About

Legal support

Eversheds-Sutherland are providing legal support to the Inquiry. The team is led by Sarah Jones, Partner and Head of Public Inquiries and Investigations.

Sarah Jones

Sarah is a Partner and head of the Eversheds Sutherland Public Inquiries and Investigations team. She has specialised in public inquiries for over 15 years.

Sarah leads the team appointed as the Commissioning Body for the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Telford and she previously led a team of lawyers acting as Solicitors to the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry (investigating allegations of abuse of children in care), acting for a core participant in the Leveson Inquiry (investigating the role of the press and the police in the phone-hacking scandal) and had a lead role on the Rosemary Nelson Public Inquiry (a prominent human rights solicitor who was killed by an under car explosive – there were allegations of state collusion in her death). Sarah was also Deputy Solicitor to the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry. Sarah is currently representing clients who are core participants to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and the Infected Blood Inquiry. Sarah has co-authored a book entitled ‘The Practical Guide to Public Inquiries’, which was published by Hart Publishing in December 2020.

Isabelle Mitchell

Isabelle is a Partner in the Eversheds Sutherland Public Inquiries and Investigations team and is Deputy Solicitor to the Inquiry.

Isabelle’s previous work includes supporting the Chair on the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Telford, working as part of the senior management team acting as Solicitors to the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry (investigating historical abuse allegations), and representing a core participant in the Leveson Inquiry (phone-hacking). Isabelle also supported the independent Trojan Horse investigation (examining allegations of an extremist plot to take over schools in Birmingham) and worked on the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Inquiry. Isabelle is currently representing clients who are core participants to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, Isabelle has also co-authored a book entitled ‘The Practical Guide to Public Inquiries’.

Inquiry Secretary

Laura Gibb

As Secretary to the Inquiry, Laura’s role is to report to the Chair and act as the main contact between the Inquiry and the Home Office. Laura works to and for the Inquiry and it is her job to assist the Inquiry in whatever way necessary to fulfil the terms of reference. Laura is also responsible for the wider Inquiry team.

Laura is an experienced senior civil servant and has worked in a variety of policy and operational roles across the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Cabinet Office.