Coroner Inquests

Specialist coroner inquest lawyers with decades of experience in representing clients throughout sensitive and high-profile proceedings.

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Our team of inquest experts is here to protect your interests and ensure that your perspective is heard during coroner inquests.

We have extensive experience in providing legal representation at the full range of inquest hearings — including Jury and Article 2 Inquests — and frequently advise both organisations and individuals right from the initial referral of a death to the coroner all the way through to the conclusion of proceedings and any follow up that’s required post-hearing.

With a reputation for professionalism, empathy and clarity, we’re a trusted partner in navigating the inquest process for all our clients with confidence and care.

We provide comprehensive legal guidance at every stage of the inquest process, including:

Advising on evidence preservation for future proceedings.
Contributing to the scope of the inquest.
Securing Interested Person status.
Assisting with witness statements and preparing for oral evidence.
Responding to coroner enquiries.
Representing clients during the inquest hearing (or instructing Counsel to do so, where appropriate).
Drafting written submissions.
Addressing concerns regarding Prevention of Future Deaths.
Managing reputational risks and implementing necessary recommendations.

If you’ve received legal correspondence or need guidance through the inquest process, our experienced inquest lawyers are here to support you.

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Inquests — who we act for

Our extensive experience includes acting for:

Healthcare professionals (such as doctors, nurses and NHS Trusts) in cases that often involve detailed considerations of clinical care, safeguarding concerns and regulatory scrutiny.
Private prison providers in cases that often involve considerations of adequacy of healthcare provision, mental health support and risk assessments, as well as monitoring, staffing and resourcing.
Social housing providers in cases that often involve considerations about property condition and safety, vulnerable tenants and safeguarding, as well as communication and engagement.
Care home operators in cases that often involve considerations of medical care and monitoring, staffing and training, safeguarding and vulnerability, as well as communication and record keeping.
Corporate entities across a range of sectors, which may include considerations regarding duty of care and legal responsibilities, health and safety compliance and operational failures.
Bereaved families, ensuring that their voices are heard, their interests are protected and any failings are properly explored.

Our inquest work

Global medical device company

Supported a global medical device company following its late involvement in an inquest concerning a specialist bed used in a care home. We quickly prepared robust witness evidence and provided full inquest support, helping to protect our client from criticism. The coroner found no issues requiring action or mention in the Record of Inquest.

Housing provider

Represented a specialist housing provider at an inquest following the drug-related death of a service user. After securing Interested Person status, we prepared a detailed corporate witness statement and provided full support throughout proceedings. Our submissions helped to achieve a positive outcome — no adverse findings or Prevention of Future Deaths report were issued.

Family

Supported a family through a sensitive inquest following the tragic death of their baby. With compassion and clarity, we guided them through the legal process, ensuring that their concerns were heard and their perspective fully represented. Our involvement provided stability and reassurance, helping to achieve a thorough and respectful inquiry.

A healthcare professional wearing a stethoscope is writing on a tablet with a stylus, with a notebook in the foreground.

What is an inquest?

An inquest is a coroner-led legal proceeding with the family at its centre. It’s non-adversarial — meaning that there are no ‘sides’ and all parties work together to assist the coroner in establishing the facts. As a fact-finding process, an inquest doesn’t determine criminal or civil liability.

It’s a public judicial inquiry aimed at answering four key questions:

Who the deceased was.
When and where they died.
The medical cause of death.
How they came by their death.

However, since inquest hearings take place in courts that are accessible to the public and members of the press — and are often used to gather evidence to support a future civil claim — it’s imperative to understand the process, the potential risks and feel properly supported by those with more knowledge and experience.

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The inquest process & role of the coroner

Coroners are independent judicial officers, appointed by local authorities. Deaths are reported to the coroner if they’re violent or unnatural (including a workplace fatality, for example), sudden or unexplained, occurred in custody or state detention or are due to industrial disease or medical negligence.

A coroner’s statutory duty is to determine:

Who the deceased was.
When and where they died.
How they died.
The circumstances surrounding the death.

The process begins with information-gathering, narrowing down key issues and setting the inquest’s scope. Coroners have discretionary powers to compel evidence, including the delivery of documents, the preparation of witness statements and summoning witnesses to court. In certain cases, they may impose criminal sanctions, including fines or imprisonment if evidence isn’t provided in-line with a coroner’s directions.

Once all relevant information has been gathered, the coroner decides who must give oral evidence in court. If evidence is uncontroversial, it may simply be read into the court record — so a clear, detailed statement can sometimes prevent the need to appear in person. If called to give evidence, witnesses testify under oath, reinforcing their duty to the court. The coroner and Properly Interested Persons (PIPs) — including the deceased’s family — may ask questions. Formalities are important. Witnesses must address the coroner as ‘Sir’ or ‘Ma’am’. Increasingly, courts allow witnesses to attend remotely. However, it’s crucial to treat any remote location as an extension of the courtroom.

A core function of the coroner’s court is to identify risks and prevent future deaths. If an investigation highlights ongoing concerns, the coroner issues a Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) report. While the coroner may suggest that action should be taken, they can’t specify what that action must be.

Meet the team

Specialist coroner inquest lawyers

Our experts include Claire Burrows, a highly experienced and respected inquest lawyer with over 13 years of specialist practice, having represented clients in more than 200 inquests across a wide range of sectors. From initial instruction through to post-inquest support, Claire provides clear, pragmatic guidance on legal procedure, risk mitigation and reputational management. She’s adept at securing interested person status, shaping the scope of inquests through written and oral representations and preparing robust witness statements that minimise the need for oral evidence. Her calm, personable approach to witness orientation ensures clients feel supported and confident. In court, Claire delivers focused cross-examination and persuasive submissions on conclusions and Prevention of Future Death reports, always mindful of her clients’ objectives and the wider implications of the proceedings.

Matt Coles has advised many clients required to appear at coroners’ inquests, including charities and organisations that support vulnerable adults. He works closely with many care homes and has regularly represented such clients following deaths of service users.

Thorrun Govind, a Solicitor who has supported healthcare professionals through complex inquest proceedings, offers expert analysis of clinical records, causation and the coronial legal framework. Her ability to guide witnesses has been recognised by coroners, who value her clear, pragmatic approach in ensuring clarity and assurance in court. Beyond inquests, Thorrun’s expertise extends to medical negligence, healthcare advisory and professional discipline, providing comprehensive support for clients facing regulatory investigations or fitness-to-practise proceedings. Known for her strategic insight and accessible approach, Thorrun is a trusted advisor in regulatory law.

Our team also includes Lachlan Nisbet, Deepika Raino, Sadie Thomson and Claudia Sivori.

“Thorrun Govind has appeared before me on a number of occasions in various inquests. The most recent was a medical death with multiple clinical inputs over a considerable period of time, with multiple possible causation avenues to explore. During the course of the inquest, Ms Govind demonstrated a thorough understanding of her witness’ evidence, how these related to the overall clinical picture and a thorough knowledge of where the relevant entries were in the medical records to support her witnesses. From the interaction in court between Ms Govind and her client, it was clear that there was a good working relationship and the witnesses understood their role and the inquest process. Ms Govind demonstrated a clear understanding of the scope of an inquest, the points that the clinicians needed to convey to the Court and how these should be most appropriately addressed in response to questions raised by the family’s advocate.”

HM Senior Coroner

“Our family is extremely appreciative of the support, guidance and reassurance you’ve provided us throughout. It has been a great relief to have your help. Thank you.”

Inquest into the death of Baby N

“Thorrun Govind possesses wonderful court craft skills. She's a delightful advocate, able to identify the key issues and address the points with well structured, relevant questions. Her manner showed the necessary respect to the proceedings while fully representing her clients’ interests. Simply put, Ms Govind’s courtroom persona and command of the case should be an example to all other advocates.”

Coroner in Inquest

“I learned so much over the course of this inquest and it was lovely to work with you despite the sad circumstances that led to it... Thank you for the support you have provided as we've navigated this case.”

Head of housing organisation