01 Sep 2026
DWF strengthens Public Inquiries practice with appointments of Caroline Featherstone, Victoria Neil and Matt Lewsey
"DWF appoints Caroline Featherstone, Victoria Neil and Matt Lewsey to its Public Inquiries practice to work on public inquiries, regulatory and investigations matters."
Caroline Featherstone joins DWF as a director. She has held senior legal roles on major public inquiries, including serving as solicitor to both the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and the Southport Inquiry. She specialises in public inquiries and advising inquiry chairs and legal teams on the procedures and unique demands of high‑profile statutory inquiries.
Victoria Neil joins DWF as a director in the Regulatory, Investigations and Inquiries team. She brings almost 20 years' experience at the Metropolitan Police Service, where she led legal teams advising on significant and sensitive public inquiries and investigations including the Undercover Policing Inquiry, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, the Angiolini Inquiry and the Nottingham Inquiry. She also brings expertise in public law, crisis management and high‑profile reputational issues.
Matt Lewsey has joined DWF as a consultant. A former senior civil servant and head of the UK Government's central inquiries function, he served as Secretary to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, led the design and set‑up of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, acted as Secretary to the Hillsborough Independent Panel and established the Cabinet Office's expert inquiries unit. He most recently led the Cabinet Office team responsible for the Public Office (Accountability) Bill (the Hillsborough Law).
The appointments add further depth to DWF's established Regulatory, Investigations and Inquiries team as demand grows from public bodies, private organisations and insurers navigating large‑scale inquiries, inquests and investigations.