Emma Bennett Email and Phone Number

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.

Emma was instructed in some of the country's most high profile criminal cases and acted alone in the Court of Appeal in a successful appeal against conviction.Operation TroopEmma acted for a defendant in a joint enterprise gangland murder. The victim was an alleged member of Rusholme Cripps and an affiliate of Salman Abedi, the Manchester Arena suicide bomber. Emma was led by Gordon Cole QC.https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/08/gang-members-guilty-of-hunting-down-and-killing-18-year-old-in-street HillsboroughEmma was instructed as part of the disclosure team in the prosecution of 3 former police officers for their alleged involvement in the events arising out of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. Operation ValgusEmma acted a for surveyor George Walker in a £20 million mortgage fraud in a trial at Mould Crown Court lasting over 5 months. Mr Walker was the only acquitted defendant. Emma was led by Richard Littler QC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22819018 Operation BarberEmma acted for a company director in a long firm fraud said to have taken place over several years and caused losses in excess of £4.5 million. The trial in Southwark Crown Court lasted for 2 months. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/10-year-investigation-ends-as-final-offenders-are-sentencedOperation Harehill and operation DotefordEmma acted for defendant’s in high profile grooming gang prosecutions in the North of England.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-36559092R v T [2013]All ER (D) 331Emma acted for the appellant in an appeal against his conviction due to the Judge’s summing up in the Crown Court and adverse inference direction. Emma acted in the Crown Court and on appeal and secured a finding that the Judge’s directions was contrary to Section 34 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in that it was unfair and rendered the conviction unsafe. The conviction was quashed and the prosecution’s application for a retrial was refused.

Emma had a common law practice in London where she undertook numerous personal injury hearings, applications, trials and paperwork. She also developed a crown court practice appearing frequently at the Old Bailey.