Alasdair Henderson

Public Inquiries

Alasdair has been involved in several of the most high-profile public inquiries of recent years, with extensive experience of acting both as Counsel to the Inquiry (CTI) and as counsel for Core Participants.

He was junior counsel to the Metropolitan Police in the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the press. He was instructed by AWE plc and the MOD in the Inquiry into the death of Alexander Litvinenko. He represented a large number of soldiers in the Al-Sweady Public Inquiry into allegations of mistreatment and unlawful killing of prisoners in Iraq. He was CTI in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, leading its investigations into Westminster, Cambridge House, Knowl View, and Rochdale. He also acted as CTI in the Jalal Uddin Inquiry and the Manchester Arena Inquiry. He is currently acting for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry and for His Majesty’s Government in the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry.

Alasdair is recognised as a ‘Leading Junior’ by both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. Recent editorial includes:

• “He can be relied upon in challenging and complex matters. His careful handling of witnesses enables them to give their best evidence and to have confidence.” Chambers & Partners 2026
• “He has great judgement and is a hard-working, superb barrister.” Chambers & Partners 2026
• “Alasdair is a very smooth cross-examiner. He gets all the key points without the witness realising.” Chambers & Partners 2026
• “Alasdair is fantastic. He is clever, thoughtful and the one you want by your side in a crisis.”  Chambers & Partners 2026
• “Alasdair is an outstanding barrister. His ability to simplify the most complex cases is extraordinary.” Legal 500 2026
• “Alasdair is clever, quick, efficient and organised.” Chambers & Partners 2025
• “His judgement is spot on and he builds good relationships with clients.” Chambers & Partners 2025
• “Alasdair comes in fully prepared and puts in the time.” Chambers & Partners 2025
• “Alasdair has great attention to detail.  He is calm in his approach and measured in his advice.” Legal 500 2025

Selected Cases

• The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry
• Manchester Arena Inquiry
• The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
• The Leveson Inquiry
• The Litvinenko Inquiry
• The Al-Sweady Inquiry
• The Jalal Uddin Inquiry
• The Dawn Sturgess Inquiry
• The Southport Inquiry
• The COVID-19 Inquiry