Absolutely

first-rate"

Legal 500 (2011)

Nicholas Moss

Nicholas Moss

Profile

Nick Moss specialises in public inquiries and inquests, in particular those involving government departments, the military and prisons. He has appeared in many of the large public inquiries over recent years either as counsel to the inquiry or for core participants. He is currently counsel to the Detainee Inquiry . He was previously counsel to the Baha Mousa Inquiry which reported in September 2011. He has also represented MoD, individual servicemen and the Prison Service in controversial inquests as well as advising Coroners on complicated inquests. He has a wider common law practice covering personal injury and employment law acting for both claimants and defendants. He is instructed in national security cases. He has been a member of the Attorney General's panel of civil advocates since 1999 and has been a member of the A Panel since 2008.

Education

Downing College, Cambridge

Aylesbury Grammar School

What the Directories say

  • Listed as leading junior - Administrative & Public Law: Public Inquiries (Chambers and Partners 2012)
  • "Encyclopaedic" (Legal 500 2011, Administrative and Public Law)
  • "Absolutely first-rate" (Legal 500 2011, Human Rights (inc Civil Liberties & Public Inquiries)
  • Legal 500 2010: Recommended in Administrative and Public Law
  • Leading Junior for Administrative & Public Law: Public Inquiries, Chambers & Partners 2009
  • Leading Junior for Administrative & Public Law: Public Inquiries, Chambers & Partners 2008. "His evident popularity stems from the fact that he is 'hardworking and exceptionally good on his feet, often when dealing with really difficult questions'. Many feel that he is 'streets ahead of a number of other counsel who are senior to him'".

Notable Cases

  • The Detainee Inquiry:  Counsel to the inquiry chaired by Sir Peter Gibson investigating allegations of collusion in the mistreatment and rendition of detainees, particularly British detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
  • The Baha Mousa Inquiry: First Junior Counsel to the Inquiry.
  • The Nimrod Review: Representing RAF servicemen called to give evidence at the review.
  • The Billy Wright Inquiry: Representing individual Ministers and Civil Servants who were witnesses in the Inquiry into the murder of LVF prisoner Billy Wright at the Maze Prison.
  • The Rosemary Nelson Inquiry: Representing a Minister and soldiers (anonymity applications) who were witnesses in the Inquiry into the murder of Northern Ireland Solicitor, Rosemary Nelson.
  • The Bloody Sunday Inquiry: Lead junior for one the teams representing individual soldiers.
  • Secretary of State for the Home Department v AF, AM & AN; AE v secretary of state for the home department: [2008] EWCA Civ 1148: Disclosure of closed material in control order cases, Art. 6 requirements.
  • A(FC) and others v Secretary of State for the Home Department, X and another v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2004] UKHL 56:Derogation from human rights obligations, allowing detention of non-national suspected international terrorists.