Inquests, Inquiries and Redress

Our dedicated team of lawyers specialise in righting the wrongs of public authorities, including at inquests, public inquiries and redress schemes.

We have an excellent record of obtaining successful outcomes for clients, meaning that the lessons can be learned and hopefully future wrongs avoided. We use the law in an inventive and creative way, often taking on cases which are challenging and difficult.

Inquests

Attending an inquest following the death of a family member will be a difficult and painful process for anyone, especially if that person died in particularly distressing circumstances.

At Gold Jennings we act for families who have lost loved ones in situations including domestic violence, deaths in police or prison custody, or due to mental health issues. We are also able to apply for legal aid to provide advice and representation to our clients at inquests.

We only accept instructions to represent families at inquests and aim to support families in the procedure. The range of potential verdicts at an inquest is broad an our in-depth experience makes us uniquely placed to provide complete support throughout the process.

The Human Rights Act has an important part to play in inquest law. The right to life is enshrined in Article 2. We have successfully obtained positive outcomes for families as a result of obtaining Article 2 compliant inquests where witnesses and evidence are fully tested before a Coroner and a Jury.

Public Inquiries

A public inquiry can be ordered by a government minister to investigate any matter which is the cause of public concern. Often lead by a Judge, a public inquiry will examine evidence, hear witnesses and legal argument, and will publish a report setting out its findings and recommendations. Inquiries are often high profile and attract significant attention from the public and media.

Public inquiries can be a powerful forum for holding institutions to account for wrongdoing, however they can only be effective when they conduct a properly independent and rigorous investigation.

Our lawyers have experience of representing individuals and interest groups seeking justice through a public inquiry.

We also have experience in helping participants to account, for example by challenging the terms of reference, the range of evidence to be heard and who will hear the inquiry. For example, we challenged by way of a proposed claim for judicial review, the government’s initial decision not to convene a panel for the Grenfell inquiry.

We are also able to challenge the Government if they decide not to hold an inquiry into a matter of public concern or to help those effected by events to be recognised as core participants by the chair.

Redress and Compensation Schemes

Redress and compensation schemes are increasingly being offered when it is widely recognised that wrongdoing has taken place. While they can be an attractive alternative to the more traditional route of seeking justice through the courts, it is important that victims are properly represented to ensure that they receive the remedies they are entitled to.

Gold Jennings have a strong track record of advising and representing individuals applying to redress schemes. Our clients include those who have suffered historical abuse in the UK and Ireland, victims of miscarriages of justice, and people affected by the Windrush scandal. We have also helped many client significantly increase their compensation by bringing successful appeals against initial awards.