Benjamin Myers KC and Louis Browne KC deliver webinar on the scope of inquests

September 18, 2026

Exchange Chambers’ Benjamin Myers KC and Louis Browne KC recently delivered a webinar examining the expanding scope of inquests and the practical implications for interested persons.

Entitled “Unlimited Scope? – Keeping the expanding bounds of the Inquest within reasonable limits”, the webinar examined the legal framework governing the scope of inquests and its relationship with causation, with particular consideration of the Court of Appeal’s decision in R (O’Brien) v HM Assistant Coroner for Sefton, Knowsley and St Helens [2026] EWCA Civ 499.

Benjamin and Louis also considered why the issue is important for organisational interested persons and discussed practical strategies for maintaining reasonable limits on the scope of an inquest.

Key takeaways from the webinar were that scope remains discretionary and causation remains central. While O’Brien is an important decision, it does not apply automatically to every inquest, with investigations needing to remain evidence-based, proportionate, focused on cause and consistent with the statutory purpose of the inquest.