​It has been announced today that Sir Martin Moore-Bick, the recently retired Lord Justice of Appeal who was the Vice-President of the Court of Appeal until December 2016, has been appointed as the Chair of the Grenfell Inquiry. Sir Martin retired from the Court of Appeal in December 2016, is currently an Arbitrator working with 20 Essex Street.
 
Howe & Co is an  experienced firm of solicitors in representing victims and survivors in Public Inquiries. We will be pressing the newly appointed Chair to ensure that victims and survivors are placed at the heart and centre of the Grenfell Inquiry.
 
Marin Howe (senior partner in Howe & Co) said:

The Times today published an article by its chief reporter Sean O’Neill regarding the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, in which Howe & Co represent 25 % of the victim and survivor core participants.
 
The Times report states that the Inquiry has  not published a single report since its inception 2 years ago and despite the cost of the Inquiry to date.
 
In fact, Howe & Co have been pressing the IICSA for many months to make interim recommendations for changes and improvements to the Civil Justice System, The Criminal injuries Compensation Scheme and in regard of reparations for survivors. As recently as the 8 June, when Howe & co met with the Inquiry’s legal team, Howe & Co raised the need for early recommendations again. We were advised that the solicitor to the Inquiry would be engaged in meetings in the current weeks in regard of making early recommendations and the Inquiry would be publishing an interim report in early 2018.
 
On the 4 and 5 July Howe & Co will be attending a victim and survivor seminar being held by the Inquiry along with a large group of Howe & Co’s core participant clients.
 
Howe & Co’s clients continue to demand that there is open, transparent and a clear process from the Inquiry and that information is provided at the earliest opportunity to allow our clients some of which are illiterate, to properly interact with the process and feel that they are part of the process.
 
We again urge the Inquiry to ensure that the victims and survivors of child sexual abuse are front and centre of the Inquiry. 

Howe + Co continue to be the leading solicitors representing former members of HM Armed forces and the Gurkha community continuing to fight the historic injustice caused by the failure of the Government to provide for settlement of individuals that have served in the Army. 
 
Howe + Co conducted the ground-breaking legal and political campaigning (alongside the famous actress, Joanna Lumley) for retired British Army Gurkha's, seeking the right to settle in the United Kingdom.

Howe + Co continue to be concerned that former members of the armed forces who are not British continue to be treated with contempt by the Government. An example of a recent campaign is here. A former solider has lost his employment and been threatened with removal because of a failure of the government to ensure that proper immigration advice was provided at end of service. Sam Cataki a former solider from Fiji has been left in an impossible position. We urge the Government to ensure that all solders leaving service who are not British are provided with free legal advice, not just when they leave but until they become settled British nationals. 

The Daily Record reported that Fred Goodwin the disgraced former chairman of RBoS has had calls for him to be criminal prosecuted by the Unite Union. The full article is here - ​http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/uks-biggest-union-says-its-10683860

The Government have set out a range of measures to support those effected by the Grenfell fire.
 
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/grenfell-tower-fire-june-2017-support-for-people-affected
 
Those effected have been reminded that they can access legal advice and support under the free Legal Aid scheme in relation to any Inquest. There will also potentially be support provided in respect of the Public Inquiry that is expected into this tragedy.
 
Howe & Co are widely acknowledged as experts in the area of sensitive public Inquiries and Inquests. We stand ready to assist victims and survivors to achieve justice and accountability  
 
Howe & Co are committed to providing pro bono (free) initial advice to any persons affected by the Grenfell tragedy 

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On Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5 July an Inquiry Seminar will be held on Victims and survivors’ experiences: impacts of child sexual abuse, support needs and support services.

The Seminar will hear from a number of individuals, to gather information and views for consideration by the Inquiry on the impact of child sexual abuse on victims, survivors and their families; their support needs; and current support provision.

The Seminar will be held in the International Dispute Resolution Centre (IDRC), London and will be live streamed, subject to a five minute delay, on the Inquiry Website. The location will normally be here but this may change on the day. 

The full agenda is attached and a participant list will be published once confirmed nearer the seminar.  

David Enright has again appeared in the Gazette as lawyer of the week, this is the fourth time for partners of Howe + Co, and second time for David. 

The firm are proud of the recognition again of the ground breaking work and the truly selfless commitment to putting our client's first, and fighting for them. 

The article reflected the hard work of not just David but the whole of Howe + Co in pushing forward and ensuring that the most vulnerable in society are given a voice before the Inquiry. 

​https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/people/appeared-at-catholic-church-abuse-inquiry/5061587.article

Our thoughts go out to the families and friends of those that have been caught up in this disaster. As with other serious recent events we have put our staff at disposal of those effect and will offer pro bono advice and or legal aid were this is available. 

We remain concerned by the reports that have been published into the causes of this tragic event, and stand ready to assist those that need assistance with any Inquiry and or Inquests that are held. 

We have a specialist team dealing with Inquiry work and capable of dealing with large civil claims. Contact us here