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Charlotte Whitaker

Partner

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About

Charlotte is a partner in the Dispute Resolution team, advising on large scale health and safety investigations, inquests and public inquiries.

She has particular expertise in advising clients at the incident response phase to multi-fatality health and safety incidents and has extensive experience in acting for clients in sensitive and high-profile inquests. She advises across a range of sectors with a particular specialism in transport and energy.

Charlotte has experience in leading investigations as part of the Solicitor to the Inquiry team as well as advising Core Participants. She is also a qualified Legal Project Manager.

She is a ‘Next Generation Partner’ for Health and Safety in the London and South West Editions of Legal 500 and is ranked as ‘Up and Coming’ in Chambers & Partners for Health and Safety and Public Inquiries. She was also listed in The Lawyer Hot 100 in 2024 for her work on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and the Croydon tram prosecution.

Experience

  • UK-Covid 19 Public Inquiry: Module Lead Solicitor as part of the Solicitor to the Inquiry team on the UK-Covid 19 Public Inquiry.
  • Multi-fatality incident: Advising on a multi-fatality incident in the light rail sector. Charlotte played a key role in the incident response and led on the 10 week inquests and prosecution in Central London Criminal Court.
  • Train operating company: Advising on incident response following a high-profile derailment. Charlotte led on the regulatory and criminal investigations.
  • Energy sector client: Advising on a fatality at its operational site. Charlotte advised on the Improvement Notice and response to the interview under caution. Charlotte also advised on the approach to the inquest.
  • Train operating company: Advising in relation to an ORR prosecution into a death at work, including representing the company at the inquest and advising on the appeal of an Improvement Notice.
  • Witness evidence and disclosure: Advising an organisation on its response (witness evidence and disclosure) to a high-profile non-statutory Public Inquiry.

Credentials

  • Admitted as a solicitor: England & Wales (2010)

Areas of expertise

Sector focus

Office

“Charlotte Whitaker is a star – precise and balanced advice, and completely unflappable.”

Legal 500 UK 2026

“Charlotte Whitaker has a wealth of experience dealing with health and safety matters. She offers realistic yet pragmatic advice with an eye on risk mitigation. She can offer real insight based on her significant experience.”

Legal 500 UK 2026

“Charlotte Whitaker is a phenomenon - fiercely intelligent, tactically astute and a pleasure to work with.”

Legal 500 UK 2026

“A really stand out partner is Charlotte Whitaker - she is calm and measured in her approach and her clients really appreciate her advice and skilful management of cases. She is a go-to lawyer in catastrophic injury investigations.”

Legal 500 UK, 2025

“Charlotte Whitaker is measured but decisive, clients value her meticulous preparation, tactical insight and team leadership. A standout lawyer in a crowded field.”

Legal 500 UK, 2025

“Charlotte is so proactive and on top of things. Sometimes I almost feel she is ten steps ahead.”

Chambers UK, 2025

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