Coroner’s Inquests

Our Coroner’s Inquests Group

Members of the Inquest Team represent interested parties in all types of coronial hearings. We have counsel at all levels of seniority and experience and can therefore meet expectations in relation to your client’s requirements and funding.

Junior members of the team regularly attend inquests in straightforward road traffic accident cases and inquests preceding potential civil claims. More senior members often appear in challenging Article 2 jury inquests and high-profile and long-running inquests.

We are instructed by Senior Coroners (as counsel to the inquest), NHS Trusts, insurers, private prison operators and other contractors (eg, providing security, escort and clinical services), local authorities, government departments, individual professionals and families.

The cases that we handle include the following:

• Deaths in state care (prison, police custody and hospital)
• Deaths following discharge from Mental Health Act 1983 admission
• Deaths following a decision not to admit a person for assessment or treatment under the MHA 1983
• Deaths relating to medical care
• Deaths in the workplace
• Deaths of service personnel
• Deaths as a result of road traffic accidents
• Acting on behalf of employers following a work-related death
• Inquests as a result of road traffic accidents 

We have enormous experience in difficult and complex cases involving physical restraint, neglect, unlawful killing and suicide, including the following cases:

• The Sandilands Croydon Tram Disaster (2021): Members of chambers are instructed as counsel to the inquest
• Jimmy Mubenga (2013): Death as a result of restraint during deportation
• Gareth Myatt (2007): Death of a 15-year-old boy in custody 

Members of the team sit as Assistant Coroners (in West London, Central & SE Kent, Mid-Kent & Medway, NE Kent and NW Kent).

Members are also recommended as leading practitioners in Inquest work in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500.