Helen Pooley

Helen is ranked as Tier 4 Leading Junior in the Legal 500 Inquest and Inquiries category. Her inquest practice overlaps significantly with her clinical negligence and personal injury work. She frequently represents families and other interested parties at inquests and is experienced in examining complex medical issues at inquest hearings with medical practitioners. She is instructed on Article 2 inquests and also has experience at inquests sitting with a jury.

Helen prides herself on her ability to deal well with clients in what can be an extraordinarily difficult and challenging legal setting. Helen combines tenacity and confidence in the court with being approachable, pragmatic and straightforward with her clients.

Notable Inquests & Inquiries cases

• Inquest into the death of IA
  

  a two day Article 2 inquest–the Deceased died shortly after co-amoxiclav had been administered to him – he had previously suffered an allergic reaction to the same which had been recorded on his medical notes. The issues included complex evidence around allergic reactions, the scientific make-up of the amoxicillin family, the cause of death in light of an underlying deterioration due to biliary sepsis and disputed factual evidence. Evidence was called from a specialist microbiologist .

• Inquest into the death of KM
  

  a young man fell to his death from the Froncysyllte Aqueduct after walking along the outside of the parapets at night. Helen was instructed by the family. At a Pre Inquest Review, faced with expert engineering evidence from one of the interested parties, Helen persuaded the Coroner to instruct an independent expert. There was extensive legal argument and Helen prepared both written and oral submissions. Helen subsequently represented the family at the two-day jury inquest involving lengthy cross examination of two specialist civil engineers – the Coroner issued a PFD report following Helen’s submissions.

• Inquest into the death of RM
  

  Helen was instructed by the family to attend both the PIR and a four day inquest. RM died following complications during the provision of anaesthetic prior to a liposuction procedure at a private London clinic. Enquiries were also made into the immediate care provided to her, including neuro-cooling, at hospital A&E. The inquest involved expert evidence from an anaesthetist and Helen questioned both the expert and the anaesthetist involved on complex medical procedures centring around airways and laryngospasm.