2BR members instructed in Module 5 of the Covid Inquiry

A number of members of 2BR were instructed in Module 5 of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, which examined the procurement and distribution of key healthcare equipment and supplies including PPE and ventilators throughout the pandemic. 

Austin Stoton, instructed by Arfan Bhatti (Treasury Solicitor), led a team of solicitors and counsel which included Tomas McGarvey, Natalie Bird, Rhys Rosser, Emma Kutner, Fred Batstone, Katherine Higgs, Omar Sabbagh, Eleanor Gwilym and others on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). As DHSC were the lead government department for pandemic preparedness and procurement, the team played a critical role in assisting the Inquiry to understand how DHSC navigated unprecedented global demand pressures that severely disrupted critical supply chains, and how DHSC responded to the pandemic with established dedicated programmes for oxygen, ventilation, medical devices, and clinical consumables to address these urgent needs.

Victoria Shehadeh was instructed as junior counsel to the Inquiry for Module 5.

Alex Davidson was instructed by the Government Legal Department on behalf of the Cabinet Office for Module 5.