Coroners' Inquests

Inquests can place significant pressure on health and social care providers, creating operational, legal, regulatory, and reputational challenges. As coronial law continues to evolve, a forum which is designed as a non-adversarial fact-finding process can often feel more like a trial for organisations and their staff, and sector and jurisdictional experience can add significant value to both the experience and the outcome, managing risk throughout. These proceedings also attract scrutiny from regulators, particularly the CQC where people have died in the course of treatment or care services, making early, informed support essential to manage regulatory risks.

We advise clients across the health and social care sector, both public and independent providers, in addition to connected organisations such as telehealth, medtech organisations, triage services, prisons, and universities, where drawn into an inquests.. The team includes highly experienced regulatory specialists and several assistant coroners, giving us unique insight into coronial processes and expectations. We regularly support clients through complex Article 2 and jury inquests involving multiple agencies and sensitive factual backgrounds.

With national coverage and strong local knowledge of coroners’ working practices, we work closely with you to assess risk, prepare staff, and ensure you are ready to engage confidently with the coroner’s investigation. Our support includes:

• Early scoping of issues, risks, and likely outcomes
• Advice on Duty of Candour considerations
• Support with internal investigations, including assurance of PSII reports and action plans
• Preparation of witnesses at operational and strategic levels, including managing Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) Report risks
• Board‑level briefings and escalation where appropriate
• Identification of broader regulatory risks arising from the case, and management of those risks
• Attendance at pre‑inquest review hearings, including scope, disclosure, expert evidence, witness lists and Article 2 considerations
• Representation at final hearings with on‑the‑day briefing and media‑risk support
• Post‑inquest debrief and feedback into governance processes
• Media planning and assistance with press statements
• Acting as solicitor to the inquest, including managing bundles, experts, witnesses, and interested parties
• Training on all aspects of inquests, including giving evidence and mock inquests