Join specialists from Mishcon de Reya as well as Samantha Leek KC, 5 Essex Chambers, as they guide us through the first hours, the critical early decisions, and the steps a corporate must consider when a death triggers a coronial investigation and inquest.
In this Flash Digital Session, we will cover:
- The first 24–48 hours: How coroners become involved; what they must determine; the role of the police; and the immediate actions a corporate should take to stabilise the situation and protect all parties.
- Internal coordination and representation: Identifying who leads liaison with the coroner and the family; managing parallel responsibilities as an employer and/or Interested Person; and assessing whether employees require separate legal representation.
- Internal investigations & disclosure duties: Whether to conduct an internal investigation and when to do it. Understanding disclosure to the coroner, onward disclosure to the family, and potential DSARs.
- Shaping the relationship with the coroner: Why early engagement matters, how it can influence the coroner’s view of the organisation, and how to navigate requests, expectations and procedural direction.
- Parallel ancillary exposure: The potential for civil claims, employment issues, regulatory scrutiny and/or health and safety considerations.
- Post‑inquest realities: Managing media interest, reputational risk, and narratives that may diverge from the formal findings.
- Preventing recurrence: Understanding Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) reports — when they arise, how to respond, and how to build a defensible, proactive posture that reduces future risk.