Caroline Wood

Ranked for Inquests and Inquiries in Chambers & and Partners (2026)

Ranked Tier 2 for Inquests and Inquiries in the Legal 500 (2026)

“Caroline has a remarkable ability to analyse and sythesise large volumes of information. She is adept at identifying key issues and developing strategic approaches to address them ensuring that her clients receive the best possible representation”

– Legal 500 (2026)

“Caroline is superb. She did an incredible job for the family and is an impressive advocate. I would recommend her highly.”

– Chambers & Partners (2026)

Caroline is regularly instructed in inquests acting for bereaved families, individual interested persons and for public or corporate bodies including ‘Article 2’ and jury inquests. The vast majority of inquests she attends relate to deaths arising in or linked to provision of healthcare such as in hospitals, care homes and deaths in custody, which dovetails with her clinical negligence work.

She will accept appropriate instructions on a CFA and has also provided representation pro bono for families instructed through AvMA.

Caroline provides seminars and training as well as having articles published in the AvMA newsletter.

Public Access

Caroline may accept Public Access work, where she can be instructed directly by a member of the public rather than a solicitor.

"Caroline Wood is a sensible barrister who knew about the field and was good in collaborating."

Chambers & Partners (2026)

"Caroline is an excellent advocate with great forensic skills."

The Legal 500 (2025)

"Caroline is very good with bereaved families, and in handling cases involving complex medical issues. A very personable junior."

Legal 500 (2024)

Notable cases - Hospital related deaths

Inquest touching the death of KDD: Rider of Neglect as a consequence of an accumulation of failings by the hospital trust. Deceased was suffering from sepsis against a background of cholecystitis for which there was a delay and shortcomings in relation to diagnosis and treatment. The deceased died 3 days after being admitted to hospital. The trust accepted that the deceased would probably have survived with correct treatment. Instructed by the family on a CFA. No PFD report
Inquest touching the death of LH: A complicated case where the deceased had previous bariatric surgery on a background of mental health issues. She attended her GP and a dietician before being admitted to hospital with significant weight loss, the cause of which was never identified before her death. Instructed by the family.
Inquest touching the death of LH: Instructed by the family in relation to deceased who died in hospital of Group A streptococcus on a background of acute pre – eclamptic toxaemia and HELLP syndrome shortly after giving birth. Her deterioration was wrongly attributed to recovery from general anaesthetic given prior to emergency C – section and there was no obstetric review. The factual background was complicated by incomplete records relating to blood pressure, some of which had been made retrospectively. Narrative conclusion.
Inquest touching the death of RH: Instructed by AvMA, pro bono. Representing the family of a child who died of infection during a course of chemotherapy treatment for myeloid sarcoma.Pro Bono.
Inquest touching on the death of JS: Caroline was instructed by AvMA on behalf of the family. JS died after a hip replacement operation. Following conclusion of the inquest, but before publication of a Regulation 28 report relating to loss of JS’s CPAP machine, the trust’s representatives wrote to the Coroner challenging the making of the Regulation 28 (PFD) report. Caroline made representations that the Coroner had no authority to retrospectively withdraw the Regulation 28 report relying, inter alia, on the case of R (Dr Siddiqui and Dr Paeprer-Rohricht) -v- Assistant Coroner for East London and the PFD was published thereafter. Pro Bono.
Inquest touching on the death of BG: Instructed by the family to advise in relation to the death of BG who died of diabetic keto – acidosis as a consequence of his undiagnosed diabetes. The civil claim was settled prior to the inquest taking place. Instructed by the family on a CFA.

Notable cases - Care Homes

Inquest touching the death of KV: Inquest relating to a death from aspiration pneumonia following a vomiting episode when being fed through a PEG tube. Instructed on behalf of the care home. Narrative conclusion. No PFD report
Inquest touching the death of HP: Inquest relating to death following a fall in a care home causing head injury which resulted in a slow bleed from a vein in the brain. Instructed on behalf of the care home. Conclusion of accident. No PFD report.
Inquest touching the death of IL: Representing care home. Fall resulting in fractured hip. Conclusion of natural causes contributed to by hip fracture. No criticism of care home. No PFD report.

Notable cases - Deaths in Custody

Inquest touching the death of AQ: 6 day Article 2, jury inquest touching on the death of a prison resident who died of plastic bag asphyxiation following an unsuccessful suicide attempt by similar means 3 weeks earlier. Issues concerning the ACCT process and assessment of risk of self -harm/suicide. Instructed by healthcare provider. Suicide plus narrative. No PFD report.
Inquest touching the death of RM: Article 2, jury inquest concerning prison resident with capacity who declined nutrition and hydration. The medical cause of death was 1a. acute kidney injury 1b. Inanition with various co – morbidities included at 2. Legal discussion as to whether short – forms of suicide and/or misadventure would apply in the circumstances. The Coroner determined suicide was not safe to be left to the jury and the refusal of nutrition/hydration by the deceased did not fall within the definition of misadventure as the refusal was an intended act but the evidence was that the deceased was aware of the consequences. A Narrative conclusion was left to the jury. Instructed by healthcare provider. No PFD report.
Inquest touching the death of SP: 5 day Article 2, jury inquest. Deceased died of asphyxia. The pathologist suggested including at 1b. Neck compression in the context of mixed drug intoxication (cocaine, benzodiazepine, methadone). Methadone had been correctly prescribed by prison healthcare and the Coroner accepted submissions made by Caroline to direct the jury that, “substance misuse” at 2 better reflected the evidence. Instructed by healthcare provider. No PFD report.

Notable cases - Social Care

Inquest touching the death of PD: Instructed by local authority in relation to the death of a man who had been asked to leave the family home because of reports of domestic violence. The deceased was a diabetic and was placed in accommodation by social care where he was found deceased. A narrative conclusion. No PFD report.
Inquest touching the death of JH (2019): Caroline was instructed to advise by a local authority following the apparent suicide of a young boy with learning difficulties who had been subjected to bullying.

Caroline is instructed on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants, including private hospitals and Defence Unions, in relation to Clinical negligence claims. She accepts CFA instructions where appropriate.

Caroline also represents interested parties at inquests into deaths in a healthcare setting, which assists with her understanding of the medical background in clinical negligence claims. She has acted pro bono for families at inquests, instructed by AvMA.

Caroline is experienced at CCMC hearings and also FOI Act requests and PAD applications in the context of clinical negligence claims.

Public Access

Caroline may accept Public Access work, where she can be instructed directly by a member of the public rather than a solicitor.

Notable cases

Fatal claim settled at JSM for £290,000 plus costs. Deceased was suffering from sepsis against a background of cholecystitis for which there were shortcomings in relation to diagnosis and treatment. The deceased died 3 days after being admitted to hospital. The defendant Trust accepted that the deceased would probably have survived with correct treatment. At Inquest: Rider of Neglect as a consequence of an accumulation of failings by the hospital trust. Instructed by the family for both inquest and clinical negligence claim on a CFA.
Multiple instructions defending claims for pressure sores in a care home/ nursing home setting.
Claim for delay in diagnosis and treatment of endophthalmitis (infection of the tissues or fluids inside the eyeball), a post – operative complication from cataract surgery plus lens implant. As a consequence of misdiagnosis the infection (toxoplasmosis) was treated with steroids which exacerbated the infection and the Claimant suffered a loss of vision and extended duration of treatment which would not have occurred but for the delay in diagnosis and treatment. Settled for £80,000. Acting for Claimant CFA.
Fatal claim for failure to diagnose diabetes leading to death of BG from diabetic keto-acidosis. Caroline was instructed for both the Inquest touching on the death of BG and the clinical negligence claim. The civil claim was settled prior to the inquest taking place. Instructed by the family on a CFA.
Delayed treatment of Crohn’s disease: Claim settled for £150,000 at JSM: Causation issues in relation to claim for fistula, perforation and ileostomy. Instructed for Claimant on a CFA.
Led by Andrew Lewis KC in cerebral palsy and large loss claims.
Delayed diagnosis and treatment of cancer: breast, pancreatic and ovarian.
Birth injury, including secondary victim claims. A recent instruction involved a causation issue where the expert medical evidence conflicted with the outcome of an inquest.
Voluntary drug rehabilitation patient who died of an overdose shortly after being discharged. Human Rights Act issues.
Claims arising from cosmetic surgery such as gastric band surgery and breast implants.
Consent claims following Montgomery.

Caroline specialises in all areas of personal injury and fatal accidents, including disease, limitation hearings and clinical negligence. She acts on behalf of both claimants and defendants in claims valued from fast track to multi track and appears in courts nationwide.

Solicitors have commented on her conscientious approach,

” For an instruction at short notice with disclosure, multiple witness accounts and the volume of information from the engineer and P35 Replies you were comfortably better than anyone else I’ve instructed in the last 12 months”

-(Deputy head of noise team)

Lectures

Caroline provides seminars to solicitors both in chambers and on request at solicitors offices.
Recent seminars include:
Clinical Negligence
An introduction to noise induced hearing loss;
Secondary Victim claims.

Professional memberships

Caroline is a member of PIBA and regularly attends the PIBA Annual Conference and the Northern Circuit seminars.

Public Access

Caroline may accept Public Access work, where she can be instructed directly by a member of the public rather than a solicitor.

Notable cases

Claim in respect of multi-fragmented fractures of both proximal tibia and fibula caused at work. Claim settled at JSM for £300,000 gross of CRU. Instructed by Defendant.
Claim in respect of finger amputation: Claimant claimed £300,000. Settled for £90,000 including a discount of 40% for contributory negligence at JSM. Acting for the defend-ant.
Interim payment application claimed at over £750,000. Agreed and approved at £460,000. Instructed as junior to Andrew Lewis KC. Acting for Defendant.
Vicarious liability claim arising from an assault by a school employee on another school employee. Successful representation of the defendant.
Animals Act: Preskey v Sutcliffe and Sutcliffe, reported on Lawtel, document number AC0136261. Successful representation of the defendants in this claim arising from a dog bite. Extensive cross – examination as to credit.
Road traffic accidents, including accidents abroad, MIB claims, indemnity issues, LVI, late notification and suspected fraudulent claims.

Caroline is a mediator accredited by the Society of Mediators. She is currently undertaking advanced training in mediation practice with Gerry O’Sullivan, an internationally recognised mediator, trainer, and facilitator with over three decades of experience in conflict resolution.

Caroline practises exclusively as a facilitative mediator and does not conduct evaluative mediation.

Under the facilitative model, the mediator assists the participants—both individually and, with their consent, jointly—by asking structured and probing questions designed to help them explore the issues in dispute. The process does not involve the mediator giving advice or expressing views on the merits of the case. Facilitative mediation frequently enables participants to reach outcomes that are more flexible and satisfactory than those available through litigation.

Mediation is, by its nature, an intensive and reflective process. Participants are encouraged to consider not only their own positions and priorities but also those of the other participants involved.

Prior to the mediation itself, it is usual for the mediator to hold an initial discussion with each participant. A mediation agreement and a confidentiality agreement must be executed before the substantive process begins.

Following completion of her initial training, Caroline was invited to assist Jonathan Dingle, a leading mediator and barrister, in a complex 1.5‑day mediation concerning a significant and long‑running dispute.

Recent feedback provided to Caroline includes:
“I wanted to drop you a line to thank you very much for conducting the mediation with such sensitivity and attention to detail. I also must thank you for going above and beyond yesterday, staying 2.5 hours later than planned to ensure that the mediation could conclude in the best way possible. It is much appreciated.”

The mediation concluded in a settlement that could not have been ordered by the court, demonstrating the value of the facilitative process in enabling participants to explore and agree upon creative, bespoke solutions.

Career details

Public Access

Notable cases - Hospital related deaths

Notable cases - Care Homes

Notable cases - Deaths in Custody

Notable cases - Social Care

Public Access

Notable cases

Lectures

Professional memberships

Public Access

Notable cases

Caroline Wood recognised in Pro Bono Recognition List of England & Wales

Caroline Wood completes 32 hours of work for the Pro Bono Pledge

Clinical Negligence Webinar

Caroline Wood instructed to represent GP and nurse in Tetanus death

Caroline Wood

Career details

Public Access

Notable cases - Hospital related deaths

Notable cases - Care Homes

Notable cases - Deaths in Custody

Notable cases - Social Care

Public Access

Notable cases

Lectures

Professional memberships

Public Access

Notable cases

Contact Caroline Wood's clerks:

Madeleine Gray

Patrick Urbina

Jenny Dwan

Talia Webster

Joshua Duree

Mike Alexander

Ben Ellison-Tope

India Johnson

Talia Webster

Joshua Duree

Mike Alexander

Ben Ellison-Tope

India Johnson

Talia Webster

Joshua Duree

Mike Alexander

Ben Ellison-Tope

India Johnson

Latest from Caroline Wood

Caroline Wood recognised in Pro Bono Recognition List of England & Wales

Caroline Wood completes 32 hours of work for the Pro Bono Pledge

Clinical Negligence Webinar

Caroline Wood instructed to represent GP and nurse in Tetanus death