Public Inquiry Solicitor
Public inquiries are a central mechanism used in the UK to examine events that raise matters of public concern. A public inquiry may be convened by a government minister on a statutory basis under the Inquiries Act 2005 or as a non-statutory inquiry. These investigations are typically launched after major incidents, systemic failures within public services, public health crises or other circumstances where a full, independent examination is required. Their purpose is to establish what happened, why it happened and to set out recommendations in a final report that can help restore public confidence.
Organisations and individuals with a direct and significant role in the circumstances under investigation may be designated as core participants. This status allows them to take part in the inquiry process, provide evidence, respond to the inquiry’s terms of reference and access material that may be relevant to their position. In statutory public inquiries, the chair has powers to compel witnesses to attend hearings, produce documents and give evidence, making early preparation critical.
For businesses, senior leaders and regulated professionals, involvement in a public inquiry can carry reputational, regulatory and criminal risk. Inquiry findings may trigger follow-on investigations by law enforcement agencies, regulators or professional bodies. Instructing an experienced public inquiry solicitor ensures that your organisation is represented effectively throughout the inquiry process, that evidence is handled correctly and that any potential exposure is managed from the outset.
To learn more about how we can support you, speak to a public inquiry solicitor today by calling JMW on 0345 872 6666. You can also use our online enquiry form to request a call back at a time that suits you.
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Why Choose JMW?
At JMW Solicitors, we understand the importance of effective representation for individuals and organisations that are the subject of public inquiries, or otherwise involved in the process. Our award-winning full-service law firm has over 45 years of experience, and we are renowned throughout the UK for achieving positive outcomes for our clients, both businesses and individuals. We have represented core participants in many high-profile cases, including:
- Grenfell Tower Inquiry
- Hillsborough Stadium Disaster
- Manchester Arena
- Diana, Princess of Wales
- Macpherson Inquiry - Stephen Lawrence
- Victoria Climbie
- Deepcut Review
- Marchioness
- Daniel Morgan
- Leveson Inquiry
- Anthony Grainger Inquiry
If you believe you should be a core participant in a public inquiry or have been asked to give evidence, our expert public inquiry team can help. Anyone who has played a direct and significant role in the events concerned, or been affected by them, may be eligible to become a core participant. In turn, this could enable you to access or provide evidence, and may entitle you to compensation, depending on the terms of the inquiry.
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What Is a Public Inquiry?
A public inquiry is an investigation convened by a government minister to examine matters of public concern. Whether the inquiry relates to a major incident, ministerial conduct, a controversial policy, or a systemic failure, the purpose remains the same: to establish facts, understand what happened and why it happened, identify accountability, and learn lessons to prevent recurrence.
These inquiries are launched where there is a perception of serious failure by public bodies, individuals or systems, and where existing mechanisms, such as internal reviews or select committee scrutiny, are not sufficient to address the scope or impact of the issue. A statutory public inquiry provides an independent and publicly accessible record of events that often helps to restore public confidence on matters of significant interest.
The public inquiry process involves taking witness statements, reviewing evidence, calling interested parties to give oral evidence and holding public hearings. The inquiry’s findings and recommendations are published in a final report, which may influence future policy, practice and regulatory oversight. Many inquiries - such as the Infected Blood Inquiry, the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry and the Thirlwall Inquiry - illustrate how wide-ranging these investigations can be.
Statutory inquiries focus on fact-finding rather than assigning civil or criminal liability. However, material disclosed during the process, or the inquiry’s recommendations, may be referred to the police or other authorities, and further investigation can follow. Working with a public inquiry solicitor from the outset can help you manage the risks, comply with specific instructions issued by the inquiry panel and protect your position if you face potential exposure to civil or criminal proceedings.
How JMW Can Help
JMW is a full-service law firm with 13 departments and over 700 staff across our London, Manchester and Liverpool offices. Our public inquiry lawyers take a practical, solution-oriented approach and work alongside industry experts, specialist lawyers, and leading and junior counsel to review evidence and address the issues set out in the inquiry’s terms of reference.
JMW advises organisations, senior leaders and regulated professionals who become involved in UK public inquiries as potential subjects of scrutiny. Our business crime team steps in at the earliest stage to protect your position, manage risk and guide you through every part of the public inquiry process. We prepare written evidence, respond to Rule 9 requests, coordinate disclosure, support you through questioning witnesses, manage attendance at hearings and work with counsel on complex issues involving criminal or civil liability, regulatory exposure and reputational impact.
We also support clients facing parallel investigations by regulators, the police or other authorities, providing a joined-up strategy that reflects the wider implications of statutory public inquiries or non-statutory inquiries. Our approach is measured and focused on safeguarding your organisation throughout the investigation.
We collaborate with specialists from across the firm to provide comprehensive public inquiry representation. Alongside guiding you through an independent inquiry or official investigation, we assist with media scrutiny, regulatory considerations and any related legal matters arising from the inquiry’s recommendations or final report.
Our work includes advising owner-managed businesses, SMEs, large listed companies and public sector organisations. We have particular experience supporting regulated professionals in the healthcare, legal and accounting sectors. Our dedicated public inquiry solicitors have represented core participants in some of the UK’s most notable statutory inquiries and non-statutory public inquiries, and we can help you protect your position at every stage.
For victims and families who have been affected by issues that are now under public inquiry, please visit our dedicated page for victim representation at public inquiries to learn more about how we can support you.
FAQs About Public Inquiries
- What powers does a public inquiry have to gather evidence?
Public inquiries operate under the Inquiries Act 2005 and the Inquiry Rules 2006. Rule 9 allows inquiries to request evidence from individuals, including written statements. Further evidence may be requested later. Sections 21 and 35 of the Inquiries Act grant powers to compel attendance, produce documents, and provide witness statements. These legal provisions ensure a thorough investigation process.
- Can I protect sensitive material?
Section 22 of the Inquiries Act allows for the protection of privileged material. If you have sensitive information that should not be disclosed during such an inquiry, seek a restriction notice or order. Our experienced solicitors can guide you through this process and protect your interests while you give evidence.
- Who are the main players in an inquiry?
The main participants in an inquiry will include:
- Chair and Inquiry Panel: These decision-makers lead the proceedings.
- Secretary to the inquiry: Provides administrative support.
- Solicitor(s) to the inquiry: Legal experts who assist with legal matters.
- Counsel to the inquiry: Advocates who present evidence.
- Representatives of core participants: Individuals directly affected by the inquiry. Understanding their roles is crucial for effective representation.
If you believe you should be involved in a public inquiry, speak to the team at JMW to learn how you might fit in and the role you could potentially play.
- What are the stages of an inquiry?
An inquiry typically follows these stages:
- Setting up and preparation: Disclosure of relevant documents and groundwork.
- Oral hearings: Includes preliminary hearings, opening statements, and oral evidence.
- Closure and report publication: The final stages where findings and recommendations are summarised in a report.
- Are inquiry hearings public?
Generally, hearings are held in public as transparency is essential for public confidence. Televised hearings are often arranged to allow wider access to the proceedings.
- How can I fund my representation?
Seek legal advice early. Funding options include:
- Public funding (Legal Aid): Available for those who meet specific criteria.
- Private arrangements: You can engage legal representation privately. Our team can discuss the best approach for your situation.
- How can I fund my representation?
Seek legal advice early. Funding options include:
- Public funding (Legal Aid): Available for those who meet specific criteria.
- Private arrangements: You can engage legal representation privately. Our team can discuss the best approach for your situation.
- What happens during oral evidence?
Oral evidence involves witnesses presenting their accounts. Deciding the order of witness testimony is crucial. Our solicitors can guide you through this process thanks to their extensive experience advising core participants and witnesses on delivering evidence to a public inquiry.
- What is the role of the chair?
The chair (and Inquiry Panel) presides over proceedings. Access to the chair is essential for effective representation. Our team can help you navigate this aspect.
- What is the inquiry report?
This is a comprehensive report summarising findings, recommendations, and any lessons learned. The report plays a crucial role in shaping future policies, practices and regulatory matters.
- What do public inquiries cover?
Each public inquiry begins by setting out its terms of reference. These outline the questions the inquiry should address, the matters of public concern it must examine, the information the UK government wishes to review and the timeframe for producing the final report. The topics covered can be wide-ranging. In the past, they have included large fires, outbreaks of disease, decisions leading to armed conflict, transport accidents, systemic failures in public services, ministerial conduct relating to scandals, and pension fund mismanagement.
UK public inquiries in recent years - such as the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry, the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry and the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse - highlight the types of circumstances in which a statutory public inquiry or non-statutory inquiry may be required. These investigations provide an independent examination of events, review evidence from interested parties and aim to learn lessons that restore public confidence and help prevent future failings.
- Who leads a public inquiry?
Public inquiries are run independently, although the relevant government minister has the power to replace a chair or terminate the inquiry. The chair is normally a judge, but if they are not from a legal background, they tend to be from a relevant specialism such as a scientist, doctor, professor or engineer.
- What are the potential outcomes of a public inquiry?
A public inquiry does not determine civil or criminal liability, but its findings can still have direct consequences for those involved. The chair’s final report may set out factual conclusions, identify organisational or systemic failings, and make inquiry recommendations that influence future policy, regulatory oversight or best practice across the United Kingdom.
For participants, the report may prompt follow-on action from regulators, professional bodies or law-enforcement agencies if the evidence raises concerns about potential misconduct. Material disclosed during the inquiry, or highlighted through the inquiry panel’s analysis, can be referred to other authorities and may lead to separate investigations. Public inquiries can also lead to renewed scrutiny from the media or other interested parties, so managing the wider reputational impact is an important part of the process.
Talk to Us
For legal advice from an experienced and dedicated public inquiry solicitor from JMW, get in touch with us by calling 0345 872 6666 or complete our online enquiry form to request a callback.
