Lily Lewis

Inquests & public inquiries

Lily is ranked as a Tier 1 Rising Star by The Legal 500 and as Up and Coming by Chambers and Partners.

Lily is currently instructed in two major public inquiries:

• The Undercover Policing Inquiry, set up to establish the truth about undercover policing in England and Wales from 1968 to the present day, and to provide recommendations for the future. Acting on behalf of Core Participants who were subject to surveillance by undercover officers.
• The UK Covid-19 Inquiry, set up to examine the UK’s response to and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and learn lessons for the future. Acting for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice (CBFFJ), a UK-wide group made up of thousands of those whose loved ones died during the pandemic.

Lily also represents bereaved families in inquests arising from deaths in varied, complex and often high-profile circumstances, in both Article 2 and non-Article 2 contexts. Her expertise includes deaths resulting from mental health conditions in detained and community settings, deaths in police custody or following police contact, and deaths of children and young people involving multiple agencies.

Notable cases include:

• Re CAP: Representing the parents of Charley-Ann Patterson, who died of suicide at the age of 12 after suffering from bullying and struggling to obtain mental health support. The Senior Coroner made a Prevention of Future Deaths report addressed to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care raising concerns in relation to increases in the numbers of children and young people presenting with mental health difficulties and the delays that now exist before they receive treatment and support. The report can be found here. (Press coverage)
• Re MR: Representing the wife of Mark Rodhouse, who died by suicide whilst under the care of community mental health teams. Submissions were successfully made on behalf of the family that Article 2 ECHR was engaged both at the pre-inquest stage and following the conclusion of evidence. HM Coroner concluded that there was a failure by the Trust to involve Mark’s wife in risk and care planning and that this possibly contributed to his death. (Press coverage)
• Re TS: TS suffered from severe mental health problems including bipolar affective disorder. He died by suicide under the care of community mental health teams. Submissions were successfully made on behalf of the family that Article 2 ECHR was engaged both at the pre-inquest stage and following the conclusion of evidence. A narrative conclusion was given that a failure to make a referral for TS to receive urgent assessment and treatment in a specialised unit during a period of mental health crisis was possibly causative of his death.
• Re CL: Prevention of Future Deaths report addressed to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in relation to concerns around access to substance abuse and mental health services for those with a “dual diagnosis”. The report can be found here.
• Re AF: Representing the family of Alan Forcer, who died by suicide following a history of mental health issues, including complex PTSD. (Press coverage)

Lily is a member of the INQUEST Lawyers Group and works with the organisation on legal and policy issues, including the Judicial Review & Courts Bill and INQUEST’s response to proposals on the British Bill of Rights.

Public law

Lily’s public law practice covers her core areas of practice with an emphasis on cases involving human rights issues. She acts in judicial reviews relating to inquest law, social security and welfare entitlement and equality and discrimination.

Housing & Homelessness

Lily has experience across the full spectrum of housing and homelessness law, including possession, homelessness appeals, claims for unlawful eviction and housing disrepair, committal and injunction applications.

She is particularly interested in statutory appeals under section 204 of the Housing Act 1996, as well as in cases involving policy issues, Equality Act 2010 and public law arguments. She has a growing specialism in cases involving capacity issues, as well as with young tenants and care leavers.

Lily previously volunteered at the Greater Manchester Law Centre representing clients in ESA appeals. She worked alongside solicitors and caseworkers at the Law Centre to assist clients with complex mental health needs, disabilities and intersecting housing and welfare issues.

She accepts instructions in public law challenges to social security decisions and is currently particularly interested in benefit overpayment cases.

Lily also assisted with CG v Department for Communities (C-709/20) and Fratila v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

She has also been trained as a duty advocate at the Asylum Support Tribunal for the Asylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP).

Civil actions against the police & public authorities

Lily has experience of civil claims arising from inquests and is able to advise on civil actions against a range of public authorities, and claims including those under the Human Rights Act 1998, Equality Act 2010 and common law claims in negligence, false imprisonment, assault and battery.

Memberships

The Inner Temple (awarded the Otto & Sadie Rix Pupillage Prize, Major BPTC Scholarship and Exhibition Award)
Human Rights Lawyers Association (Executive Committee)
Constitutional and Administrative Bar Association
Young Legal Aid Lawyers
Legal Sector Workers United
The Howard League for Penal Reform

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