Our highly experienced team has considerable expertise in providing advice and representation in all aspects of public and regulatory work.
Inquests/Judicial Review
Whether we are representing a professional body or the family of the deceased, our barristers have the necessary expertise to ensure the very best presentation of evidence to the Coroner.
The teams’ inquest experience includes representing individuals as well as police forces, healthcare providers (particularly in a relation to the provision of mental health services) and other corporate and regulatory bodies including the Civil Aviation Authority. Members have also appeared before the Administrative Court in judicial review proceedings arising from the conduct of an inquest.
High profile inquest and Judicial Review work includes:
- Inquest into the 7/7 London bombings
- R (Secretary State for the Home Department) v The Assistant Deputy Coroner for Inner West London [Whether Rule 17 of the Coroners Rules 1984 empowers the Coroner to exclude properly interested persons and their legal representatives from part of an inquest]
- R (Hoare) v CPS [JR of decision by CPS not to prosecute in gross negligence manslaughter case]
- Inquest into the death of Kassa Osebu [death in custody of an alleged wife-murderer]
- Inquest into the death of Jason Jones [complex case involving interplay with medical and factual evidence]
Regulatory
As a result of an increase in environmental legislation and regulation, the regulatory work undertaken by the team has grown significantly in recent years. Our barristers are instructed on cases involving prosecutions by the main environmental regulators such as the Environment Agency, as well as cases being pursued by local and district authorities.
The team have experience of proceedings connected with money laundering, including restraint proceedings and cash forfeiture applications under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and licensing hearings both before Licensing Committees and on appeal to the Magistrates Court.
Disciplinary Hearings
Members appear regularly before a range of professional bodies, including the General Medical Council, the General Dental Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, police misconduct panels and on appeal before the Administrative Court. They advise the regulatory authorities and disciplinary panels, as well as the professional facing a case against them.
Advice and Advocacy
Members are able to provide strategic advice to clients from an initial incident, through any criminal proceedings, to the inquest and any civil claims, thereby ensuring a consistency of representation throughout, and an effective overall representation strategy.
Our barristers have developed a reputation for providing advice and representation in the most sensitive and high profile cases. In these cases organisations and individuals often face significant reputational damage and potential civil claims which requires expert and delicate handling.
Developed Vetting Clearance
Several members of the team are among only a few barristers outside London to have Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance. This allows them to act in inquests and disciplinary proceedings where highly sensitive material is being considered. Work undertaken which required ‘Developed Vetting’ security clearance includes the inquest into the London 7/7 bombings.
Training
Members also provide training to medical practitioners and providers of medical services in relation to the nature of coronial proceedings and have lectured a leading solicitors firm on evidence in disciplinary proceedings.
Team Head: Ian Mullarkey
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