The UK Covid-19 Inquiry, which has been established to examine and learn lessons regarding the UK’s preparedness and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, launched its website on Monday 28 February.

According to the website, two experienced individuals have been appointed as Solicitor to the Inquiry and Counsel to the Inquiry, both of whom have been involved in other high-profile public inquiries in the past.  They will support the Chair, Baroness Hallett, in conducting the Inquiry.  For example, Counsel to the Inquiry will have the right to ask questions of witnesses who are called to give oral evidence.

The website notes that Baroness Hallett “will set out her vision for the Inquiry’s work in the coming months, which will include consulting the public on the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry once she has received a draft from the Prime Minister”.  The detailed timeline for this consultation exercise has not yet been announced.  However, according to transparency disclosures by the UK Cabinet Office, the Inquiry has been working with a strategic consultancy firm to support the Inquiry’s launch and consultation on its Terms of Reference, with the aim of completing work by late February 2022.  We therefore expect to see some progress with the Terms of Reference in the near future.

Covington’s UK Parliamentary and Public Inquiries team is closely monitoring developments relating to the Covid-19 Inquiry, and intends to provide further updates when the consultation for Terms of Reference begins.

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Photo of Ian Redfearn Ian Redfearn

Ian Redfearn is special counsel in the compliance and investigations group of the London office.

He advises clients on their most complex and high-profile global compliance challenges, related transactional and litigation matters, and interactions with law enforcement authorities and regulators. He has deep…

Ian Redfearn is special counsel in the compliance and investigations group of the London office.

He advises clients on their most complex and high-profile global compliance challenges, related transactional and litigation matters, and interactions with law enforcement authorities and regulators. He has deep expertise in financial crime, political law, and modern slavery and human rights issues, and he often presents to clients and other outside audiences on these topics.  

His financial crime practice includes advice on the UK Bribery Act and other anti-corruption laws; the UK Proceeds of Crime Act and other anti-money laundering laws; the UK Terrorism Act and other counter-terrorist financing laws; and the failure to prevent fraud offence under the UK Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act.  

His political law practice includes advice on the lobbying registration requirements under the UK Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act and the EU Transparency Register; the UK Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, which has been established under the UK National Security Act; the ethics, conduct and transparency rules applicable to UK Government officials and parliamentarians; and the recruitment of former UK Government officials, including the Business Appointment Rules for Ministers and the Business Appointment Rules for Crown Servants.

His modern slavery and human rights practice includes advice on the transparency obligations and substantive offences under the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015, supply chain risk assessment and due diligence issues, and responses to actual or suspected modern slavery incidents.

He has worked for clients across many sectors, and he has significant international experience, including matters in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Much of his work involves matters that present significant reputational or political risks to clients, and Ian has experience collaborating with communications and public affairs teams on these issues.

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Photo of Thomas Reilly Thomas Reilly

Ambassador Thomas Reilly, Covington’s Head of UK Public Policy and a key member of the firm’s Global Problem Solving Group, draws on over 20 years of diplomatic and commercial roles to advise clients on their strategic business objectives.

Ambassador Reilly was most recently…

Ambassador Thomas Reilly, Covington’s Head of UK Public Policy and a key member of the firm’s Global Problem Solving Group, draws on over 20 years of diplomatic and commercial roles to advise clients on their strategic business objectives.

Ambassador Reilly was most recently British Ambassador to Morocco between 2017 and 2020, and prior to this, the Senior Advisor on International Government Relations & Regulatory Affairs and Head of Government Relations at Royal Dutch Shell between 2012 and 2017. His former roles with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office included British Ambassador Morocco & Mauritania (2017-2018), Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Egypt (2010-2012), Deputy Head of the Climate Change & Energy Department (2007-2009), and Deputy Head of the Counter Terrorism Department (2005-2007). He has lived or worked in a number of countries including Jordan, Kuwait, Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Argentina.

At Covington, Ambassador Reilly works closely with our global team of lawyers and investigators as well as over 100 former diplomats and senior government officials, with significant depth of experience in dealing with the types of complex problems that involve both legal and governmental institutions.

Ambassador Reilly started his career as a solicitor specialising in EU and commercial law but no longer practices as a solicitor.

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