Sophie Cartwright
Call 1998
Inner Temple
LLB (Warwick)
MA (Health and Safety and Environmental Law)
cartwright@deanscourt.co.uk
'highly recommended for complex inquest instructions.'
- Legal 500, 2010
'is recommended for complex inquests and Court of Protection matters'
- Legal 500, 2011
Education/Qualifications
Blackburn College
Warwick University (LLB)
Inns of Court School of Law
Salford University (MA: Health and Safety and Environmental Law)
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)
Scholarships
Winner of the Blackstone Prize (University of Warwick)
Society of Inner Temple - Bursary
Community Care Law - Court of Protection
Initially practising in criminal law, Sophie developed a particular interest in and experience of mental health related issues and their accommodation within the criminal justice system, including the conduct of fitness to plead hearings and experience advancing the defence of diminished responsibility to charges of murder. She has extensive experience of regulatory proceedings, health and safety and statutory duties operating upon local authorities. Drawing upon this experience, she is particularly well placed to provide comprehensive and proactive advice and representation in the community care and mental health sector.
She is regularly instructed by Local Authorities, NHS Trusts and Prisons to represent at inquest and advise pre-inquest where a child or vulnerable adult has died and systemic failings are alleged or Article 2 of the ECHR is engaged. In the Legal 500 2010 she is ‘highly recommended for complex inquest instructions’. She also has experience of Judicial Review and Court of Protection work dealing with Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, decisions in respect of Continuing Healthcare and the National Framework for Continuing Healthcare. More recently, Sophie has also received instructions to advise HM Coroner in relation to procedural issues including disclosure.
Relevant Reported Cases
R (on the application of C) v A Local Authority, [2011] All ER (D) 171 (Jun) Neutral Citation: [2011] EWHC 1539 (Admin).
Inquest Law Issue 19 2010 pp 19-20
Inquest Law Issue 20 2010 pp 36-37
Recent Talks/Presentations/Training
May 2010 Training day for Local Authorities on Inquests
July 2011 Inquests and Mental Health