Kate Blacklidge
Senior Associate
Manchester
Kate.Blacklidge@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)330 045 2249
Kate is a senior associate with 10 years' PQE and works within the Public Law Health team. The focus of Kate's practice is inquiries and inquest-related matters in the healthcare sector. Kate regularly appears in Coroners' Courts across the country, conducting her own advocacy on behalf of public and private sector clients often in complex Article 2 ECHR engaged inquests.
Kate joined Browne Jacobson with a background in criminal law, regulatory matters and multi-party disputes having represented a wide range of organisations, including those within the care sector and therefore has broad experience across the health and care sector with an intricate understanding of the particular challenges that are faced.
Often dealing with very sensitive cases with a high media interest, Kate is adept at supporting clinicians and managers through the evidence gathering and court processes and works closely with clients’ governance teams to obtain the best possible outcome at inquest, protect reputation, and guard against future risks. In this respect, she has a keen eye at the outset of a matter for suitable and timely actions and processes that the organisation could implement in order to demonstrate improvements made since the index incident.
In leading inquest and criminal defence cases, Kate is skilled in legal project management to improve efficiency and accuracy, and coordinating the work of a team, particularly on large-scale matters with high volumes of disclosure.
Expertise
Featured experience
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Lampard inquiry
Part of the team advising Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust in relation to the Lampard inquiry – the statutory inquiry into the deaths of mental health inpatients in Essex.
NHS England Thirlwall inquiry
Part of the team advising NHS England in relation to the Thirlwall inquiry – the statutory inquiry into the events at the Countess of Chester Hospital and convictions of Lucy Letby.
Private healthcare provider
Represented a private healthcare provider in an Article 2 inquest into the death of a patient undergoing alcohol detoxification.
Community mental health trust
Represented a community mental health trust in relation to the death of a teenager with emotional dysregulation. They had made several previous suicide attempts but did not meet criteria for a specialist inpatient stay.
Testimonials
"Thank you for providing our witnesses with reassurance, practical and emotional support… it has been an extremely difficult one. We are very pleased to have been able to work with you. You have been very professional, informative, approachable, and personable… and look forward to continuing to work with you."
"Practicable advice enthusiastically delivered."
"Thanks for all your support, Kate. You were amazing. I hope conversations or PFD to the CCG will lead to better resources and more robust commissioning for dual diagnosis; and to give patients a better service."
"Thanks very much Kate for your help with this Inquest, it’s been a pleasure working with you as always. Your liaison with [other interested parties] hugely helped us get to where we ended today."