Public Inquiries

Brian Altman QC has been Lead Counsel in a public inquiry of national importance since 2017.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) was set up by the Home Secretary (the former Prime Minister, Theresa May) in 2015 to investigate institutional responses into allegations of child sexual abuse made against State and non-State institutions in England and Wales. This Inquiry is the largest statutory inquiry ever to be established by the Government. By its finish it will have lasted in excess of six years.

There have been 15 ‘investigations’ involving the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, Westminster Institutions, institutional failures into allegations against the late Lord Janner of Braunstone QC, Sir Cyril Smith MP and Rochdale, Nottingham and Lambeth local authorities, the Internet, Children in Custody and others.

The Inquiry’s hearings have now ended, and it will publish its final report in 2022. The Inquiry has attracted a large amount of domestic and international publicity and continues to do so.

Brian was appointed to the Inquiry as Lead Counsel in January 2017. As Lead Counsel to the Inquiry, Brian has provided strategic and legal advice to the Chair and the Panel on all aspects of the Inquiry, as well as overseeing the large counsel team. He himself has been Lead Counsel in the Rochdale, Westminster, Wider Catholics, Lord Janner and Effective Leadership of Child Protection investigations and has appeared in all the hearings.

Brian was featured in The Times on 17 December 2020 as their Lawyer of the Week for his work as lead counsel to the Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse.

IICSA - Inquiry announces new lead counsel

BBC News - Brian Altman QC named as child abuse inquiry counsel

The Daily Mail - Child sex abuse inquiry appoints leading barrister Brian Altman QC

The Guardian - Brian Altman QC named lead counsel child sexual abuse inquiry

The Brief - Altman steps into abuse inquiry counsel gap

BBC News - Rochdale inquiry: MI5 told of Cyril Smith abuse case lie

Sky News - Rochdale council leader says he had no knowledge of abuse claims

Manchester Evening News - Rochdale's council leader was subjected to an excruciating grilling at the child sexual abuse inquiry

The Guardian - Lord Steel says he believed Cyril Smith child abuse allegations

The Daily Mail - Ex Liberal leader Lord Steel admits he knew Sir Cyril Smith abused children

The Guardian - Ex MI5 chief avoided Peter Morrison funeral after child sexual abuse claims

The Independent - Thatcher protected Tory MP suspected of abusing children, MI5 files reveal

The Guardian - Child sexual abuse inquiry criticises lack of cooperation from Vatican

The Guardian - I failed archbishop agrees he shut out victim hears inquiry

The Telegraph - Priests would rather die than break the Seal of Confession

The Daily Mail - The 118m child sex abuse probe finds no evidence of Westminster paedophile network

The Guardian - Lord Steel quits lib dems after child abuse inquiry report

The Guardian - Police and politicians turned blind eye to Westminster child abuse claims report

The Times - Tom Watsons Westminster sex ring claims dismissed by child abuse inquiry

The Daily Mail - Police probing abuse claims against Lord Janner did not question Alzheimers

The Daily Mail - Lord Janner inqury Police CPS missed three chances trial child sex claims

The Daily Mail - Children in care homes did not immediately report alleged sexual abuse by the late Lord Janner

The Guardian - Culture of deference may have protected Lord Jenner abuse inquiry hears

The Guardian - Child sexual abuse in catholic church swept under the carpet inquiry finds

BBC News - Cardinal Vincent Nichols criticised over leadership

The Guardian - Failed archbishop agrees he shut out victim hears inquiry

Call Brian Altman QC on 020 7440 8888 or email: clerks@2bedfordrow.co.uk

Brian Altman QC is a barrister regulated by the Bar Standards Board