Charlotte Davies

Charlotte has significant experience in acting for interested parties at inquest hearings. She has represented clients, including families, local authorities, corporations, and other interested persons, at multi-day hearings including under Article 2 and with juries, and alongside Leading Counsel. 

Recent cases of note include:

Pender, Klempar & Mullen [2024] - Charlotte represented Cornwall Council in a long running and high profile consolidated Article 2 inquest relating to three drownings on beaches in Cornwall during Covid. The findings were referred to the chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry by the Senior Coroner for Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly, and a Prevention of Future Deaths Report served on the government. Numerous other agencies appeared as Interested Persons, including the National Trust, represented by Leading Counsel, the RNLI, and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency 

JM [2024] - Charlotte provided detailed written advice on prospects of a judicial review claim following an inquest into the death of a man in his forties who had been recorded as dying of natural causes. JM was ventilator-dependent following a car accident 20 years prior.

RW [2023] - Charlotte was instructed by Devon County Council to appear at the final hearing arising from a death by suicide.

GK [2023] - the Chief Constable of Devon & Cornwall Police instructed Charlotte in a multi-day Article 2 jury inquest involving a death by suicide. The inquest was recategorised as a Jamieson inquest following submissions. 

KB [2023] - Pre-Inquest Review Hearing on behalf of the family of a woman who had died from a drug overdose. Issues included awaiting the findings of a Domestic Homicide Review, and whether the inquest should be Article 2. 

JD [2023] & JB [2022] - Charlotte represented Cornwall Council at two inquests arising from the deaths of young boys by suicide during Covid lockdown. Both inquests took place before the Senior Coroner for Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly, with the Chief Constable of Devon & Cornwall Police, and SWAST both represented. 

Previous inquests include representing British Telecom at a Article 2 inquest where a child had text 999 before taking his own life; appearing for the family at a jury inquest involving Leading Counsel at Windsor Coroner's Court following an industrial accident in which a man had been killed in a carpet factory; appearing for the family at an inquest involving the death of a woman who had been hit by car having run out into the road after her dog; representing the family of a boy who had hanged himself in local woodland after school; and appearing at numerous inquests arising from road traffic collisions.

Charlotte accepts instructions at all stages of the inquest process, including attendance at PIR hearings. She has also provided written advices on judicial review claims and applications under s.13 Coroner Act 1988. She is the author of a series of articles on inquest basics, which can be found on Chambers' website and LinkedIn. 

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Charlotte is a very experienced personal injury practitioner and regularly advises and represents clients in high value claims, including matters worth over £1m.

Charlotte acts for both Claimants and Defendants and is happy to consider work on a CFA basis where appropriate. She has particular expertise in dealing with cases involving allegations of fundamental dishonesty.

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In terms of commercial matters, Charlotte has experience in both London and the South West, including in multi-track building and loan disputes.

Charlotte appeared in the High Court in the widely reported appeal of Langhelle v Wolf Rock [2020] EWHC 2500 (Ch) which involved a long running and complex multimillion pound corporate insolvency dispute.

Charlotte also has significant experience in personal insolvency and bankruptcy matters. 

As preferred Counsel for a national law firm, Charlotte is regularly instructed in credit hire matters and appears in courts all over the country in such cases. 

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Charlotte is regularly instructed in boundary disputes and cases involving disputed easements and rights of way, often appearing in injunctive relief proceedings as well as final hearings. Charlotte can be instructed at early stages of litigation to provide tactical and pragmatic advice to both Claimants and Defendants in such matters. 

Charlotte has experience in all areas of landlord and tenant law and is happy to provide both advice and representation. She acts regularly in possession proceedings as well as in disrepair matters. Charlotte is regularly instructed by social housing providers in applications for anti-social behaviour injunctions. Her practice includes commercial as well as residential property. 

Recent property cases include:

·      successfully obtaining an interim mandatory injunction following a full day hearing relating to the interference of a right of way by three defendants;

·      representing the Claimants in a complex misrepresentation matter relating to the purchase of residential property and subsequent flooding;

·      representing the Claimant in a dispute over a shared driveway and other boundary related issues. Charlotte successfully settled the matter at an all day mediation;

·      instructed for a commercial lender in multiple possession claims following default of mortgage terms;

·      dealing with a complex claim brought by a social housing provider involving issues of capacity and a counterclaim under the Equality Act;

·       representing the landlord in a commercial lease renewal matter involving issues over the identity of the tenant.

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Charlotte is currently instructed by Plymouth City Council in the long-running litigation surrounding the renaming of Sir John Hawkins Square, which has gained global interest and media coverage.

Charlotte successfully represented PCC at first instance following an appeal under the Public Health Act 1925 against the proposed renaming of Sir John Hawkins Square. The Appellant launched Judicial Review proceedings in the High Court arising from an aborted Case Stated process. Following success within the JR proceedings, she was then instructed to provide written representations to the Court of Appeal. Following discontinuance by the Appellant in the Court of Appeal, further proceedings were issued to set aside the original first instance decision, and thereafter to appeal by way of Case Stated. Charlotte was again successful on behalf of PCC at both stages. Further JR proceedings were issued, with Charlotte again successfully representing PCC. An Extended Civil Restraint Order was made against the appealing party. Charlotte remains instructed to deal with outstanding matters, and whilst the renaming process continues. 

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