Serjeants’ Inn‘s members are regularly instructed in high-profile inquests and inquiries by bereaved families, government bodies, NHS trusts and the Armed Forces. John Beggs KC is acting for the Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police in the inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess from novichok poisoning in July 2018. Bridget Dolan KC acted as counsel to the Inquest into the death of Brian Ringrose, who died in January 2021 after being restrained by police officers in a hospital emergency department. Paul Spencer represented the Derbyshire County Council in the inquest into the death of 16-year old Rhianan Rudd, who was the youngest person ever to be charged with terror offences in the UK. In a boost to the senior end of chambers, James Berry KC and Rachel Spearing KC were elevated to silk in March 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Mentions
Profile
Position
Paul is a regulatory lawyer who specialises in healthcare litigation, CQC enforcement action and disputes, inquests and defending HSE prosecutions. Paul led the legal team that acted for the Health Protection Agency (now Public Health England) at the Mid Staffs Inquiry. He is an accredited advanced police station advisor and represents and advises health sector clients who are interviewed under caution by the HSE, Police and NHS Counter Fraud investigators. Paul regularly advises Trusts and private providers who have conditions imposed on their registration or who face emergency (Magistrates Court) or slow cancellation proceedings (First tier Tribunal). For many years Paul has also acted for the regulator (L/As under the RHA 1984, NCSC, CSCI, HCC, OFSTED and CQC) and has a wealth of experience and clear understanding of the approach that is required to such enforcement cases. He is acutely aware of the potentially damaging impact of publicity on clients' businesses having acted in numerous cases where publicity was a crucial factor. These include acting for the undercover Nurse who covertly filmed for Channel 4 Dispatches, for Castlebeck following the broadcast film on Winterbourne View, for one of the UK’s leading private providers of termination services after an undercover Daily Telegraph journalist recorded one of the Consultants offering a sex selection termination and for the HPA/PHE at the Mid Staffs Inquiry. Paul is principally instructed by Solicitors and in-house teams but does accept direct access instructions from healthcare clients.
Career
Call 1988
Content supplied by Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Great strength and depth and a fabulous clerking team.'
- 'Very well organised.'
- 'Serjeants' Inn features excellent advocates at all levels.'