Jenni Richards KC named The Times Lawyer of the Week

We are pleased to announce that Jenni Richards KC, of 39 Essex Chambers, has been named as the ‘Lawyer of the Week’ by The Times in recognition of her recent work acting as Counsel to the Infected Blood Inquiry.  On 20 May 2024, the Inquiry delivered its report, which looked into why men, women and children in the UK were given infected blood and infected blood products, the impact on their families, how the authorities responded, the nature of any support provided following infection, questions of consent and whether there was a cover-up.

Jenni discussed with The Times the scale of the task facing the Infected Blood Inquiry and the importance of honouring the trust placed in the Inquiry by individuals who were infected and affected.

In the article, Jenni also highlights the importance of statutory duty of candour for ministers and senior civil servants. Recommendations about the statutory duty of candour are made in the Infected Blood Inquiry Report. Jenni’s role in the Infected Blood Inquiry included her questioning government ministers, senior civil servants, clinicians and academics, about aspects of political governmental, clinical and ethical decision-making from the 1970s to the present day.

The interview highlights Jenni’s extensive and impressive contribution to this serious and sensitive inquiry.

Jenni Richards was called to the Bar in 1991 and took Silk in 2011. She has an extensive public law, human rights and regulatory practice, acting for claimants, defendants as well as interested parties in all areas affected by public law and public decision-making.

Read the full article here.