Inquests & Inquiries

The team at 30 Park Place is regularly instructed in some of the most high profile inquests and inquiries including;

The Covid Inquiry - Kirsten Heaven, Nia Gowman & Laura Shepherd are instructed on behalf of COVID Bereaved Families for Justice Wales
The Covid Inquiry - Christian Howells is instructed by Welsh Government
Emiliano Sala Inquest - Cathryn McGahey KC & Christian Howells we instructed on behalf of Cardiff City Football Club
The Infected Blood Inquiry – Lloyd Williams KC & Christian Howells are instructed on behalf of over 300 Welsh and Northern Ireland victims of the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and 80s, when thousands of people were given blood infected with Hepatitis C and/or AIDS
Lloyd Williams KC and Peter Donnison appeared on behalf of the families in the “cannibal killer” inquest where there was an article 2 ECHR inquiry into the actions of the police;
We appeared on behalf the families of two young teenagers who were found hanging in Pembrokeshire which alleged potential failings of social services and the health board in relation to mental health treatment.
Christian Howells is instructed on behalf of HMP Berwyn in the first death in custody at the new ‘super prison’ in North Wales.The deceased died as a result of a ‘spice’ overdose and the inquiry will look at the availability of that substance in prison.

Members have significant experience in complex article 2 ECHR compliant inquests including death in police custody, systemic failures on the part of local authorities, CAMHS and the probation service. The personal injury and clinical negligence team appear at inquests providing consistent representation throughout any subsequent fatal accident litigation. We also represent clients in inquests with HSE involvement alleging gross negligent manslaughter.

Members of the team act on behalf of families, the police, the NHS and the MOJ.

We have appeared in cases challenging Coroners’ rulings by way of judicial review having recently successfully challenged a refusal to hold an article 2 ECHR inquest and have successfully challenged the Coroner’s refusal to reopen an inquest following a conviction for murder of the deceased assailant.

Chambers provide inquest training to local solicitors to increase local representation for bereaved Welsh families.

Chambers accept some pro bono cases in addition to legal aid, conditional fee and private matters.

Consistently the only tier 1 Chambers in Wales for Inquests & Inquiries in Legal 500.

30 Park Place Chambers’ inquests and inquiries team continues to stand out for the extensive experience and expertise of its members. Fluent Welsh speaker Nia Gowman has recently been heavily involved in the Covid-19 inquiry, acting on behalf of families of the bereaved. She also has notable experience acting in cases where Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights is engaged owing to the deceased having died in custody or whilst detained on mental health grounds. Lloyd Williams KC and Christian Howells continue to represent over three hundred victims of the contaminated blood scandal. The two are now also acting in the reopened inquest into the 2010 Gleision Mining Disaster, which saw four miners drown when water flooded a drift mine in Neath Port Talbot. The roles of the Health and Safety Executive and the Coal Authority will now be investigated, the mine owner and mine manager having been previously not found to be responsible in the previous jury inquest. - Legal 500, 2025

30 Park Place Chambers hosts several practitioners with considerable experience acting in high-profile inquests and inquiries. Christian Howells and Lloyd Williams KC continue to represent hundreds of Welsh and Northern Irish victims in the Infected Blood Inquiry, concerning the infection of thousands with Hepatitis C and HIV through blood and blood products supplied by the NHS in the 1970s and 1980s. Howells is also active for the Welsh Government in connection with the Covid-19 Public Inquiry. Williams KC has broad experience, including in relation to workplace fatalities, deaths in custody, and road traffic accidents, and is also involved in the Covid-19 Public Inquiry, having been instructed on behalf of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru. Nia Gowman has an excellent reputation for handling inquiries into deaths in custody, care homes, and hospitals. - Legal 500, 2024

At 30 Park Place Chambers, Lloyd Williams KC and Christian Howells continue to act for multiple Welsh and Northern Irish victims in the long-running Infected Blood Inquiry, as well as appearing in the inquest into the death of footballer Emiliano Sala, who died in an air crash two days after signing for Cardiff City FC. Nia Gowman is instructed in inquests into deaths in custody, deaths in care homes and in hospital, and Melissa Jones represents bereaved families and professional parties in inquests. - Legal 500, 2023

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