Gatehouse Chambers

Construction & Engineering, Commercial Dispute Resolution, Inquiries and Inquests, Charities

Emma Hynes is ranked by both The Legal 500 and Chambers Global as a leading junior in construction law, with particular expertise in public inquiries. She is also appointed to the Attorney General’s B Panel.

She is recognised for her tenacity, meticulous preparation, and composure under pressure. The Legal 500 describes her as “great with details and won’t take a backwards step in court” and “a first class advocate with an excellent knowledge of the law”.

Because of her diverse experience, she is particularly in demand for matters with a regulatory or compliance dimension.

Emma is a non-executive director for Lifesafe Holdings Limited, a fire safety technology company, and she is a trustee of St James Legal Advice Centre, a charitable incorporated organisation.

Construction

Emma has particular expertise in building safety law and has acted in numerous high-value, multi-party cladding disputes. Her practice includes substantial experience in claims arising under the Building Safety Act 2022, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and the Defective Premises Act 1972.

She developed extensive technical and regulatory knowledge while acting as counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry from 2018 until its conclusion in 2024. Emma was appointed  lead junior counsel on matters involving the cladding manufacturer Arconic, the British Board of Agrément and the accreditor, UKAS. Her work also covered issues relating to construction product testing, project management during the Tower’s refurbishment, and the gas installations.

Inquiries

Alongside her mainstream construction practice, Emma has a particular specialism in public inquiries, for which she is ranked in The Legal 500. Between 2023 and 2025, she acted for the Cabinet Office and Number 10 in the COVID-19 Inquiry.

She is currently counsel to a non-statutory inquiry into PFI contracting at the Chalcots Estate, combining her commercial expertise with her knowledge of construction contracts and dangerous cladding.

Call: 2013

• Commercial Bar Association

• London Common Law & Commercial Bar Association

• National Association of Women in Construction

• Professional Negligence Bar Association

• Society of Construction Law

• TECBAR

• LLM – King’s College London – (Distinction)

• BPTC – University of Law – (Outstanding)

• GDL – University of Law – (Distinction)

• BA in English and Ancient History, University of Queensland – (First Class Honours)

• L.LM – Georg Schwarzenberger Award for International Law

• L.LM – Prize for best student on Business Law programme

• BPTC – Inner Temple Exhibition Award

• BA – University Medal for Outstanding Scholarship

Before entering the legal profession, Emma competed internationally as a fencer for Australia, representing her country at five World Championships and winning two medals at the Commonwealth Championships.