Ison Harrison appoints award-winning inquest specialist as TEWV Public Inquiry is announced

Leading Yorkshire law firm Ison Harrison has strengthened its team with the appointment of award-winning inquest specialist Alistair Smith, as the Government confirms a statutory public inquiry into Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust.

The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for families across the North East and North Yorkshire, following the announcement by Health Secretary Wes Streeting that a full public inquiry will be launched into long-standing failings at TEWV NHS Foundation Trust. 

The trust has been at the centre of sustained concern for more than a decade, amid serious incidents, preventable deaths and repeated questions over patient safety, governance and leadership culture.

Throughout the lengthy and emotionally draining campaign, many of the affected families have been represented by Alistair together with solicitors Sarah Magson and Dawn Makepeace, who have also recently joined Ison Harrison.

Ison Harrison is representing a significant number of families affected by the TEWV scandal and has been closely involved in the campaign calling for a public inquiry. 

Having been involved with TEWV cases such as the investigations into the deaths of Christie Harnett, Nadia Sharif in 2019, and Emily Moore in 2020 at his previous firm, Watson Woodhouse, Alistair brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team.

He joins the firm as part of the specialist inquest and public law team, focusing on complex inquest investigations, particularly those involving mental health trusts and state bodies.

Alistair is widely recognised for his work supporting bereaved families through some of the most sensitive and challenging cases in the region. In 2024, he was awarded Outstanding Achievement at the Northern Law Awards, reflecting both his legal expertise and his tireless advocacy for accountability and systemic change.

For many families, the public inquiry announcement marked a long-awaited turning point.

More than 40 families have spent years campaigning for meaningful scrutiny after losing loved ones under the care of TEWV.

While previous reviews and investigations took place, families consistently raised concerns that these processes lacked independence, transparency and the power to compel evidence.

The newly announced statutory public inquiry will, for the first time, have the legal authority to require witnesses to give evidence under oath and to demand full disclosure of documents.

It will examine both inpatient and community services, offering families a genuine opportunity to understand what went wrong and why.

Across its network of 24 offices, Ison Harrison has supported hundreds of families through inquests, investigations and sustained advocacy, helping them navigate complex legal processes and maintain pressure for a process capable of delivering real accountability.

Alistair Smith said:

“I am proud to continue representing families affected by the TEWV failings and to stand alongside them at such a significant moment. This is what families have campaigned so tirelessly for over many years and I am privileged to have been on that journey with many of those impacted families.

“The announcement of a statutory public inquiry represents a vital step towards truth, justice and accountability. Crucially, it will have the power to compel witnesses to give evidence, which is essential to establishing the root causes of what went wrong and ensuring meaningful, lasting change. Above all, families want to know that no one else will have to endure what they have been through, and this inquiry gives a real opportunity to deliver that change.”

Gareth Naylor, director and head of personal injury and inquests at Ison Harrison, said:

“Alistair’s appointment comes at a hugely significant moment. He is a highly respected lawyer with a deep commitment to families affected by systemic failings, particularly within mental health services.

"The announcement of the TEWV public inquiry underlines why specialist, independent representation is so important.

"We are proud of the role our team has played in supporting families and campaigning for a process that has the power to deliver real accountability and lasting reform.”