Fiona and Beth provided an update on 2 of the important recent cases in this area: Ferguson and Rizvi. The...
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Overview
Beth is a personal injury and inquest barrister acting for both Claimants and Defendants, and is Deputy Head of the Inquests and Public Inquiries Team. Her personal injury practice has developed significantly in recent years: she now regularly acts in intermediate track and multi-track claims, appears frequently in Court, and is instructed in cases valued in excess of £100,000, including advising on settlement. Her experience spans serious personal injury, road traffic accident and employers’ liability claims, with a particular focus on brain injury, partial amputations, complex chronic pain and fundamental dishonesty. She is regularly instructed in insurance fraud matters to advise, draft pleadings and appear at trial, and has secured recent findings of fundamental dishonesty for Defendants.
Beth’s inquest practice includes Article 2 ECHR and jury inquests, representing families, local authorities, police forces, housing associations and care homes. This work dovetails with her clinical negligence practice, which focuses on fatal cases. Her background in criminal practice (as a CPS Panel Advocate) informs her advocacy at jury inquests, and her years as a legal assistant at blue chip personal injury firms on both sides mean she understands what matters to the instructing solicitor.
Outside of work Beth plays cricket for Croston Cricket Club and coaches its junior teams, volunteers with aspiring barristers, and is a keen footballer and golfer.
Personal Injury
Beth has a busy personal injury practice acting for both claimants and defendants. Beth has experience of multi-track,
Beth has a busy personal injury practice acting for both Claimants and Defendants. She regularly appears in intermediate track and multi-track trials, alongside fast track work, and is frequently in Court for quantum disposal, application and case management hearings. She is instructed in claims valued in excess of £100,000, including advising on settlement, and maintains a busy paperwork practice.
Beth regularly defends road traffic claims on grounds of fundamental dishonesty, across the full spectrum of RTA fraud cases from staged accidents to phantom passengers and low velocity impact arguments.
Notable Cases
Case of MA (2026): Beth represented the Defendant at trial. A finding of Fundamental Dishonesty was made resulting in an enforceable costs order in excess of £27,000.00.
Case of SH (2024): Beth represented the Defendant at trial. A finding of Fundamental Dishonesty was made resulting in an enforceable costs order in excess of £12,000.00.
Elzbieta Szwed v Mark H Poskitt Ltd (2023): Beth appeared for the Claimant in a two-day multi-track Employers’ Liability trial. Liability was determined for the Claimant on a 100% basis and the Claimant was awarded substantial damages.
Case of ES (2023): Beth represented the Claimant at this Multi Track multi-day Personal Injury trial where liability and quantum remained in dispute. The Claimant succeeded on liability and was awarded substantial damages for her injuries.
Inquests and Public Inquiries
Beth is Deputy Head of the Inquests and Public Inquiries Team.
She has a wide-ranging inquest practice and is experienced in cases engaging Article 2 ECHR and those requiring a jury, drawing on her criminal court experience when representing interested persons before a jury. Beth acts for a broad range of interested persons, including families, local authorities, police forces, housing associations and care homes, and this work dovetails with her personal injury and clinical negligence practice.
Notable Cases
Inquest touching the death of LF (2026): Beth appeared for the family. The Coroner found failings by the Trust in its management of the deceased’s mental health admission and issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report.
Case of LF (2026): Beth represented the family at an inquest where the Coroner returned findings of multiple Trust failings and issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report.
Case of JS (2026): Beth represented the family at an Article 2 jury inquest.
Case of WL (2024): Beth represented the Police in an Article 2 jury inquest. The Coroner disengaged Article 2 after submissions.
Case of KW (2022 to 2024): Beth represented the family at the multi-day inquest. Subsequently Beth drafted the pleadings and advised on settlement as the family were awarded damages arising out of a clinical negligence claim.
Inquest touching the death of JS: Beth appeared for the family at an Article 2 jury inquest.
Inquest touching the death of WL (2024): Beth appeared for Cheshire Constabulary at an Article 2 jury inquest. Following her submissions at the conclusion of the evidence, the Coroner found that Article 2 was no longer engaged.
Inquest touching the death of LJ (2024): Beth appeared for Warrington Borough Council and successfully submitted at the conclusion of the evidence that Article 2 ECHR was not engaged.
Education
BPP University (Manchester), Bar Training Course
University of Law (Manchester), GDL
University of St Andrews, M.Litt Medieval History
University of St Andrews, MA (Hons) History
Awards
University of Law Manchester Mooting Competition 2020, Winner
National Speed Mooting Competition 2020, Runner-Up
Gray’s Inn: Uthwatt Scholar (BTC)
BPP Manchester: Academic Excellence Scholarship
University of Law (Manchester): Highest Achieving GDL Student 2020
Gray’s Inn: Leonard Caplan Scholar (GDL)
University of St Andrews: Dean’s List
Prescribed Information
Beth Caunce is a practising barrister, regulated by the Bar Standards Board. Details of information held by the BSB about Beth can be found here.
Beth’s clerks will provide no obligation quotations for all legal services that she offers. Beth accepts instructions on legal aid rates where those are available, details of which can be found here. For other work, Beth usually charges a brief fee plus refresher fees for court hearings, with advisory, conference and other preparation work charged at an hourly rate. Beth aims to return paperwork within 10 working days, however her professional commitments, complexity and volume of documentation can affect these approximate timescales.
