Leila is instructed by Claimants and Defendants at all stages of litigation. She has significant experience in dealing with fatal accident claims, often representing Interested Persons at inquest prior to the claim. Leila is regularly instructed in serious and catastrophic injury cases where there are complex rehabilitation needs and expert evidence from multiple disciplines. Leila conducts expert conferences, costs and case management conferences and settlement meetings and mediations.

Case Examples 

–Representing the Claimant in a MIB untraced driver claim where the Claimant sustained a brain injury.

– Led in a High Court case which involved a subrogated claim for a contribution following a settlement of £1.7 million in which the Claimant was rendered paraplegic in a road traffic accident.

-Led in an appeal to the Court of Appeal following a finding that the Claimant did not suffer pre-existing Undifferentiated Somatoform Disorder but suffered a Chronic Pain Disorder attributable to injuries sustained to his back in a road traffic accident.

-Successfully obtained permission to resile from a pre-action admission of liability in a high value serious injury personal injury claim where no new evidence had been obtained.

-Advising on quantum on behalf of the estate of a young father who committed suicide as a voluntary patient.

-Achieved settlement for a Claimant with serious injuries sustained in a road traffic accident who was not able to pursue her intended career as a teacher and complete teaching training following university.

-Advising a Defendant company after representing the company in an inquest arising out of an accident at work in which the deceased sustained a fall from height.

Leila is ranked as a leading barrister in Legal 500 for Clinical Negligence.

Representing Claimants and Defendants, Leila is regularly instructed to:

• Advise on prospects
• Advise on quantum
• Conduct conferences with medical experts and clinicians
• Draft pleadings
• Attend JSMs and mediations
• Attend trials

Case Examples

-Advised in conference with medical experts and clinicians in a claim arising out of local anaesthetic toxicity following elective circumcision surgery resulting in cardiac arrest and an induced coma.

-Attended PTR in a serious injury claim following a fatal RTA. D1 brought contribution proceedings against the NHS Trust for clinical negligence in relation to C’s injuries sustained in the RTA. Advised on liability, drafted agenda for experts’ joint meeting and attended remote settlement meeting.

-Drafted proceedings and the Schedule of Loss in a claim arising out of negligent breast augmentation surgery in which liability was denied until proceedings were issued and served.

-Advised on quantum and drafted the Schedule of Loss in a dependency claim arising out of a failure to make an urgent referral for treatment.

-Advised on prospects and quantum after representing a family at an inquest in a claim arising out of the development of deep vein thrombosis following routine knee replacement surgery (60 year old man). Narrative conclusion at the inquest which found that there was a failure to provide anti-coagulant therapy which was causative.

-Drafted proceedings in a claim involving negligent dental treatment when a dental instrument broke and a piece was left within the Claimant’s root canal which caused a chronic infection and required surgical extraction of the tooth.

-Advised on liability and quantum and drafted the Schedule of Loss in respect of claims arising out of baby’s death shortly after birth due hypoxia in labour caused by  meconium aspiration syndrome. Claims on behalf of the estate and the mother and father as  primary and secondary victims.  Represented the family at inquest where the coroner concluded that there were failures in foetal monitoring and had national guidance been followed, an earlier delivery would have taken place. The Trust made an early breach of duty admission and settlement of all 3 claims was eventually achieved.

-Advised in conference with medical expert, drafted Particulars of Claim and Schedule of Loss in a claim arising out of a negligent surgical treatment where a colostomy was formed incorrectly requiring emergency surgery, additional procedures and causing the development of a hernia and fistula. Case settled following service of proceedings.

Inquests

Leila Benyounes leads the Inquest Group in Chambers and specialises in inquests and clinical negligence. As a member of the Attorney General’s A Panel, she is frequently sought after to handle Article 2 jury inquests, particularly those arising from hospital deaths or involving sensitive mental health issues.

Strengths: ” She is extremely well organised, extremely thorough and will explore every area of a case.” ” She is responsive, attentive and a fantastic communicator.” Chambers & Partners 2022

Leila frequently conducts inquests arising out of medical treatment, road traffic accidents, accidents at work and industrial disease. She represents families, individuals and public bodies and frequently acts for interested persons in high profile, media sensitive Article 2 jury inquests. Leila regularly appears on behalf of the HM Prison and Probation Service in complex lengthy inquests arising out of deaths in custody attracting significant publicity and media attention.

Leila gave her Presidential Lecture to the Leeds and District Medico-Legal Society from her extensive experience appearing in inquests entitled ’A Practical Guide to Inquests’. She also regularly gives training on the subject of inquests and coronial law and Article 2.

Recent Inquest Examples

-Represented the family of a 15 year old girl that was killed during a joy riding journey in a vehicle driven by her 17 year old boyfriend. A conclusion of unlawful killing was secured.

-Represented the family of a baby that died shortly after birth due to hypoxia in labour caused by meconium aspiration syndrome. The coroner found that there was a failure to provide foetal monitoring in accordance with national guidance and there should have been an earlier delivery, had the CTG been interpreted correctly.

-Represented the family of a 60 year old man who had sustained a head injury following an unwitnessed fall and a subsequent head injury after a second fall at hospital. A narrative conclusion was secured with findings that the hospital had failed to provide appropriate care.

-Represented the MOJ in an Article 2 jury inquest arising out of a death in custody in which the deceased died from a rare medical condition which had been treated whilst in prison. Conclusion that the prison and health authority had provided appropriate care to treat the condition.

-Represented the MOJ in an Article 2 death jury inquest arising out of a death in custody in which the deceased suddenly collapsed after being searched upon returning to the prison. Found that the death was due to natural causes and the prison officers had carried out skilful attempts to resuscitate.

-Represented a care home in an Article 2 jury inquest where the deceased, who was subject to a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding Order (DoLS), died from choking on food. Narrative conclusion was given and no Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths.

-Represented a Probation Officer in an Article 2 inquest arising out of a murder in the community after the Defendant had been released from custody on licence   following a conviction for murder in respect of his ex-partner. Narrative conclusion was given.

-Represented the MOJ in an Article 2 jury inquest arising out of a self-inflicted death while the deceased had been the subject of an ACCT due to idenftified risks of self-harm and suicide. Narrative conclusion was given with no criticism of the prison discipline staff in the management of the deceased under the ACCT process.

-Represented the family of a 49 year old man who died as a result of an undetected aortic dissection due to the failure to correctly interpret two aortagrams. A full admission of liability was made the day before the inquest accepting that the deceased’s death would have been avoided. The inquest proceeded and the Coroner made a Regulation 28 report to prevent Future Deaths directed to the relevant NHS Trust.

Chambers and Partners (2024) - Clinical Negligence (Band 2) - "Leila is a well-prepared, good advocate. She gets back to you, gives realistic deadlines, and is very capable." "Leila is a sound operator."

Chambers and Partners (2024) - Inquests & Public Inquiries - The Regions (Bar) - (Band 2) - "Leila Benyounes leads the inquest group in chambers and specialises in inquests and clinical negligence. As a member of the Attorney General's A Panel, she is frequently sought after to handle Article 2 jury inquests, particularly those arising from hospital deaths or involving sensitive mental health issues."

Legal 500 (2024) - Inquests and Inquiries (Tier 1) -"Leila is always meticulously prepared and has a calming, measured presence in cases."

Legal 500 (2024) - Clinical Negligence (Tier 2) - "Leila is an excellent advocate and her advice is always thorough and well reasoned. She is well liked by those instructing her, clients and experts, and puts all at ease."

Chambers and Partners (2023) - Clinical Negligence (Band 2) - "Leila Benyounes' expertise in inquests and inquiries feeds into her strong clinical negligence practice. Her work covers obstetric and birth injury cases, delayed treatment and diagnosis and surgical negligence."

Legal 500 (2023) - Inquests and Inquiries (Tier 1) - "Leila is well versed in coronial law, and her experience is such that she easily engenders the confidence of the tribunal, be that the presiding coroner or the jury. She is always on top of her brief and has a strong but measured and pragmatic approach to her advocacy."

Legal 500 (2023) - Clinical Negligence (Tier 2) - "Leila is an excellent tactician. She has great technical knowledge and brilliant client care skills."

Chambers and Partners (2022) - Inquests and Public Inquiries (Band 2) - "She is extremely well organised, extremely thorough and will explore every area of a case." "She is responsive, attentive and a fantastic communicator."

Legal 500 (2022 and 2021) - Inquest and Inquiries (Tier 1) - "She does not back down in the face of adversity. She is extremely approachable and make those they are working with, whether it be those instructing, the expert or the client, feel at ease."

Legal 500 (2022 and 2021) - Clinical Negligence (Tier 2) - "Her attention to detail is excellent and I am always confident the advice she gives is thorough and accurate. Her advice is easy to understand and provides useful guidance on next steps."

Personal Injury Bar Association (PIBA)

Leeds and District Medico-Legal Society (LDMLS)

Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA)

•  Head of the Inquests Team at Parklane Plowden Chambers
•  Recorder on the North Eastern Circuit
•  Assistant Coroner for Gateshead and South Tyneside
•  Vice Chair of the North Eastern Circuit Women’s Forum
•  Member of the PIBA Executive Committee
•  Attorney General Civil Panel Counsel Band A
•  Lecturer on the Medical Ethics and Law Module at Leeds Institute of Medical Education at the University of Leeds
•  President of the Leeds and District Medico-Legal Society (2015 to 2016 and 2018 to 2020)
•  Junior of the North Eastern Circuit (2010)
•  Freelance Tutor on the Bar Course (BPTC) at BPP University Leeds (2012 to 2014 and 2015 to 2016)

Books Editor of APIL Model Pleadings and Applications 2^nd Edition (2012)   Articles https://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/news/standard-of-proof-for-suicide-in-inquests Published August 2018 https://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/news/standard-of-proof-for-suicide-maughan-affirmed-on-appeal Published May 2019 https://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/news/standard-of-proof-and-the-chief-coroners-law-sheet-no6-maughan-and-beyond Published January 2021 https://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/news/scope-of-duty-of-care-khan-v-meadows Published June 2021   Seminars and Webinars

• Doctor Knows Best - "Supreme Court Clarifies Professional Practice Test"
• Evidence and Trial Preparation
• Clinical Damages Update
• “Walking on Thin Ice”- a Case Law Update
• Pre-Action Disclosure Applications
• Inquests and Coronial Law
• Clinical Negligence Case Law Update
• ‘A Practical Guide to Inquests’
• How to prepare for a hearing at the Coroners Court
• A Presidential Debate: a discussion of current medico-legal issues
• Dos and Don'ts for Doctors in Court
• Inquests- Article 2, Judicial Review, COVID-19 and Beyond

English with French BA Honours (University of Leeds 2003)

Graduate Diploma in Law (Manchester Metropolitan University 2004)

Bar Vocational Course (Manchester Metropolitan University 2005)

Lincoln's Inn Lord Haldane and Cassel Scholarships.