David Pojur is a highly regarded barrister with expertise across a range of regulatory law areas, including Inquests and Coronial law, Health and Safety, Healthcare & Professional Discipline, and Environmental law. He is consistently recognised by legal directories such as Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 for his knowledge and abilities. His practice involves representing a diverse clientele, including large insurers, multinational corporations, utilities and properties companies, medical defence organisations, and high net worth individuals. He handles both contentious and non-contentious matters, providing valued advisory work and frequently leads junior counsel in cases where he also appears against King’s Counsel. He is appointed to List A of the Specialist Regulatory Panel Counsel for HSE, EA, ORR, CQC and Ofsted and sits as a part time judge. He is also recognised for his pro bono work.

Inquests and Coronial Law

A significant aspect of David Pojur’s expertise lies within Inquests and Coronial Law. He is described as knowing coronial law “incredibly well” and having an “encyclopaedic knowledge of Coroner’s Rules and procedure“. His understanding of these processes is significantly enhanced by his position as an Assistant Coroner. This dual perspective, as both a barrister representing clients in inquests and as a judge, provides him with a unique position to understand the functions of the Court from all available angles. Legal directories highlight that his  experience is “very beneficial to both clients and instructing solicitors” and gives him a “wealth of expertise to the inquests field“. His knowledge of the coroner’s rules “often exceeds those of the Coroner he is appearing in front of“.

David is frequently appointed by Coroners and Judges as Counsel to the Inquest in long, complex, and multi-handed cases. In this role, he leads the inquest on behalf of the Coroner or Judge and advises them on the law and helps draft legal rulings and judgments. This experience further solidifies his deep understanding of inquest procedures and the legal framework surrounding them. His involvement as CTI signifies his standing as a recognised expert in the field. Consequently, he is instructed to represent Coroners in judicial review proceedings before the Administrative Court and features in many leading cases. David also advises on exhumation of bodies and Fiats for fresh inquests from the Attorney General.

His capabilities in inquests extend to a wide range of circumstances, including cases involving health and safety fatalities, gross negligence manslaughter, suicides, and deaths in healthcare settings and in custody. He is highly experienced in dealing with jury inquests and is extremely knowledgeable on Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (right to life).before the grand chamber of the European court of human rights in Strasbourg in relation to miscarriages of justice These proceedings are often complex, involving multiple interested parties and addressing deaths related to health and safety, hospitals, medical care, or social care.

David is noted for his ability to handle difficult Article 2 jury inquests where expert witnesses are frequently involved, including those providing psychiatric, psychological, pathology, engineering, air disasters and reconstruction reports. A key aspect of his work is assimilating large complex medical or legal information and explaining it to the jury in a clear and understandable manner.

He is described as a “superb barrister“, “extremely organised” and someone who “understands briefs very quickly“. He provides “practical and constructive advice to clients” and is “very communicative with solicitors“. He is also recognised for being “good at devising strategy” and possessing advocacy skills that are “second-to-none“.

His client manner is excellent; he “puts clients’ minds at ease in difficult proceedings” and is “brilliant with clients” and “very good with clients“. He is also lauded for being “incredibly calm under pressure“, “measured and very effective“, and “calm and unflappable“. He is seen as “highly robust” and “competitive and punchy” as an advocate. Notably, he is described as an “exceptional advocate” who provides “timely written advice that is logical and thorough“, and his expertise is considered “faultless“.

David is also “clear in his approach; he doesn’t beat about the bush” and “cuts to the chase very effectively“. Furthermore, he is “extremely well trusted“, “friendly, approachable and relatable with clients, who hold him in great regard“. He “commands great respect amongst his peers and those he finds himself before“, is “intelligent and clear in his communications and lively on his feet“, and demonstrates “excellent communication and interpersonal skills when dealing with clients“, along with a “high level of commitment to clients“. During hearings, other parties often “lean on him for direction“, resulting in “favourable outcomes for our clients“.

 

Judicial Review and Inquests

• R (Whittle) v HM Senior Coroner for North West Wales & Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board & North Wales Police [2025] EWHC 236 Admin

 

• R (Robinson) v HM Assistant Coroner for Blackpool & Chief Constable for Lancashire [2025] EWHC Admin.

 

• R (Taylor) v HM Area Coroner for The Black Country [2025] EWHC Admin

 

• R (Smith) v HM Assistant Coroner for North West Wales EWHC Admin 781

 

• Inquest, concerning the death of a child following placental abruption & emergency caesarean section and withdrawal of treatment High Court order.

 

• Leading Counsel to the Inquest concerning honour based killing, examining state failures to protect a vulnerable woman.

 

• Counsel to the Inquest concerning custodial death in a complex jury case.

 

• Counsel to the Inquest in cold case murder committed 25 years ago.

 

• Representing mental healthcare provider in prison concerning availability of illicit drugs.

 

• Advocating for large multinational utilities company concerning death of an elderly lady involving subcontractors.

 

• Representing local authority who had commissioned domiciliary care agency where disabled deceased was left with candles on his bed and died as a result.

 

• Advocating for care home group concerning choking incidents.

 

• Advising HM Coroners on law of air disasters, psychiatric evaluation and detention.

 

Health and Safety Law,

In the realm of Health and Safety Law, David Pojur has significant experience defending companies and directors in serious and fatal cases. He possesses particular expertise in handling issues arising from allegations of Gross Negligence Manslaughter and has experience acting in cases involving health and safety fatalities. He has a wide range of experience in health safety law and represents individuals and corporate entities charged with health and safety related offenses prosecuted by the HSE or CQC under HSCA. This includes cases of corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, and breaches of regulations. He frequently advises on the Health and Safety at Work Act and potential liability. He is appointed to List A as Specialist Regulatory Panel Counsel in Health and Safety & Environmental Law. His expertise in this area is further demonstrated by his published article on risky definitions of roles when working at height under CDM.

Notable cases include fatalities and life changing injury cases include matters concerning:

• Noxious substances & poisoning
• Electrocution
• Workplace falls from height
• Horse bites causing grave injury
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Machinery injuries and maiming
• Fatal explosions
• Gas explosions
• Death by Dangerous Driving

Environmental Law

David Pojur is also recognised Regulatory Counsel with expertise in Environmental Law. He has significant experience with PINS and the public inquiry procedure, as well as with NRW (Natural Resources Wales). He was counsel in the leading environmental case of Jagger, where he successfully overturned a conviction concerning the definition of controlled waste in the Court of Appeal. His specialism leads to frequent instructions representing companies and individuals against the EA (Environment Agency) and NRW at PINS, contested hearings before the Crown and Civil Courts, and the High Court of Justice. He is well-respected in this field.

Notable environmental law cases include matters concerning:

• Controlled waste transportation to China
• Large environmental trials involving allegations of unfair proceedings by the EA
• Tree Preservation Order prosecutions
• Breaches of the Clean Air Act
• Actions against the EA for damages
• Cases involving toxic substances
• Movement of hazardous waste
• Cyanide poisoning
• Fish kills and water pollution.

 

 

Business Crime

In the area of Business Crime, David Pojur has experience in both prosecuting and defending serious crimes before the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal, where he has successfully had convictions overturned. He often appears alone against silks and has a strong reputation, being recognised as a leading junior. His expertise extends to handling expert witnesses and vulnerable defendants, and dealing with grave crime cases requiring sensitivity and planning.

Notable business crime cases include:

• Manslaughter trials including noxious gases
• Fatal falls from height
• Cases of Gross Negligence Manslaughter & Health and Safety offenses
• Murder and manslaughter defences
• Crushing injuries

 

David has also appeared before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in relation to miscarriages of justice in Nealon and Hallam v. the United Kingdom [2024]

 

Healthcare and Professional Discipline.

David Pojur has very significant experience in matters concerning Healthcare and Professional Discipline. He is instructed in matters involving bodies such as the GMC, CQC, NHS England, Safeguarding, NMC, RCN, Performer Lists, OFSTED, GDC, GPs, Consultants, and the Civil Aviation Authority. His practice includes representing individuals and corporate entities and appearing before Panels and Tribunals, addressing fitness, contested matters, and appeals. He also advises on strategy and advocates on behalf of professionals such as surgeons, nurses, doctors, dentists, and police officers. His healthcare practice complements his inquest work, particularly in cases of death in a medical setting. He advises Doctors, Providers, and Managers on various aspects of healthcare law, including Notices of Proposal & Decision, Fit and Proper Persons, Mental Capacity Act, and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. He frequently advises NHS Trusts and appears at Urgent closure hearings. He possesses an insightful understanding of the Health and Social Care Act and Regulations and their application, working with expert consultants and Registered Managers and Providers. He also provides training on Healthcare law and matters under the HSCA and Regulations.

Notable cases in this area include representing:

• Care Home groups concerning SALT assessments and choking incidents
• Care Home Groups where service users with dementia and harmed each other
• Local Authorities concerning carer employees harmed by service users
• NHS Trusts in cases involving patient care and safety

Doctors, nurses and surgeons facing professional disciplinary proceedings