Nikita McNeill

Public Inquiries

Nikita instructed in many of the most important public inquiries of recent years, representing government departments and corporate core participants, as well as acting as counsel to the inquiry.

She has been consistently ranked as a leading individual in the Inquests and Public Inquiries sections of both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 since 2018.

Recent editorial includes:

“Nikita is phenomenal. She is a complete powerhouse in terms of work.” Chambers & Partners 2025

“Nikita is really diligent and sharp” Chambers & Partners 2025

“Nikita is a joy to work with: first-rate expertise in this area, responses are quick and succinct, with advice which cuts to the core of the issues.” Chambers & Partners 2024

“She is on the ball and up to speed: she provides excellent work.” Chambers & Partners 2024

“Nikita has a formidable intellect. She demonstrates a forensic command of the issues and has a real gift for making the most complex points accessible.” Legal 500 2024

“Nikita is a phenomenal barrister who is the most organised person I have ever met. She is so efficient and has a really good strategic instinct.” Chambers & Partners 2023

“Nikita’s strengths are her soaring intellect, her capacity to turn papers around at such a fast pace, and her attention to client care – a winning combination!” Legal 500 2023

“She is an exceptionally good advocate. She has encyclopaedic knowledge of inquests and inquiries, with really good judgement.” Chambers & Partners 2022

“Nikita is a go-to junior – anyone involved in a public inquiry or large inquest would do well to have her on their side.”  Legal 500 2022

“Nikita is a really good advocate, who also offers exceptional client care and excellent judgement.” Chambers & Partners 2021

Selected Cases

• Independent Inquiry into Afghanistan: Nikita is currently instructed by the Government Legal Department to represent the Ministry of Defence in the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan, which was established to investigate matters arising from the deployment of UK Special Forces to Afghanistan between mid-2010 and mid-2013.
• Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry: Nikita is currently instructed on behalf of the Post Office in the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry established to gather a clear account of the implementation and failings of the Horizon IT system at the Post Office over its lifetime.
• UK Covid-19 Inquiry: Nikita currently acts for the Welsh Government in their role as Core Participants to the independent public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK. Nikita is taking responsibility for the Inquiry’s Module 3 which will examine the impact of the pandemic on healthcare systems in the 4 nations of the UK.
• Jermaine Baker Public Inquiry: Nikita was instructed as first junior counsel to the Jermaine Baker Inquiry – an independent public inquiry into the shooting of Jermaine Baker during a Metropolitan Police Service operation.
• Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Nikita was instructed to represent a core participant involved in the design of the cladding in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Nikita advised on the application for to the Inquiry to seek an undertaking from the Attorney General that evidence given before the Inquiry would not be used in subsequent criminal proceedings, whilst advising upon the implications of the Inquiry for the ongoing police investigation.
• Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse: Nikita was instructed as first junior counsel to the inquiry for the investigations into the Anglican Church and into Child Protection in Religious Organisations and Settings.