Charles Cooper

Charles makes use of his Medical background and previous practice as a Solicitor in his Court of Protection/Mental Health practice. He has a particular interest in mental capacity disputes and deprivation of liberty claims and has additional experience of representation at Mental Health Tribunals.

Charles qualified and practiced as a Solicitor specialising in tax and trusts and related disputes before being Called to the Bar, and has broad experience of Tax, Trusts, Wills, Contentious Probate and Non-Contentious Probate.

Tax & Estate Planning

He advises on all aspects of tax and tax planning for individuals and trustees including Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Income Tax, Stamp Duty Land Tax and VAT. Typical cases involve:

• tax planning with trusts, the family home or business
• residency and domicile
• tax on death
• post-death re-arrangement of estates

Trusts & Wills

Charles advises lay and professional clients in relation to technical aspects of trust formation and administration, drafting of wills and trusts, tax issues, foreign assets, and related disputes. He has achieved a Distinction in the STEP international Advanced Certificate in Trust Disputes.

Contentious & Non-Contentious Probate

Charles has a wealth of experience in the administration of complex estates and related disputes, including: capacity disputes; caveats; validity of wills; undue influence; revocation; construction issues; Inheritance Act claims; proprietary estoppel; removal of executors and trustees; and related professional negligence.

Charles has a background in Medicine and utilises his clinical knowledge in his Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence practice to great effect. He has a particular interest in psychiatry/ psychiatric injury/ mental capacity/ consent, and has additional experience of representation at Inquests and Mental Health Tribunals.

Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence

His practice includes advising on evidence, liability and quantum, and acting for both claimants and defendants in relation to Personal Injury and Medical Negligence claims. Cases of note include:

• B v. P (2014) – personal injury case where successfully argued that damages should be awarded in full despite 50% symptoms being considered attributable to a pre-existing condition;
• L v. R (2014) – personal injury case where the Judge accepted that travel anxiety, although falling short of a specific phobia or disorder and associated with minor physical symptoms, should be assessed as falling within the Psychiatric Damage chapter of the Judicial College Guidelines.

Inquests

Charles has a notable interest in Coronial Law and has appeared in a number of Coroner’s Inquests on behalf of bereaved families, Personal Representatives and insurers. Previous cases have included:

• Re P Deceased (2014) – Coroner’s Inquest where cross-examination of the Pathologist resulted in him amending his evidence to include the possibility of iatrogenic paracetamol-induced liver failure as a cause of death.
• Suicide where the family wished for media coverage to be restricted

Charles also makes use of his Medical background and previous practice as a Solicitor in his Court of Protection/Mental Health practice. He has a particular interest in mental capacity disputes and deprivation of liberty claims and has additional experience of representation at Mental Health Tribunals

‘Charles trained as a Civil/Commercial Mediator with the Civil Mediation Council (CMC) accredited Society of Mediators. As a Barrister Mediator he is regulated by the Bar Standards Board and covered by professional indemnity insurance.’

– Solicitor 2008
– Barrister 2012, Lincoln’s Inn
– Mediator
– STEP Advanced Certificate in Trust
Disputes

– Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
– STEP Contentious Trusts and Estates Special Interest Group
– Contentious Trusts Association (ConTrA)
– Revenue Bar Association (RBA)
– Professional Negligence Bar Association (PNBA)
– Society of Mediators (SoM)