The Undercover Policing Inquiry will begin to hear evidence again today, 21 October 2024, having heard opening statements last week - Oct 2024
Peter Skelton KC specialises in Inquests, Public Inquiries, and complex Personal Injury Litigation.
Peter is recognised by both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as a top-tier silk in public inquiries and inquests. He is regularly instructed by families, corporate bodies, charities, government departments, coroners, and tribunals, and has appeared in many of the most high-profile cases of the last 20 years.
Most recently, Peter has been instructed in the Covid Inquiry, the Infected Blood Inquiry, the Undercover Policing Inquiry, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the Reading Terror Attack Inquests, the Gosport Memorial Hospital Inquests, the Birmingham Inquests (1974), and the Stephen Port Inquests.
Peter’s personal injury practice encompasses the full spectrum of complex and high-value litigation, including human rights, clinical negligence, physical and sexual abuse, and international claims.
He has been instructed in many high-profile group actions for both claimants and defendants. These include the claims arising from the abuse perpetrated by David Fuller, Jimmy Savile, and Max Clifford, and the malpractice of former surgeons Ian Paterson and Rob Jones; together with the claims brought in respect of Guantánamo Bay detention camp and the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya in the 1950s.
Before taking silk, Peter was appointed to the Attorney General’s A, B and C panels, and as a Special Advocate. For many years, he has acted for government departments and agencies in some of their most sensitive cases.
Peter is also the founder and current chair of the Inquests and Inquiries Bar Association and the co-author of two of the leading books in the field, Public Inquiries (Oxford) and The Inquest Book (Hart).
View full profile »The Thirlwall Inquiry begins today – five Members of Chambers instructed - Sep 2024
The Thirlwall Inquiry has been set up to examine events at the Countess of Chester Hospital and their implications following the trials, and subsequent convictions, of former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby...
Inquests into Reading terror attack begin - Jan 2024
Peter Skelton KC and Matthew Hill are representing the families of James Furlong, Joseph Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails at the inquests into their deaths, which begin today. The three men were...
Members of 1COR act in the Covid Inquiry - Dec 2023
Module 2 of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry is drawing to a close, with evidence from the Prime Minister due to be heard on Monday 11 December, followed by closing submissions. This module considered core...
Should there be a statutory public inquiry into the murders and attempted murders by Lucy Letby? - Aug 2023
Why wasn’t Lucy Letby stopped sooner? This is the burning question that the families of her victims, and the public, are now asking. Steve Barclay, the Health Secretary, has decided that the best...
1COR Quarterly Medical Law Review – Spring 2023 – Issue 13 – July 2023 - Jul 2023
Welcome to the thirteenth issue of the QMLR, brought to you by the barristers at 1 Crown Office Row. Download the Spring 2023 newsletter here: 1COR QMLR - Issue 13 - 2023 Spring ...
Undercover Policing Inquiry’s Interim Report Published - Jul 2023
The Undercover Policing Inquiry’s Interim Report was published on 29th June. The report focuses on the period from 1968 – 1982 and found that the methods used by the police to gain information...
Gosport scandal: High Court orders fresh inquests into hospital deaths - Jun 2023
A Divisional Court (Lady Justice Whipple and Mr Justice Holgate) has ordered that fresh inquests must be held into the deaths of three elderly patients who died at Gosport War Memorial Hospital in...
Relatives of David Fuller’s victims eligible to claim compensation - Dec 2022
On 1st December 2022 a scheme was approved by the Government to provide compensation to the families of David Fuller’s victims. The relatives of the victims will be able to claim for psychiatric...
Peter Skelton QC appointed as a Deputy High Court Judge - Aug 2021
Congratulations to Peter Skelton QC on his appointment as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2021. He will hear cases in the Queen’s Bench Division and sit for up to 30 days each year in addition to his...
Chief Coroner provides useful guidance for how coroners should approach findings of fact and conclusions at inquests - Apr 2021
On 31st March the Divisional Court, in a leading judgment by the Chief Coroner HHJ Teague QC, provided some useful guidance on how coroners should approach findings of fact and conclusions at...
Divisional Court clarifies court’s approach to applications for fresh inquests - Apr 2021
Judgment was handed down by the Divisional Court on 30th March in a case which clarifies the principles governing whether to order a fresh inquest. Mary Farrell, whose son had died from a terminal...
Hear from Peter Skelton QC at Evershed & Sutherlands webinar: The Practical Guide to Public Inquiries - Nov 2020
Join Eversheds & Sutherlands at 5.15pm on 25 November with Peter Skelton QC joining an expert panel, Sarah Jones, Isabelle Mitchell, Peter Jones, Nicholas Griffin QC and Rory Phillips QC. They...
Undercover Policing Inquiry’s hearings begin today - Nov 2020
Today, 2nd November, the Undercover Policing Inquiry starts its hearings with seven days of live-streamed opening statements, followed by seven days of evidence hearings. The full schedule and how the...
Inquests in Interesting Times Webinar - Jun 2020
Experts in Inquest Law discuss different key topics related to inquest during a pandemic at this webinar on 18th June 2020 chaired by Clodagh Bradley QC. Peter Skelton QC covered Article 2 in...
LawPod UK Ep. 111: Covid-19 and Inquests with Peter Skelton QC - May 2020
In Episode 111 Emma-Louise Fenelon discusses with Peter Skelton QC the recent changes in legislation and guidance concerning the Coronial jurisdiction since the outbreak of Covid-19 and the ways in...
Is this too sensitive? Dealing with difficult issues in Inquests and Inquiries - Oct 2019
Welcome to an evening of debate with three teams of 1COR speakers with extensive experience in their roles in major inquests and inquiries. They will discuss the different perspectives and lessons...
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse publish investigation report into Accountability and Reparations - Sep 2019
On 19th September 2019, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse published a report in its Accountability and Reparations Investigation. The Investigation is looking at the effectiveness of...
Peter Skelton QC appointed Counsel for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police at the Undercover Policing Inquiry - Sep 2019
Peter Skelton QC has been instructed to represent the Metropolitan Police at the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI). The Inquiry is chaired by Sir John Mitting and was set up by the Home Secretary...
Peter Skelton QC in hearing of claim by child of an undercover police officer - May 2019
Peter Skelton QC is appearing for the Metropolitan Police Commissioner in a hearing today, Wednesday 15th May 2019, arising from the personal injury claim brought by ‘TBS’ the son of a former...
The Birmingham Pub Bombings Inquest concludes - Apr 2019
On 5th April 2019, the jury returned its determination in the Birmingham Inquests 1974, which concerned the deaths of 21 people in the Birmingham Pub Bombings on 21 November 1974. The jury...
The Birmingham Pub Bombings Inquest opens - Feb 2019
On 25th February 2019 the Birmingham Inquests 1974, also known as the Birmingham Pub Bombings Inquest, officially commenced. The inquest is looking into the deaths of 21 people who died in or near the...
Inquest into the death of Alexander Perepilichnyy concludes - Dec 2018
Coroner concludes that Alexander Perepilichnyy likely died of natural causes. Peter Skelton QC and Rob Wastell acted as Counsel to the Coroner in this high profile inquest into the death of Russian...
The Kenyan Emergency Group Litigation is at an end - Nov 2018
All claims against the UK Government (the Foreign & Commonwealth Office) in the massive Kenya Emergency Group Litigation litigation have been dismissed. The action is at an end. On 21 November...
Guy Mansfield QC upholds Kenya Emergency Group Litigation judgment in Court of Appeal - Oct 2018
Following an expedited oral hearing, the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, 9 October, in a reserved judgment, [2018] EWCA Civ 2213, refused the Claimant permission to appeal the decision of Stewart J in the...
Peter Skelton QC, Matthew Hill and Gideon Barth successful in Court of Appeal inquests challenge - Sep 2018
The Court of Appeal today handed down judgment in a case arising from the renewed inquests into the Birmingham Pub Bombings. The case concerns the breadth of investigation that a coroner must...
Peter Skelton QC, Matthew Hill and Gideon Barth in Court of Appeal inquests challenge - Jul 2018
Peter Skeleton QC, Matthew Hill and Gideon Barth have appeared before the Lord Chief Justice in the Court of Appeal in a case arising from the renewed inquests into the Birmingham Pub Bombings of...
1COR Public Law Seminar – Life, Liberty & Security - Sep 2017
Date: 11th September 2017 We will be tweeting using the hash tag: #1CORpublic Registration: 16:30pm onwards Programme: 17:00 - 17:50 Panel Discussion chaired by Mrs Justice Whipple. ...
Peter Skelton QC and Robert Wastell, Leanne Woods instructed as counsel for the inquest into Mr Perepilichnyy’s death - Apr 2017
Alexander Perepilichnyy, 44, died after collapsing near his home in Surrey on 10th November 2012 following a lunch with his wife that day. Peter Skelton QC, Robert Wastell and Leanne Woods are...
Profits from the sale of the Inquest Book given to the Bar Pro Bono Unit - Nov 2016
The Inquest Book: The Law on Coroners and Inquests edited by Caroline Cross was published earlier this year. This week, profits raised of £954.41 have been donated to the Bar Pro Bono Unit by the...
Birmingham bombings inquest to be reopened - Jun 2016
Following an application from three of the families of those who died in the bombings, the Senior Coroner for Birmingham has ruled that the inquest into the deaths of the 21 people be reopened. The...
Birmingham Coroner hears application to re-open inquests into the 1974 IRA Birmingham Pub bombings - Feb 2016
The Senior Coroner for Birmingham has ordered West Midlands Police to disclose documents relating to any advance warnings that were received prior to the IRA pub bombings in Birmingham on 21 November...
‘Six of the Best!’ 6 members appointed Queen’s Counsel - Jan 2016
We are absolutely delighted to announce the appointment of Marina Wheeler, Henry Witcomb, Owain Thomas, Jeremy Hyam, Clodagh Bradley and Peter Skelton as Queen's Counsel. This provides welcome...
1COR quiz team wins the Leigh Day / Silverlining Brain Injury Charity Quiz night - Feb 2015
1COR beat all the competition in the Leigh Day / Silverlining Brain Injury Quiz on Thursday 12 February 2015. The team consisted of 8 members of Chambers; Amelia Walker, Lois Williams, Judith...
New appointments to the Attorney General’s A and C Panels - Feb 2014
We are delighted to announce the following new appointments to the Attorney General's Panels - Peter Skelton, Robert Kellar and Sarabjit Singh to the A Panel and Isabel McArdle and Alasdair Henderson...
4 members of 1COR in the Kenyan Mau Mau Case - Jun 2013
The Mau Mau uprising, which took place in central Kenya between 1952 and 1961, was a rebellion against British colonial rule. Claims were brought by four Kenyans for serious personal injuries and...
Nine members of 1COR involved in Al-Sweady Public Inquiry - Mar 2013
After more than three years of preliminary investigations, Monday, 4 March marked the commencement of oral hearings in the Al-Sweady Public Inquiry. The Inquiry was announced by the Secretary of State...
New Appointments to the Attorney General’s A, B and C Panels – February 2013 - Feb 2013
We are delighted to announce the following new appointments to the Attorney General's Panels - Owain Thomas to the A Panel (a re-appointment), Amy Mannion and John Jolliffe to the B Panel and Caroline...
One Crown Office Row instructed on Jimmy Savile claims - Feb 2013
Members of One Crown Office Row have been instructed to act for many of those allegedly abused by Jimmy Savile. Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel QC, Justin Levinson and Peter Skelton have been instructed by...
Members of 1COR acted in the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Trust Public Inquiry - Feb 2013
Members of One Crown Office Row were involved in this inquiry, drawing on their combined expertise in clinical negligence and public law. The hearings took place from November 2010 until December...
Members of One Crown Office Row acted in the Leveson Inquiry - Nov 2012
Neil Garnham QC and Alasdair Henderson acted for the Metropolitan Police and Peter Skelton acted for the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC) in the Leveson (phone hacking) Inquiry into the...
Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel QC, Henry Witcomb and Peter Skelton are representing women who were wrongly diagnosed with breast cancer by Ian Paterson - Nov 2012
Mr Ian Paterson has recently been suspended by the GMC after it emerged that he might have performed "unnecessary and inappropriate" breast operations on nearly 1000 women and misdiagnosed nearly 450...
Lizanne Gumbel QC, Justin Levinson and Peter Skelton are instructed to act on behalf of sexual abuse victims of Jimmy Savile - Oct 2012
Lizanne Gumbel QC, Justin Levinson and Peter Skelton have been instructed by more than one firm of solicitors who are acting on behalf of some of the victims of the sexual abuse alleged to have been...
Peter Skelton acting for the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime in the Leveson Inquiry - May 2012
Peter Skelton is acting for the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC) in the Leveson (phone hacking) inquiry. This body, headed by the Mayor of London, was formerly the Metropolitan Police...
New Appointments to the Attorney General’s A, B and C Panels – February 2012 - Feb 2012
We are delighted to announce the following new appointments to the Attorney General's Panels - Oliver Sanders to the A panel, Robert Wastell to the B panel and Adam Wagner to the C panel. The 23...
Peter Skelton in Supreme Court case on closed material procedure - Jul 2011
Peter Skelton acted for the defendants (the Security Service and others) in the case of Al Rawi & Others v The Security Service & Others in the Supreme Court [2011] UKSC 34. The question in...
Peter Skelton joins One Crown Office Row - Nov 2010