Deans Court Chambers

Deans Court Chambers ‘has some of the best barristers doing some top-quality work’, and in the inquests and inquiries arena, the set is home to the reputable Sophie Cartwright KC, who was notably instructed on the Manchester Arena inquiry. Amongst its strong bench of juniors, Elizabeth Dudley-Jones acts for local authorities, private companies, and professional regulators, as well as regulatory defence unions, and she frequently acts in cases arising from deaths in custody, deaths resulting from domestic violence, and deaths which raise questions surrounding mental or physical illness. Of recent note, Dudley-Jones was instructed on an inquest following the death of a convicted murderer after he swallowed drugs his girlfriend had smuggled into prison for him. The set is also home to Virginia Hayton, who is skilled in inquests arising from the death of individuals in health care settings, and Peter Smith, who has substantial expertise in both section 5(1) Jamieson inquests and Article 2 Middleton inquests. Tom Gent and Joseph Hart are also notable juniors who are regularly undertaking complex inquests and inquiries work at the set.