The Post Office inquiry: lessons in governance, leadership, and risk
We led the landmark legal action that exposed one of the UK's most significant miscarriages of justice. Drawing on our experience, we help organisations strengthen governance, accountability, and operational resilience to mitigate litigation risk.
A landmark case. A textbook example of board failure
James Hartley, our Divisional Head of Dispute Resolution, led the team that won two landmark court cases against the Post Office for a 555-strong claimant group.
Based on everything we learned, we now counsel businesses and individuals on how to avoid the leadership, governance and cultural failings that were at the heart of the Horizon scandal.
James’ team is now widely considered to be one of the foremost dispute resolution teams in the UK. The team is consistently within the top 10 law firms that handle the most High Court litigation in the UK.
Lessons learned from the scandal
The Horizon scandal cost the Post Office huge sums of money and untold reputational damage.
We help organisations strengthen oversight, improve accountability and manage risk by applying the lessons learned from the Post Office failings. These include:
Monitor early warning signs such as complaint trends and social media activity
Respond to claims, disputes and emerging risks before they escalate
Embed proactive risk management across the organisation
Identify and manage low probability, high-impact risks
Build forecasting into strategic planning
Ensure reputational risk is considered alongside legal, operational and financial risk
Key contact
James Hartley
Partner & Divisional Head of Dispute Resolution
"A first-class and extremely competent firm that came to the aid of a major victims' group when all else had failed to expose the truth and when justice had eluded the group for many years. Having failed to find legal support for so long, Freeths took the victims on board and helped to deliver outstanding success with judgments that have changed so many lives."
Sir Alan Bates
Could your organisation be exposed to similar risks?
The Post Office Horizon scandal shows how unresolved complaints, poor escalation and weak governance can become a legal, reputational and operational crisis.
Our Dispute Resolution team helps organisations identify early warning signs, strengthen oversight and respond decisively before issues escalate.
Could your board spot the next Horizon-style risk before it escalates?
Are early warning signs being identified and escalated effectively?
Does your culture encourage transparency, accountability and challenge?
Are reputational considerations embedded in decision-making?
Is the Board receiving the information it needs to exercise effective oversight?
Do you have the governance and crisis management frameworks to respond when something goes wrong?
How our experience helps build litigation resilience
Over 14 years, the government-owned Post Office Limited prosecuted more than 700 postmasters for theft and false accounting, relying largely on data from the flawed Horizon point of sale system. As a result, victims faced criminal convictions, financial ruin as debts were pursued, and ostracism from their families and communities.
The Post Office denied wrongdoing for years. Our legal team successfully fought and won the case for 555 claimant postmasters, leading to a £57.75m settlement, a formal apology and a compensation scheme for thousands of others affected. The case also led to a public inquiry and the quashing of hundreds of wrongful convictions.
In 2022, the government agreed to implement an additional compensation scheme so the 555 claimants could be properly compensated for the litigation funding costs that unfairly reduced their High Court recoveries.
Insights from the lawyer who led the Horizon litigation
James Hartley led the legal team behind the landmark case brought by 555 postmasters. Watch him share his unique perspective on the Horizon scandal and the governance and leadership failures at its heart.
The Family Redress Scheme
Family members of sub-postmasters also suffered because of the failings at the Post Office. Following Sir Wyn Williams’ recommendation, the government will be opening a family redress scheme.
We are actively consulting with the government to ensure the new Post Office Horizon family scheme delivers meaningful outcomes.
Register with us so we can keep you updated, understand how families have been affected, and support claims from the start.
Testimonials
PGK
"This was David v Goliath litigation, on a large scale; from the outside, the difficulties which the claimants faced now seem masked by the scale o...
Patrick Green KC
Henderson Chambers
"James Hartley and Freeths deserve huge credit for taking on this case. What is now recognised as the biggest miscarriage of justice in British his...
Client testimonial
"Their dedication and expertise was extraordinary and they deserve due recognition for the vital and central role they played in unmasking the inju...
Client testimonial
KD
"Imogen Randall was exceptional throughout: she was indefatigable in her efforts to find justice for the subpostmasters and expose the truth behind...
Kathleen Donnelly, Barrister
Henderson Chambers
KF
"In the face of ferocious denial of the claim by Post Office and its lawyers, and even when it looked like it could go either way on technical lega...
Karl Flinders, Chief reporter
Computer Weekly
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Meet our team
James Hartley
Partner & Divisional Head of Dispute Resolution
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