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Select an area of expertise to find out more about our experience.
Find out more about our barristers and business support teams here.
Lissy Verrall-Withers accepts instructions in all of Chambers’ core practice areas, particularly in police law, inquests and inquiries, data protection, professional misconduct, and public and administrative law. She is regularly instructed by government departments, police forces, and private clients.
Lissy has assisted police forces and other Government agencies in complex and sensitive matters, including civil claims and public interest immunity applications. She often appears in the Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court on operational policing matters, particularly applications for civil orders and firearms appeals. In addition, Lissy regularly acts for the Appropriate Authority in misconduct proceedings – she has particular expertise of cases involving discrimination and violence against women and girls.
Lissy has extensive experience in inquests, including those involving Article 2 and heard in front of juries, both as sole counsel and junior counsel. Notable cases include representing Ofsted in the inquest into the death of headteacher Ruth Perry and representing a housing provider in the inquest into the death of an asylum seeker aboard the Bibby Stockholm. Lissy is adept at managing the legal, reputational, and policy implications arising. Lissy also has a strong public inquiry practice, acting as junior counsel for the Department of Health and Social Care in the Infected Blood Inquiry, and for the United Kingdom Health Security Agency in Modules 3 and 6 of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.
She is a part of the Government Legal Department’s ‘Junior Junior’ scheme.
Prior to joining Chambers, Lissy read Government and History at the London School of Economics and Political Science. After graduating, she worked at the Ministry of Justice as an Assistant Private Secretary to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice. She completed the GDL at City Law School, receiving a Distinction, and the Bar Course at the Inns of Court College of Advocacy, where she achieved a Merit. She is an Exhibitioner and Princess Royal Scholar of Inner Temple.
Lissy represents police forces in civil claims, inquests, and public inquiries. She has assisted police forces and other Government agencies in complex and sensitive matters, including public interest immunity applications. She frequently advises on matters related to false imprisonment, assault, malicious prosecution, misfeasance in public office, and claims brought under the Human Rights Act 1998. Lissy is particularly experienced in advising on matters involving violence against women and girls.
Lissy routinely provides advice on policy issues and the broader scope of operational powers. She recently represented the Metropolitan Police in a test case for the rollout of Project Titanium, an initiative whereby the partners of those applying for firearms licenses will be asked domestic abuse screening questions.
She possesses extensive experience across the full spectrum of civil behaviour orders and injunctions, including those made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Stalking Protection Act 2019, the Sexual Offences Act 2003, the Football Spectators Act 1989, and the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Lissy regularly appears in the Magistrates’ Courts, County Court, and Crown Court in relation to these matters.
Lissy has extensive experience representing interested persons in inquests. She is regularly instructed both as sole counsel and junior counsel representing Government bodies, police forces and private clients. She has particular experience of cases involving missing persons and deaths in custody. Recent cases include an Article 2 jury inquest into the death of a man in prison and a two-week jury inquest into the death of a man shortly after receiving the Covid-19 vaccination. She is able to advise on matters related to preventing future deaths reports. She has been instructed in several high-profile inquests including:
Inquest touching the death of Ruth Perry (2023)
Junior counsel representing Ofsted in an inquest investigating the death of a primary school headteacher following an Ofsted inspection.
Inquest touching the death of Adam Yeandle (2024)
Sole counsel representing a private company in a jury inquest investigating the death of a man who collapsed at work. The inquest considered, amongst other things, whether the Covid-19 vaccination probably more than minimally contributed to the death.
Inquest touching the death of Leonard Farruku (2025)
Junior counsel representing a private accommodation provider in an inquest investigating the death of an asylum seeker aboard the Bibby Stockholm barge.
Inquest touching the death of David Bassett (2025)
Sole counsel representing South Wales Police in an inquest investigating the death of a man who died whilst remanded in custody at HMP Swansea. Whilst the jury found causative failings on the part of other agencies, following legal argument, the Senior Coroner ruled that how South Wales Police had managed Mr Bassett whilst he was in their care was not a matter for the jury.
Lissy is well-versed in public inquiries and consistently exceeds expectations for a practitioner at her level of call. As part of her practice, she is experienced in drafting responses to rule 9 requests, preparing witnesses to give evidence, and drafting submissions on behalf of core participants.
Infected Blood Inquiry (2022)
Junior counsel representing the Department for Health and Social Care. Lissy was instructed to draft closing submissions on behalf of the Department.
The Covid-19 Inquiry (2023 – 2025)
Junior counsel representing the United Kingdom Health Security Agency. Lissy was instructed in Modules 3 and 6 of the Covid-19 Inquiry. Her role involved drafting opening and closing statements on behalf of the Agency, drafting witness statements, analysing evidence, and briefing senior leaders within the organisation. This involved dealing with large volumes of documents often concerning scientific and technical concepts.
Lissy is building a busy practice acting on behalf of the Appropriate Authority in misconduct proceedings across the UK. She regularly drafts regulation 30 notices and advises on the conduct of misconduct investigations, hearings, and appeals. She is particularly skilled in matters concerning discrimination and violence against women and girls.
Recent cases include:
Lissy has a growing public law practice and is a member of the Government’s Junior Junior Panel. She has experience advising on a range of public law matters, including judicial review proceedings, and drafting summary grounds of defence. She regularly appears in the Crown Court on firearms licensing decisions. She is particularly experienced at matters related to domestic abuse and mental health.
Lissy regularly advises police forces on data protection matters, including the retention, management, and handling of information. Her advisory work covers a wide range of issues relating to information law and data protection. Recent cases include advising forces on the legality of retention of arrest records, and potential data breaches occurring in prison.
3 October 2025
Yesterday, His Majesty’s Senior Coroner, Rachael Griffin, handed down her conclusions in the inquest into…
Discover more15 September 2025
The inquest into the death of Leonard Farruku, which occurred onboard the Bibby Stockholm Barge…
Discover moreBarrister Lissy Verrall-Withers shares his experience of joining 5 Essex Chambers.
After five weeks of hearings, core participants are today making their closing…
Instructing Lissy
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Solicitors find Lissy “very approachable” and able to make “witnesses feel at ease”. She has been described as a “clear advocate”, “excellent with her communication”, and a “pleasure to work with”.
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