David Manknell KC and Rajkiran Arhestey successful for the Speaker in constitutional law case concerning farmers’ inheritance tax - May 2026
Inquests
David represents both institutions and private clients at inquests. This is often in inquests either involving deaths in custody or where there are perceived failings by hospitals or healthcare practitioners, but his inquest experience is wide and extends, for example, to deaths of soldiers on active service overseas, air crashes and serious traffic accidents.
He regularly represents families of the deceased, the Prison Service, hospitals and healthcare practitioners, as well as private sector companies and organisations who are granted interested persons status.
He is the author of two chapters in The Inquest Book (2016, Hart Publishing; eds. Garnham and Cross), and three chapters in the second edition of The Inquest Book (2025; eds. Cross, Garnham, Arhestey & Hill): Chapter 8 – Interested Persons, Chapter 14 – The Inquest Hearing, and Chapter 23 – Air, Marine, and Railway Accidents.
David is recommended by both leading legal directories for inquests and public inquiries. Recent editorial includes:
- “A careful and effective advocate, measured and calm.” Legal 500 2026
- “David provides very good and clear advice.” Chambers & Partners 2026
- “David is a very knowledgeable and strong operator.” Chambers & Partners 2026
- “David is absolutely on top of the detail in cases. He is very good at persuading coroners.” Chambers & Partners 2025
- “David is smart and thoughtful. He is measured and very sensible.” Chambers & Partners 2025
- “David is technically very able.” Chambers & Partners 2025
- “David has extremely good attention to detail and has a calming presence with clients.” Legal 500 2025
Selected Cases
- Leicester City helicopter crash (2025): Deaths of Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha (Chairman of Leicester FC and CEO of King Power Group), the pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Lechowicz, and passengers Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punparev at Leicester City Football Club in 2018.
- Shoreham Air Crash (2022): Death of 11 spectators following crash of Hawker Hunter jet at an airshow.
- Inquest into death of Emiliano Sala (2022): Death of footballer following plane crash.
- Inquests into the seven deaths caused in the Croydon tram disaster (2021).
- Re Teyneen Taylor (2020): Death of mental health campaigner and blogger in psychiatric hospital.
- Re Alex Malcom (2019): Murder of toddler by mother’s boyfriend while released on licence.
- Re Imran Douglas (2015): Death of young offender at HMP Brixton, following transfer from YOI.
- Re Daniel Byrne (2015): Death of inmate at HMP Woodhill.
- Re Sgt Loughran-Dickson (2014): Death of soldier on active service in Afghanistan.
- Re NM (2014): Death of mother caused stroke during childbirth, misinterpreted MRI.
- Re Thi Hien Tran (2013): Death of prisoner in custody following series of healthcare errors.
- Re David Love (2013): Death in custody, suicide.
- Re Robin Blowes (2012): Patient in confused post-operative state who fell from hospital window. Subsequent HSE prosecution.
- Re Raymond Lane (2012): Issues over adequacy of review of scans for patient with brain tumour.
High Court refuses Charity Commission’s judicial review in safeguarding dispute - Mar 2026
The High Court has refused the Charity Commission permission to proceed with its judicial review challenge against the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), in a judgment handed down by...
David Manknell KC and Edward Waldegrave in successful defence of Equality Act Claim by LGBT+ asylum seekers - Feb 2026
The High Court has handed down its judgment in ACN v. The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWHC 297 (Admin.), concerning whether the Secretary of State for the Home Department is...
‘The Inquest Book’ second edition out today - Jul 2025
We are pleased to announce that the 'The Inquest Book' second edition is out today! The 2nd edition of this essential handbook on coronial law incorporates the significant changes in legislation...
Four Members of Chambers instructed in High Court challenge to the imposition of VAT on private school fees - Jun 2025
The High Court handed down judgment on Friday in R (ALR and others) v Chancellor of the Exchequer. The case concerned a challenge to the imposition of VAT on private school fees, introduced in...
High Court issues judgment on Wethersfield barracks - Mar 2025
Following a lengthy hearing last year, and seven months to prepare the Judgment, the High Court has handed down a lengthy judgment on the lead claims concerning the use of the site of Wethersfield ...
David Manknell KC and Matthew Hill success in Court of Appeal care home case - Mar 2025
The Court of Appeal handed down judgment today (11 March 2025) in a significant judgment relating to the circumstances in which the Home Office can revoke the sponsor licence of a care home that...
Conclusion of inquest into Leicester City helicopter crash. David Manknell KC for AAIB - Jan 2025
Yesterday, 28 January 2025, a jury reached their conclusion into the deaths of those onboard the helicopter which crashed at Leicester City Football Club in 2018. The victims were Khun Vichai...
Leicester City King Power Stadium Helicopter Crash Inquest - Jan 2025
The inquests into the deaths of Leicester City FC Chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, along with two of his staff, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, the pilot Eric Swaffer, and Mr Swaffer’s...
Three Members of Chambers appear in lead claim challenging the Home Secretary’s policy on accommodating asylum-seekers at the former MoD site at Wethersfield - Jul 2024
Angus McCullough KC appears in the High Court this week in a judicial review claim. He acts on behalf of three men who are lead claimants in this challenge arising from the Government’s...
High Court rejects Escape Risk challenge by prisoner linked to organised crime - Apr 2024
On 25 March 2024, Mr Justice Saini gave judgment rejecting a claim for Judicial Review brought by a prisoner seeking to challenge his escape risk classification. David Manknell KC acted successfully...
David Manknell appointed King’s Counsel - Jan 2024
We are proud to announce that David Manknell has been successful in his application to Silk. We offer our warmest congratulations to David on his appointment and look forward to watching him take...
David Manknell successful in European Court of Human Rights - Dec 2023
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg today (5 December 2023) handed down its judgment in the case of HA v United Kingdom. The Court found in favour of the UK, holding that the...
High Court dismisses first challenge by Windrush victims to compensation scheme - May 2023
David Manknell acted for the Adjudicator in this Judicial review claim, which was the first challenge to be brought to the operation of the Home Office’s Windrush Compensation Scheme. The...
Shoreham Air Crash inquests conclude with finding of unlawful killing - Dec 2022
The inquest into the deaths of 11 men who were killed at the Shoreham Air Show in August 2015, have now concluded (20 December 2022). David Manknell represented the Air Accidents Investigation...
Inquest into the Shoreham Air Crash begins - Dec 2022
The inquests into the deaths of 11 men who were killed at the Shoreham Air Show in August 2015 have now started. David Manknell is representing the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, instructed by...
David Manknell appointed as Assistant Coroner to London Inner South - May 2022
We are delighted to announce that David Manknell has been appointed as Assistant Coroner to London Inner South. David will continue in full time practice. He has extensive experience in inquests...
Emiliano Sala Inquest concludes with Coroner’s warning over illegal flights - Mar 2022
The jury inquest into the death of the footballer Emiliano Sala, who died in a plane crash in January 2019, has concluded. The Argentinian-born footballer was travelling from Nantes to Wales, where...
High Court Ruling on Shoreham Air Crash - Feb 2022
The High Court has refused an application by the Senior Coroner for West Sussex to allow her to have protected material. The Senior Coroner is undertaking inquests into the death of 11 men who died...
David Manknell successful in Court of Appeal over challenge to deportation policy - Nov 2020
The Court of Appeal has upheld the Home Office’s power to make fresh deportation decisions against those who had previously successfully appealed against deportation, following changes to...
Success in Supreme Court of St Helena case for David Manknell - Apr 2020
Judgment was handed down this week by the Supreme Court of St Helena in a case concerning contested jurisdiction between St Helena and South Africa. A claim had been brought in St Helena against...
1COR Quarterly Medical Law Review – Winter 2019/20 – Issue 4 - Mar 2020
Welcome to the fourth issue of the Quarterly Medical Law Review, brought to you by barristers at 1 Crown Office Row. This quarterly publication aims to provide summaries and comment on recent cases...
David Manknell represents father at inquest into death of mental health campaigner - Feb 2020
Teyneen Taylor was a mental health campaigner and raised awareness of mental health by blogging about her experience with borderline personality disorder. She died in October 2018 at a psychiatric...
Date set for inquest into deaths from the Shoreham Airshow Disaster - Jan 2020
This week Senior Coroner Penelope Schofield has announced a date for the inquest into the death of eleven men at the Shoreham Airshow Disaster. She thanked the families for their patience and...
David Manknell and Jo Moore successful in JR challenging Home Office decision-making - Jan 2020
R (MK) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWHC 3573 David Manknell and Jo Moore (led by Lisa Giovannetti QC), instructed by the Government Legal Department, acted on behalf of the...
Inquest opens into the death of Alex Malcolm - Sep 2019
The inquest into the death of 5 year-old Alex Malcolm, who was was beaten to death by his mother’s boyfriend for losing a trainer in a park, has commenced. The offender had a history of violence,...
Congratulations to David Manknell, Suzanne Lambert, Alasdair Henderson, Natasha Barnes and Paul Reynolds on their appointments to Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel - Jul 2019
We are proud to announce that David Manknell has been re-appointed to the Attorney General’s A Panel of Counsel, Suzanne Lambert, Natasha Barnes and Alasdair Henderson have been appointed to the...
David Manknell acts for AAIB in High Court refusal of BBC application for Shoreham cockpit footage - Jan 2019
The BBC and Press Association claimed that Go-Pro cockpit footage from the Shoreham Air Crash should be disclosed to the media under the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents)...
The Kenyan Emergency Group Litigation is at an end - Nov 2018
All claims against the UK Government (the Foreign & Commonwealth Office) in the massive Kenya Emergency Group Litigation litigation have been dismissed. The action is at an end. On 21 November...
Guy Mansfield QC upholds Kenya Emergency Group Litigation judgment in Court of Appeal - Oct 2018
Following an expedited oral hearing, the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, 9 October, in a reserved judgment, [2018] EWCA Civ 2213, refused the Claimant permission to appeal the decision of Stewart J in the...
David Manknell and Amelia Walker successful in their defence of the Dubs child refugee scheme - Nov 2017
The High Court (Treacy LJ and Ouseley J) has dismissed the judicial review application challenging the number of unaccompanied minors being given sanctuary in the UK under the Dubs amendment. David...
David Manknell and Amelia Walker successfully defend challenge to the Home Office’s procedures - Sep 2017
David Manknell and Amelia Walker acted for the Home Secretary and were instructed by the Government Legal Department in this seminal case of Citizens UK v the Secretary of State for the Home...
David Manknell appears in High Court ruling on the scope of judicial review - Sep 2017
David Manknell has appeared in a case exploring the public law/private law divide. The High Court dismissed a claim brought against FENSA, the well-known operator of a building self-certification...
1COR Public Law Seminar – Life, Liberty & Security - Sep 2017
Date: 11th September 2017 We will be tweeting using the hash tag: #1CORpublic Registration: 16:30pm onwards Programme: 17:00 - 17:50 Panel Discussion chaired by Mrs Justice Whipple. ...
The Times reports on Chambers extremism cases - Jun 2017
Frances Gibb has written in The Times (｣) about the number of cases being heard in the Family Division concerning extremism. The piece features quotations from Mr Justice Hayden in A Local Authority...
Martin Downs in new Radicalisation Judgment about protecting older children and vulnerable adults - Apr 2017
Mr Justice Hayden has just handed down a new Judgment concerning safeguarding those at risk of radicalisation: A Local Authority v Y [2017] EWHC 968 (Fam) (27 April 2017). The Judgment focuses on...
Marina Wheeler QC in Public Interest Immunity & Radicalisation case - Apr 2017
Marina Wheeler QC appeared for the Home Secretary in her successful application for public interest immunity in a Radicalisation Case. Mrs Justice Pauffley has just handed down Judgment. The case...
David Manknell wins in Court of Appeal in licence conditions and family separation case - Mar 2017
The Court of Appeal dismissed the Claimant's appeal against the refusal of his Judicial Review of licence conditions set by the Probation Service. The Claimant had been convicted of terrorist offences...
Profits from the sale of the Inquest Book given to the Bar Pro Bono Unit - Nov 2016
The Inquest Book: The Law on Coroners and Inquests edited by Caroline Cross was published earlier this year. This week, profits raised of £954.41 have been donated to the Bar Pro Bono Unit by the...
David Manknell in Calais Children Asylum Case - Jan 2016
The Upper Tribunal is hearing the claims of four Syrian children living in the "jungle" camp in Calais. The children claim that they have family in the UK, and are seeking to be allowed into the UK...
David Manknell appointed to the A Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown - Jul 2015
We are delighted to announce that David Manknell has been appointed to the A Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown. This appointment will be effective from 1st September 2015. David joins a large...
David Manknell acting for the Investigatory Powers Tribunal in GCHQ surveillance claims - Jul 2014
David Manknell is acting as junior Counsel for the Investigatory Powers Tribunal in the claims arising out of the Edward Snowden leaks. The claims are brought by numerous civil rights organisations...
David Manknell in Court of Appeal win on French burqa ban law - Jul 2014
The Court of Appeal rejected a claim that the removal of an Iranian father and daughter to France would be unlawful due to a French law which would prevent the daughter from wearing a burka to school....
David Manknell acting in “Edward Snowden” claims, instructed as Counsel to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal - Feb 2014
David Manknell is acting as Counsel for the Investigatory Powers Tribunal in the claims arising out of the Edward Snowden leaks. The claims are brought by numerous civil rights organisations including...
David Manknell appeared in Supreme Court cases on oral hearings before the Parole Board - Oct 2013
David Manknell appeared in the Supreme Court in the cases of Osborn, Booth and Reilly, who each sought to overturn decisions of the Court of Appeal that they are not entitled to an oral hearing before...
David Manknell in Supreme Court cases on oral hearings before the Parole Board - Apr 2013
On 16 April, David Manknell is appearing in the Supreme Court in the cases of Osborn, Booth and Reilly, who each seek to overturn decisions of the Court of Appeal that they are not entitled to an oral...
New Appointments to the Attorney General’s A, B and C Panels – February 2013 - Feb 2013
We are delighted to announce the following new appointments to the Attorney General's Panels - Owain Thomas to the A Panel (a re-appointment), Amy Mannion and John Jolliffe to the B Panel and Caroline...
New Appointments to the Attorney General’s A, B and C Panels – February 2012 - Feb 2012
We are delighted to announce the following new appointments to the Attorney General's Panels - Oliver Sanders to the A panel, Robert Wastell to the B panel and Adam Wagner to the C panel. The 23...
New appointments to the Attorney General’s A, B and C Panels - Mar 2010
