Inquiries and Investigations

The Rt. Hon. Sir Gary Hickinbottom has been appointed as new independent chair of the LTA's judicial panel

Chambers is delighted to announce that The Rt. Hon. Sir Gary Hickinbottom has been appointed as the new Chair of the Lawn Tennis Association's (LTA) independent Judicial Panel. Gary will continue to practice in Chambers alongside this role. Read mor... Read more  

Alan Payne KC

Alan is recognised as a leading silk specialising in public law, public inquiries, inquests, police law, Data Protection & Information law and advisory work. He represents private clients, central government, public authorities, police forces, an... Read more  

Sam Stein KC

Sam Stein KC uses “advocacy like a stiletto in a velvet glove” and he “has an encyclopaedic legal knowledge combined with street wise savvy”.  Sam Stein KC is a leading silk in the field of public and regulatory law, who specialises in public inquir... Read more  

The Rt. Hon. Sir Gary Hickinbottom

Sir Gary, a former Judge of the Court of Appeal, accepts appointments as arbitrator, mediator and the chair of disciplinary or safeguarding proceedings, and also conducts independent investigations and inquiries. Following a double First from Oxford... Read more  

High Court clarifies its powers upon a statutory review of an inquest

In HM Senior Coroner for South London v HM Assistant Coroner for South London [2022] EWHC 1388 (Admin), the High Court, comprised of Lord Justice Singh and Mrs Justice Heather Williams DBE, clarified the powers available to the court upon a statutory... Read more  

AB Residential schools investigation, March 2022

This investigation had several dimensions. A first phase focused on residential specialist music schools and residential special schools, where, for different reasons, pupils faced heightened risks of sexual abuse and there had been numerous allegations and convictions. It then examined a variety of other types of schools in which staff had been convicted of the sexual abuse of pupils, or in which serious safeguarding concerns had arisen. Separate to the investigative work undertaken in preparation for the phase one and phase two public hearings, the chair and panel asked counsel to the inquiry to prepare a written account regarding allegations of child sexual abuse at schools which no longer exist or are under new management. The account was prepared by counsel using the information gathered from a number of sources in relation to eight schools. Read more  

AB The Anglican Church Case Studies: 1. The Diocese of Chichester 2. The response to allegations against Peter Ball Investigation Report May 2019

This phase of the Anglican Church investigation examined two case studies. The first was the Diocese of Chichester, where there had been multiple allegations of sexual abuse against children. The second concerned Peter Ball, who was a bishop in Chichester before becoming Bishop of Gloucester. In 1993, he was cautioned for gross indecency, and was convicted of further offences in 2015, including misconduct in public office and indecent assault. Read more  

Jenni Richards QC and Kate Grange QC shortlisted for 'Barrister of the Year' by The Lawyer Awards 2022

39 Essex Chambers is absolutely delighted to announce that Jenni Richards QC and Kate Grange QC have been shortlisted for 'Barrister of the Year' by The Lawyer Awards 2022.The shortlisted individuals have been deemed by the judges' panel as having de... Read more  

PM E.coli Public Inquiry

Representing the Food Standards Authority in inquiry into outbreak of E.coli in schools in South Wales. Read more  

PM Inquest into the Death of Cheryl James

Acting for family of young soldier who died at Deepcut barracks. Read more  
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