Shaheen Rahman KC

Shaheen co-led Module 10 of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. Hearings commenced on 16 February 2026 and concluded on 5 March 2026. The Module examined the impact of the pandemic and the measures in response on society, with a particular focus on mental health, key workers, the most vulnerable and the bereaved. Recordings of some of Shaheen’s work on the Inquiry are available here, here, here and here.

Shaheen is instructed for a witness at the Undercover Policing Inquiry.

Shaheen was instructed on behalf of a Professor of Haematology in the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Shaheen was jointly instructed to advise the Patients Association and AVMA and to represent them at the opening hearing of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry.

Shaheen also acted as Chair of the charity Birthrights’ private Inquiry on Racial Injustice in UK Maternity Services.

Shaheen acts for families and healthcare professionals at inquests with extensive experience of Article 2 and jury inquests concerning detained patients, the elderly and infant deaths.

She is instructed by healthcare providers in a number of cases involving the deaths of mental health patients.

Selected Cases

• Otte, Al-Kharboush & Barker Shaheen acted on behalf of the MHRA in a complex multi-party inquest concerning the deaths of 3 premature babies who received contaminated TPN.
• Shaheen was instructed as Counsel to the Joe Pooley inquest, which investigated the role of a number of state bodies prior to the murder of a vulnerable adult with learning disabilities.
• Shaheen represented the family of Daniela Santo at an inquest concerning the unlawful killing of a woman who had made complaints to the police of domestic abuse.
• Shaheen also co-wrote the chapter on medical inquests for the second edition of “The Inquest Book”.

Shaheen has appeared in many significant public law challenges with a focus on Prisons, Healthcare, Public Consultations and Religious Discrimination. She is a leading Special Advocate in cases alleging breach of human rights. She has acted in damages claims brought under the Human Rights Act, often arising from inquests.

Selected Cases

• JJ: Lead Special Advocate in ongoing civil damages case with allegations of torture.
• Daniela Santo: Acting in damages claim against police arising from inquest proceedings in negligence and under the human rights act.
• QX v SSHD [2023] EWHC 1221 (Admin)]: Lead special Advocate in challenge to reporting obligations under a temporary exclusion order. Proceedings settled in 2025.
• AZ/RA Lead Special Advocate in two ARAP case where the challenges succeeded.
• E10 Lead Special Advocate in SIAC deprivation case
• Rahmatullah & Ali v MOD &Ors [2019] EWHC 3849 (QB): Special advocate in civil claim alleging mistreatment and unlawful transfer to US custody by UK state.
• Belhaj & Boudchar v Jack Straw & Others [2017] EWHC 1861: Special Advocate in settled claim alleging complicity in extraordinary rendition and torture.
• R (Black) v SSJ [2017]; [2016] 3 WLR 28, [2015] 1 WLR 2963: For Claimant in Supreme Court case considering whether Crown Immunity applies to the smoking ban introduced by the Health Act 2006.
• R (Serdar Mohammed) v MOD [2014] 1 WLR 1071: Special Advocate in proceedings seeking extended moratorium on transfer of UK detainees to Afghan authorities in view of risk of torture.
• R (Ullah) v Special Adjudicator [2004] UKHL 26: For Intervener, Justice, in House of Lords case concerning extraterritorial effect of Convention rights

Shaheen has appeared in many significant public law challenges with a focus on Prisons, Healthcare, Public Consultations and Religious Discrimination. She is a leading Special Advocate in cases alleging breach of human rights. She has acted in damages claims brought under the Human Rights Act, often arising from inquests.

Selected Cases

• JJ: Lead Special Advocate in ongoing civil damages case with allegations of torture.
• Daniela Santo: Acting in damages claim against police arising from inquest proceedings in negligence and under the human rights act.
• QX v SSHD [2023] EWHC 1221 (Admin)]: Lead special Advocate in challenge to reporting obligations under a temporary exclusion order. Proceedings settled in 2025.
• AZ/RA Lead Special Advocate in two ARAP case where the challenges succeeded.
• E10 Lead Special Advocate in SIAC deprivation case
• Rahmatullah & Ali v MOD &Ors [2019] EWHC 3849 (QB): Special advocate in civil claim alleging mistreatment and unlawful transfer to US custody by UK state.
• Belhaj & Boudchar v Jack Straw & Others [2017] EWHC 1861: Special Advocate in settled claim alleging complicity in extraordinary rendition and torture.
• R (Black) v SSJ [2017]; [2016] 3 WLR 28, [2015] 1 WLR 2963: For Claimant in Supreme Court case considering whether Crown Immunity applies to the smoking ban introduced by the Health Act 2006.
• R (Serdar Mohammed) v MOD [2014] 1 WLR 1071: Special Advocate in proceedings seeking extended moratorium on transfer of UK detainees to Afghan authorities in view of risk of torture.
• R (Ullah) v Special Adjudicator [2004] UKHL 26: For Intervener, Justice, in House of Lords case concerning extraterritorial effect of Convention rights

Shaheen is instructed by the leading firms on behalf of Claimants and Defendants in high value, complex and sensitive clinical negligence matters including catastrophic brain injury and severe obstetric injury claims. Currently instructed in a large number of ongoing cerebral palsy and catastrophic injury claims, for both Claimants and Defendants.

“She is always incredibly sensible in her advice, always well prepared, organised and a skillful negotiator.” (Chambers & Partners 2026)

“Shaheen has great attention to detail. A hard working, well prepared and bright barrister.” (Legal 500 2026)

“She is excellent at round table meetings and in negotiation.” (Chambers & Partners 2025)

“Shaheen is very responsive and will go above and beyond to try to accommodate urgent requests. She is thorough and analytical with close attention-to-detail and very impressive in round table settlement meetings.” (Legal 500 2023)

“Shaheen is exceptionally skilled at getting to the crux of complex arguments.” (Chambers & Partners 2023)

“Highly skilled, knowledgeable, always well prepared and able to get to grips with highly complex matters in no time at all.” (Legal 500 2022)

“She goes above and beyond to turn things around quickly and is an excellent leading counsel.” “She’s incredible in court and leaves no stone unturned. She is a real fighter and a delight to work with.” “A very clever and detailed barrister.” (Chambers & Partners 2022)

“An excellent advocate. She is very, very effective in court and is fearless on her feet. She’s incredibly impressive.” “She’s firm but fair and completely on top of her cases – she knows them inside out.” (Chambers & Partners 2021)

“Always adaptable and understanding of the aims of the client.” (Legal 500 2021)

“She has quality in spades.” “Provides very sensible advice.” (Chambers & Partners 2020)

“An excellent advocate who is extremely effective in court.” (Legal 500 2020)

“Very personable and easy to work with. She’s always on top of things; you know you can rely on her.” (Chambers & Partners 2018)

“She is brilliant tactically, very thorough and knows her medicine inside out.” (Legal 500 2017)

“She’s bold and tenacious and she stands her ground.” (Chambers & Partners 2017)

“Shaheen is very good with clients. She is a tenacious advocate at court and gets results.” (Chambers & Partners 2016)

“Extremely good with clients and expert professionals alike.” (Legal 500 2014)

“Always strikes the right balance.” (Chambers & Partners 2012)

Selected Cases

• AW v A Health Trust [2023]: For Defendant in claim concerning Claimant with moderate cerebral palsy who received therapeutic cooling at birth. Discounted lump sum settlement achieved following RTM.
• LC v A Health Trust [2023]: Acting for Defendant in cauda equina case with allegation of contributory negligence. Settled at mediation.
• DJR v A Health Board [2023]: Acting for Defendant in claim for delay in treating epidural abscess leading to tetraplegia, discounted lump sum settlement achieved at RTM.
• LD v A Health Trust [2023]: For Claimant in childbirth injury case concerning 4^th degree perineal tear. Settled at RTM.
• TC v A Health Trust [2023]: For Claimant in ongoing cerebral palsy claim concerning delayed diagnosis of meningitis.
• JM v A Health Trust [2023]: For Claimant in ongoing cerebral palsy claim of maximum severity.
• IB & MB v A Health Trust [2023]: Acting for Defendant in ongoing claim concerning failure to diagnose HIV.  Liability compromised 2021 at 70%. Quantum ongoing.
• DS v A Health Trust & A GP [2023]: For Claimant who contracted TB meningitis in prison in ongoing case.
• JK & SC 7 ors v A surgeon and A private hospital [2023]: Acting for Claimants in ongoing litigation against surgeon regarding informed consent for rectopexy surgery. Inquest in JK concluded in 2021.
• JR v A Health Board [2022]: Acting for Defendant in claim for delay in treating epidural abscess leading to tetraplegia. Discounted lump sum settlement achieved at RTM.
• AJ v A Health Trust [2022]: Acting for Defendant in claim for delayed treatment of stroke. Settled following RTM.
• JXY [2022]: Liability settlement in cerebral palsy case concerning in child with pre-existing cystic fibrosis for Defendant. Settled at 72.5% of full value.
• A,B & C v A Heath Trust [2022]: Acting for parents of a child who died of sepsis in secondary victim claim. Liability admitted and claim settled.
• KL v A Health Board [2021]: Acting for Defendant in cerebral palsy claim. Liability compromised at 40% of full value.
• KR v A Health Trust [2021]: Settlement of claim concerning factitious disorder for Defendant.
• TB v A Health Trust [2021]: Acting for Claimant in claim concerning surgical error following Article 2 inquest. Claim settled including HRA damages.
• RO [2019]: Quantum settlement in cerebral palsy case for Defendant.
• ZT [2019]: Quantum settlement in cerebral palsy cases for Defendant.
• JI [2019]: Mediation in fatal adult brain injury case, liability in dispute with alleged failure to diagnose Sub-Arachnoid haemorrhage.
• CE v An NHSFT [2017]: Instructed for parents of an infant who died as a result of a misdiagnosed brain tumour. Liability for estate claim accepted. Claim for mother advanced on a primary victim basis due to her participation in unnecessary treatment causing her psychiatric injury, settled at RTM.
• Garbutt v DB NHSFT [2017] EWHC 222: Successfully defended the Trust at trial in a fatal claim arising from alleged failure to diagnose constrictive pericarditis.
• F v S [2017]: Successful settlement of fatal accident claim arising from GP’s failure to recognise complications of the oral contraceptive pill. Acting for Claimant's family at inquest and in civil claim.
• Spencer v UHMB NHST [2016]: Successfully defended the Trust at trial in a fatal claim arising from the death of an insulin dependent diabetic following discharge from hospital.

Shaheen has extensive experience acting for healthcare professionals before their regulators and in associated appeals, judicial reviews, internal disciplinary and MHPS proceedings including applications for injunctive relief.

“She has the ability to command a room and nearly always manages to pull a result out of the bag, even in cases that initially appear to be unwinnable.” “She has a wonderfully precise approach to regulatory matters, and is extremely well prepared, tenacious and thorough.” (Chambers & Partners 2017)

“Her results speak for themselves.” (Legal 500 2016)

“A true professional.” (Legal 500 2015)

Selected Cases

• Infected Blood Inquiry [2020]: Shaheen was instructed on behalf of a Professor of Haematology.
• Dr R v GMC [2020]: Instructed to represent doctor at IOT proceedings arising from allegations of lack of informed consent for surgery, successfully argued for no interim order.
• JM v GOSC [2019]: Advising osteopath regarding response to GOSC proceedings.
• JC v GOSC [2017]: Appeared for an osteopath charged with serious allegations of performing inappropriate treatment upon a patient, failing to make appropriate referral to other healthcare professionals and continuing with treatment when asked to stop. Charges dismissed following cross- examination of patient and successful half time submission.
• DR MB v GMC [2017]: Represented a medical director charged with failure to action large numbers of urgent laboratory results and poor performance in his director role. Half time submissions succeeded in relation to a number of the charges, the remainder led to no finding of misconduct and the panel declined to issue any  warning.