Geoff Gray Inquest – Deepcut Barracks : Coroner returns a conclusion of ‘suicide’
Bridget Dolan KC and Jamie were instructed as Counsel to the Inquest in the fresh inquest into the death of Geoff Gray.
Click here for more information
“Jamie is an engaging and thorough advocate. His calm and collaborative approach brings the parties together to reach good resolutions.”
The Legal 500 2025
Experience & Expertise
Cases & Work of note
From 2015 – 2019, Jamie was junior Counsel to the Inquest in the fresh inquests into the deaths of army trainees at Deepcut Barracks in 1995 and 2001. In his own right, Jamie has appeared in many inquests acting on behalf of families, NHS Trusts, individual clinicians, and other Interested Persons, often appearing alongside very experienced barristers including silks and frequently dealing with issues of Article 2, neglect, and PFD reports.
In clinical negligence, Jamie acts on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants in a wide array of cases, including high value catastrophic injury claims in the High Court and cases involving complex expert evidence.
In the Court of Protection, Jamie accepts instructions in both health and welfare matters and those concerning property and financial affairs, acting on behalf of the OS, OPG, local authorities, NHS Trusts and individual family members caught up in what are often emotionally involved cases.
Jamie is keen to develop a broad practice and his experience ranges from judicial review actions in the High Court and representing doctors in regulatory proceedings, to defending English Heritage in the County Court against a claim brought by a druid.
publications
Jamie co-authored chapters fifteen: Withdrawal and Withholding of Treatment, sixteen: The Right to Die? and seventeen: Treating Suicidal Patients in the fourth edition of the book Medical Treatment: Decisions and the Law, edited by Christopher Johnston KC and Sophia Roper KC and written by 27 members of Serjeants’ Inn.
Jamie also co-authored the third edition of Medical Treatment: Decisions and the Law.
Jamie writes for the UK Inquests Law Blog and the UK Police Law Blog, and has drafted headnotes for the Inquest Law Reports.
qualifications
Jamie studied History at Clare College, University of Cambridge and was awarded a Double First class degree. He graduated from Clare with the Allan Prize for History and an award for contribution to the college. He studied law at City University London and received the highest possible grades of Distinction on the Graduate Diploma in Law and Outstanding on the Bar Professional Training Course. He was awarded Exhibition scholarships by Inner Temple for both the GDL and BPTC.
memberships
- PNBA
- PIBA
- South Eastern Circuit
reflections
Seeing a case from a Judge’s point of view was the most valuable experience I gained from the Deepcut Inquests. Most Judges or Coroners – we hope, all of them – come to cases with an open mind and are genuinely dedicated to considering the evidence impartially. It’s so important to shake off any preconceptions or assumptions about a case, and really think about how the evidence will appear to a Judge, tribunal or Coroner looking at a case with fresh eyes.
Whenever I see another barrister performing brilliantly in court, it’s almost always because of how well prepared they are. You can’t succeed unless you know the case inside out. But a barrister isn’t any use to anyone unless they can appreciate what evidence really matters: the challenge is to make out the melody amid all the background noise, and then persuade the Judge to hear the same tune as you.
You learn every day in this job, about the law, about medicine, but also about tactics and strategy in all types of cases. The more cases I take, the more I realise how much the final outcome can be determined by decisions made by the parties really early on. I’m very happy to be involved in the early stages of any case, and I keep the ultimate outcome in mind when making all decisions.
“The law in our practice areas is constantly moving and outcomes are so fact-sensitive that every case needs a customised approach. You’ve got to be versatile.”
The best advocates have more than one setting. I would never want to have a reputation as a particular type of advocate. I’d want to be thought of as a barrister who can adjust their style to what is actually going to help their client.
Empathy is central to success. I try not to make assumptions about how people feel about court proceedings: they can often surprise you. You can’t achieve what your client wants unless you understand what that really is. And sometimes, listening to other parties and appreciating what motivates them can be the key to reaching your own client’s goals.
Recommendations
Jamie is recommended by Legal 500 in as a leading junior in his three primary areas of practice: clinical negligence, inquests and inquiries, and the Court of Protection. Recent editorial notes that ‘Jamie’s preparation is meticulous’ and he is ‘a smiling assassin in the courtroom.’ He is also ranked by Chambers & Partners for his expertise in inquests and in the Court of Protection.
Other recent directory editorial has included the following:
- a sensible and calm advocate;
- very meticulous;
- provides commercially sensible advice, which keeps the client at the centre of considerations;
- engaging and thorough;
- his calm and collaborative approach brings the parties together to reach good resolutions;
- has an excellent level of attention to detail;
- very bright, hands-on and great with clients;
- he is good on his feet and has become incredibly busy;
- Jamie is a reassuring presence;
- an intelligent, calm advocate;
- his written work is brilliant;
- Jamie is an extremely competent, bright, and sympathetic counsel;
- a really impressive barrister;
- Jamie has an excellent knowledge of healthcare issues and has dealt with many complex inquests with a good outcome;
- he can diffuse any difficult situation with his sensible and fair approach;
- extremely hard-working and approachable;
- Jamie is a highly knowledgeable barrister in the area of Court of Protection;
- his drafting is excellent;
- has a calm demeanour during legal proceedings;
- very bright and has an excellent, reassuring manner with clients and witnesses;
- I trust Jamie to put clients at ease and get the best possible outcome for the client;
- he is always well prepared, incredibly intelligent and has a fantastic way with clients which immediately puts them at ease;
- his thorough approach is valuable;
- he is meticulous in reviewing evidence, analysing legal principles, and conducting research allowing him to build strong arguments;
- his attention to detail enhances the quality of his advocacy;
- he remains composed under pressure enabling him to think clearly and present his arguments effectively;
- approachable and knowledgeable;
- is a pleasure to work with;
- he is an excellent inquest advocate who is very supportive of our clients;
- he can hold his own against people well above his call; and
- very approachable and thorough.
Privacy
Jamie adopts and adheres to the provisions of his privacy notice which can be accessed here.
further information
For further details of Jamie’s practice please click on the links to the left or contact a member of the clerking or client service team.
Bar Council Membership No: 62689
Registered Name: James William Mathieson
VAT Registration No: 236 8419 86