Emma Bennett

Barrister @Parklane Plowden Chambers

Emma undertakes inquests and inquiries.She is described in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 as \"a strong junior\" and \"a go to barrister, who loves a scrap and usually wins\". She is regularly instructed on inquests because she is known as a \"robust advocate\" who \"puts her clients at ease and wins over juries\", a \"real fighter and a rising star\" and \"she quickly masters a case and her clients love her\".Emma acts for the full spectrum of Interested Persons at inquests.She has past experience as a criminal defence barrister in high profile cases. Her ability to manage complex disclosure and cross examine witnesses on sensitive issues is of benefit to her clients.Recent instructions include.Article 2 inquest. Emma acted for the family of the deceased who had been detained under the Mental Health Act at the time of his death. The coroner made a finding of neglect by the local authority and issued a prevention of future deaths report. This case was discussed in Parliament in relation to the effect Regulation 28 reports. Conclusion of misadventure. Emma acted for the Local Authority Children’s Services after a mother took her own life when access to her children had been restricted.Article 2 inquest following a death in custody. Emma acted for the family. There was a known history of mental health and several suicide attempts by the deceased. Numerous failings by the prison service were highlighted by the coroner.Article 2 inquest. Emma acted for the Healthcare Trust. Key evidence concerned telemetry alarms inadvertently being turned off. The coroner accepted that causally this had no impact and rejected a submission of neglect by the family and made a conclusion of death by natural causes.Article 2 inquest. Acted for the family. The coroner made a finding of neglect against Trust for failing to diagnose toxic megacolon which would have prevented the death. The inquest involved the cross examination by Emma of court appointed medical experts.