Lakanal Fire Inquests

[2016] EWHC 1701 (Admin)

July 2016

Appeared as leading counsel for the London Borough of Southwark, the owner and landlord of Lakanal. Six fatalities occurred when Lakanal, a block of maisonette apartments caught fire. The inquests were held over some three months before a Construction Court Judge, appointed as Deputy Coroner, and a jury.

The inquest jury found particular failings on the part of London Fire Brigade that contributed to the deaths. See here for verdicts and related information.

Following this, the London Fire Brigade (London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority) sought to continue a criminal investigation and prosecution of the London Borough of Southwark. Richard Matthews KC led the three counsel team that sought to Judicially Review this decision, and the case was decided by the Administrative Court in a judgment delivered by the President of the Queen’s Bench Division, Sir Brian Leveson.