240503-client-work-public-inquiries-covid

COVID-19 statutory inquiry

COVID-19 statutory inquiry

Retained by the Department for International Trade ("DIT") to provide support during the COVID-19 Inquiry.
240503-client-work-public-inquiries-beis

BEIS investigation

BEIS investigation

Investigating allegations of company/Director fraud and misconduct for BEIS.
240503-client-work-public-inquries-private

Private sector and living sector inquests

Private sector and living sector inquests

Advising and representing registered the private sector, social housing and care home providers in a number of inquests.
240503-client-work-public-inquiries

Grenfell Tower Statutory Inquiry

Grenfell Tower Statutory Inquiry

Providing advice and ongoing in-depth support to a high profile core participant organisation in the Grenfell Inquiry.
240503-client-work-public-inquiries-covid

COVID-19 statutory inquiry

COVID-19 statutory inquiry

Retained by the Department for International Trade ("DIT") to provide support during the COVID-19 Inquiry.
240503-client-work-public-inquiries-beis

BEIS investigation

BEIS investigation

Investigating allegations of company/Director fraud and misconduct for BEIS.
240503-client-work-public-inquries-private

Private sector and living sector inquests

Private sector and living sector inquests

Advising and representing registered the private sector, social housing and care home providers in a number of inquests.

Key contacts

James Sidwell

James Sidwell

Partner

Co-leader of Financial Institutions & Services Sector (UK)

London
Patrick Arben

Patrick Arben

Partner

Birmingham
Andrew Litchfield

Andrew Litchfield

Partner

Birmingham, London
Andrea McMahon

Andrea McMahon

Partner

Co-leader of Government Sector (UK)

London
View our team
Public Law - Public Inquiries Investigations and Inquests (UK) - in-page

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Gowling WLG is an international law firm comprising the members of Gowling WLG International Limited, an English Company Limited by Guarantee, and their respective affiliates. Each member and affiliate is an autonomous and independent entity. Gowling WLG International Limited promotes, facilitates and co-ordinates the activities of its members but does not itself provide services to clients. Our structure is explained in more detail on our Legal Information page.

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