Year of Call: 1995 / Year of Silk: 2021
Practice Areas
Nick is recognised as one of the leading practitioners in public inquiries and inquests, in particular those involving government departments, prisons, the military, and police use of force. This work dovetails with a wider administrative law practice including Coronial judicial review and national security work. He has appeared in many high profile inquests and in many of the large public inquiries over recent years. He has experience as both Counsel to the Inquiry / Inquest and in representing interested persons and parties. He sits as an Assistant Coroner.
Before taking Silk in 2021, Nick was a member of the Attorney General’s panel of civil advocates for over twenty years. He spent twelve years on the senior (A) panel, with appointments in 2008, 2015, and 2020.
Nick has appeared in seven major public inquiries or reviews. He is currently instructed as second leading counsel for the Department of Health and Social Care witnesses in the Infected Blood Inquiry. He was first junior counsel to two major inquiries, the Detainee Inquiry and the Baha Mousa Inquiry. Before that, he was counsel for RAF personnel in the Nimrod Review. He also appeared in the Rosemary Nelson and Billy Wright Inquiries (for the Minister of State for Northern Ireland, amongst others), for soldiers and civil servants in the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, and for Department of Health ministers and officials in the BSE Inquiry. He also accepts instructions in ad-hoc investigations including serious near-death incidents.
As an inquest specialist, Nick was counsel for the Parliamentary Authorities in the Westminster Bridge terrorist attack inquests. He led a team of counsel for MOD in each of the three major fresh inquests into the deaths at Deepcut Barracks. He is frequently instructed as Counsel to the Inquest, particularly in cases involving the military, police use of force or security issues, and in cases where Coroners seek assistance in managing complex cases with heavy disclosure. He acted for the Senior Coroner in the judicial review concerning the scope of the inquest into the death of Dawn Sturgess in the Novichok attack in Salisbury. He was also instructed in the inquest into the death of Gavin Williams, a case involving “beasting” and heatstroke. He was Counsel to the Inquest into the death of Khalil Dale (killing of Red Cross worker in Pakistan). Other cases include the death of Cpl Ellement (complaint of rape and bullying in the RMP); Flt Lt Cunningham (the Red Arrows fatal ejection seat accident); and inquests involving police use of Taser (the separate inquests of Jordan Begley and Dale Burns, both representing the Home Secretary). He has appeared in numerous high profile cases involving state sector and contracted prison deaths, and deaths involving the courts and probation services.
Alongside this work, Nick has a common law and administrative law practice including national security work. Illustrative cases are provided in the notable case section below. He is experienced in dealing with public law consultation exercises and discrimination claims. He also has experience in employment law and personal injury.
“… an absolutely sensational cross-examiner: he comes across as mild-mannered but he can absolutely dismantle a witness.” “He is always a really good sounding board and in complex challenging cases where attention to detail is vital, he’s superb.” “Nicholas’ knowledge is fantastic and his advocacy is a dream to listen to. He’s the best of the best.” (Chambers and Partners 2021, Star individual junior for Inquests & Public Inquiries)
“His attention to detail is great and he is always fully prepared and on top of the papers. Nicholas is also fantastic with witnesses and understands the importance of getting them prepared.” (Legal 500 2021, Band 1 junior)
“Exceptional junior … outstanding, immensely well prepared and hard as nails. …One of the best advocates I’ve seen on their feet. He’s unfailingly precise and polite and has perfect tone, manner and pace … Phenomenal – he’s extremely fair and balanced and has untold levels of energy.” (Chambers and Partners 2020, Star individual junior for Inquests & Public Inquiries)
“One of the very best in this area, as well as an outstanding lawyer, advocate and tactician.“
(Legal 500 2020, Band 1 junior)
“…extremely well prepared, hard-working and always on top of the papers … He is just superb.” (Chambers and Partners 2019, Band 1 junior for Inquests & Public Inquiries)
Assistant Coroner for Cambridge and Peterborough
Attorney General’s Panel of Civil Advocates (start 1999 – end 2021) (A Panel 2008 – 2021)
Nicholas Moss (led by Eleanor Grey QC) is lead junior for the Department of Health and Social Care and former DHSC Ministers and Civil Servants in the large scale public inquiry into those infected and affected by contaminated blood and blood products.
Nicholas Moss represented the Senior Coroner in the judicial review concerning whether the enhanced procedural obligation under Article 2 was engaged in the inquest into the death of Dawn Sturgess, and regarding the scope of the inquest.
Nicholas Moss was Counsel to the Inquest for Senior Coroner Heidi Coroner in this inquest concerning the death of Aston Mclean following police contact.
Instructed by Speaker’s Counsel, Nicholas Moss acted for the Parliamentary Authorities in the inquest into the death of PC Keith Palmer.
Nicholas Moss (with Georgina Wolfe, Cicely Haywood (5 Essex Court) and Richard Boyle) led the team representing the Ministry of Defence and individual soldiers in the fresh inquest into the death of Geoff Gray at Deepcut barracks.
Read moreNicholas Moss, Emma Price and Matthew Waszak represented the Ministry of Defence in the fresh inquest into the death of Sean Benton at Deepcut Barracks on 9 June 1995.
The nominated judge-coroner HH Peter Rook QC gave his findings of fact and conclusions on 18 July 2018, evidence having been heard from January to June 2018. The Coroner concluded that Sean’s death was a suicide. He found that Sean fired all the shots himself; no third party was involved.
Read moreNicholas Moss (who did not appear in the original inquest hearings) represented both the Ministry of Defence and Lance Corporal of Horse Kelly in the resumed inquest into the death of LCpl Brynin, who died in October 2013 on active service in Afghanistan.
Read moreNicholas Moss and Emma Price (assisted by Matthew Waszak) represented the Ministry of Defence and two individual servicemen in the further inquest into the death of Cheryl James. Ms James was the second of four trainees to die at Deepcut in the period 1995-2002. The first inquest was quashed on grounds of insufficiency of inquiry.
Read moreDiscrimination claim in relation to British Locally Engaged Staff / Interpreters in Afghanistan.
Read moreRepresenting the Ministry of Defence in the inquest into the death of a soldier.
Read moreNicholas Moss was Counsel to the Inquest into the death of Khalil Dale, an International Committee of the Red Cross work who was kidnapped and beheaded in Pakistan.
Judicial Review. Effectiveness of further consultation exercise. Personal Independence Payments replacing DLA.
Police use of Taser. Nicholas Moss was instructed on behalf of the Home Secretary.
Declarations of unlawfulness made in relation to delays in the processing of claims for personal independence payments. Associated human rights claims dismissed. David Barr QC and Nicholas Moss appeared on behalf of the Secretary of State.
Nicholas Moss represented the Lord Chancellor in the challenge to the legality of his decision on the number of contracts for criminal legal aid duty provider work.
Death of 17 year old shortly after release from police custody and court on bail. Instructed on behalf of the CPS.
Complex self-inflicted death in custody, article 2 inquest. Instructed on behalf of Sodexo Justice Services.
Whether urgent injunction seeking secure accommodation appropriate in case of asserted Afghan intelligence agents.
Inquest into the death of a sexual offender in a vulnerable prisoner unit of a Category A prison who was taken hostage and suffocated by another prisoner. Instructed on behalf of NOMS.
Inquest into the death of a Royal Military Police Corporal found hanging at her barracks. Allegations of bullying and overworking explored. Salisbury Coroners Court. Instructed by GLD for a number of service personnel. February 2014.
Inquest into death of Red Arrows pilot, Flt Lt Cunningham; accidental ejection from his Red Arrows jet.
Counsel to the inquiry chaired by Sir Peter Gibson investigating allegations of collusion in the mistreatment and rendition of detainees, particularly British detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
Represented NOMS in the inquest into the death of Raoul Moat’s first victim who was shot shortly after Moat’s release from prison. Instructed on behalf of NOMS.
Police use of Taser. Instructed on behalf of the Home Secretary.
First Junior Counsel to the Inquiry.
Representing a Minister and soldiers (anonymity applications) who were witnesses in the Inquiry into the murder of Northern Ireland Solicitor, Rosemary Nelson.
Representing individual Ministers and Civil Servants who were witnesses in the Inquiry into the murder of LVF prisoner Billy Wright at the Maze Prison.
First Junior Counsel for one of the teams of soldiers and for various government officials.
Representing RAF servicemen called to give evidence at the review.
Disclosure of closed material in control order cases, Art. 6 requirements.
Major statutory public inquiry into the death of an Iraqi civilian and the mistreatment of others by British soldiers in Iraq. Emma Price was instructed as support counsel providing assistance to the lead and junior counsel to the Inquiry, Gerard Elias QC, Nicholas Moss and Patrick Halliday.
House of Lords. Derogation from human rights obligations, allowing detention of non-national suspected international terrorists
18th March 2021
Welcome to the inaugural edition of the TGC Inquests and Inquiries newsletter, a twice-yearly publication containing articles on recent key legal developments in these fields, as well as a selection of recent noteworthy cases in which Members of Chambers have been involved.
27th May 2021
Following a letter of concern under paragraph 37 of Chief Coroner’s Guidance No 5 (Preventing Future Deaths), Hertfordshire Police have now issued a formal apology to the family of Luke Hobson and announced changes to their investigation processes for sudden child deaths. Nicholas Moss QC represented Luke’s family at his inquest.
Read more16th March 2021
Welcome to the inaugural edition of the TGC Inquests and Inquiries newsletter.
Read more15th March 2021
We are delighted to add James Arney QC and Nicholas Moss QC to our list of silks today.
Read more17th December 2020
Temple Garden Chambers celebrates the elevation to Queen’s Counsel of James Arney and Nicholas Moss.
Read more8th October 2020
Nicholas Moss instructed by Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer (both pro bono) represented the family of Luke Hobson, in the inquest into Luke’s death. Luke sustained multiple skull fractures and impact brain apnoea on 28 March 2019 when hit by another player’s stick during a training session at his local club.
Read more19th August 2020
TGC are delighted to confirm five appointments to the Attorney General`s Civil Panel of Counsel with effect from 1 September 2020.
Read more16th July 2020
Cathryn McGahey QC and Nicholas Moss have been involved in the judicial review (before Bean LJ and Lewis J) concerning the scope of the Inquest into the death of Dawn Sturgess, who died following the use of Novichok in Salisbury.
Read more20th June 2019
HH Peter Rook QC has today delivered detailed factual findings and a combined narrative and short form conclusion in the fresh inquest into the death of Pte Geoff Gray at Deepcut barracks on 17 September 2001. Nicholas Moss represented the Ministry of Defence and individual soldiers/civil servants, leading Richard Boyle (TGC), Georgina Wolfe and Cicely Hayward (5 Essex Court). The inquest sat for 28 days over 2½ months, and received evidence from 105 witnesses.
Read more1st May 2019
The Infected Blood Inquiry has begun its first evidence phase. Nicholas Moss and Emma Price represent the Department of Health and Social Care, along with Catherine Dobson, and are led by Eleanor Grey QC.
Read more6th November 2018
Nicholas Moss advised the Crown Prosecution Service in the settlement, reached without admission of liability, with the broadcaster Paul Gambaccini.
10th September 2018
Three members of TGC are in court today for the inquest into the deaths of the five people killed in the Westminster terror attack.
Read more18th July 2018
The nominated judge-coroner HH Peter Rook QC today gave his findings of fact and conclusions in the fresh inquest into the death of Private Sean Benton, who died on 9 June 1995 at Deepcut barracks. Nicholas Moss, Emma Price and Matthew Waszak represented the Ministry of Defence.
Read more2nd July 2018
The third Pre-Inquest Review Hearing took place today in the Inquests arising from the deaths in the Westminster Terror Attack of 22 March 2017. Matthew Waszak (instructed by Patrick Maguire of Slater and Gordon) appeared on behalf of Melissa Cochran and Michelle Palmer (who will be represented by Dominic Adamson at the Inquests).
Read more26th January 2018
The fresh inquest into the death of Sean Benton, who died at Deepcut Barracks on 9 June 1995, was resumed on 24 January 2018. Nicholas Moss, Emma Price and Matthew Waszak represent the Ministry of Defence. The evidence is expected to be heard between 24 January 2018 and the end of March 2018.
19th September 2017
For the last four years, Chambers has provided a speaker for the PM(A) Strategic Detention Seminar, the Army’s course for detention specialists at the Defence School of Policing and Guarding. This week Nicholas Moss is again an invited speaker, providing a lecture on how the Baha Mousa Inquiry has helped shape Army Detention Policy.
Read more8th May 2017
Nicholas Moss was a guest speaker at the 11th Annual Conference of The Faculty of Forensic & Legal Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians
Read more1st March 2017
TGC is delighted to announce that Nicholas Moss has been appointed as an Assistant Coroner for Cambridge and Peterborough, under the Senior Coroner David Heming. The post is a part time appointment and Nick continues his full practice in Chambers including in inquests and inquiries.
3rd June 2016
Nicholas Moss and Emma Price (assisted by Matthew Waszak) acted for the Ministry of Defence and two individual soldiers in the fresh inquest into the death of Cheryl James, who died at Deepcut Barracks on 27 November 1995.
Read more9th May 2016
The Court of Appeal today dismissed appeals by two interpreters formerly employed by the British Government in Afghanistan. Nicholas Moss led by Jonathan Swift QC (11KBW) acted for the MOD.
Read more8th January 2016
Nicholas Moss and William Irwin represent the Ministry of Defence in the inquest into the death of Private Gavin Williams. Sian Reeves represents a significant witness.
Read more4th November 2015
Nicholas Moss and William Irwin are representing the Ministry of Defence
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