Top Ranked in Legal 500 2012-2021:
Patrick Cassidy has been recommended by the Legal 500 for his Criminal and Inquest practice since 2012. 'Impressive, client-focused and accessible' and 'Patrick Cassidy is a highly experienced inquest advocate with particular experience of Article 2 inquests and of jury inquests, who keeps abreast of developments in Coronial law and practice and who presents his submissions in a persuasive and authoritative manner. He is well known as Counsel who undertakes such work in complex cases.'
The range of cases also makes him unique, running as it does from serious crime and Article 2 inquests into death in custody cases to criminal appeals and civil actions against the police. The common theme is the presence of the jury and his inclination to support the less powerful. He is happy to receive instructions via the direct access scheme in appropriate cases.
Patrick was awarded National lead in governance in 2014 by the Teaching Council for his then work as a Chair of an Inner city Manchester High School Governing Body. He retired from that post in 2018.
A review of the cases he has been involved in reflects the changing social and racial landscape of the North West over the last 35 years of practice and his interest in cases in which the citizen encounters the power of the state, whether it be the Miners, Printers, Animal Rights Activists or the Asian communities of Oldham or Burnley.
Lecture Experience:
Patrick commenced the Kenworthy's Lecture Series in 1997 which continues annually to date, and he is passionate that Kenworthy's develop a first class professional development culture.
Criminal Law
Top Ranked by Chambers & Partners 2013-2021:
A highly capable criminal defence advocate with a broad practice encompassing the full spectrum of serious general and financial crime. He has experience of the most complex and challenging cases including sexual offences, child abuse and gangland crime. He also handles cases concerning police misconduct and deaths in custody.
Strengths: "An excellent jury advocate."
Recent work: Successfully defended a number of prison officers against charges of misconduct in a public office, after a prisoner died in their custody on the way to court.
Patrick has been recommended by the marketplace in Chambers and partners and Legal 500 in Crime for the last decade.
A review of the cases he has been involved in reflects the changing social and racial landscape of the North West over the last 35 years of practice and his interest in cases in which the citizen encounters the power of the state, whether it be the Miners, Printers, Animal Rights Activists or the Asian communities of Oldham or Burnley.
He was has been very involved in Defending young defendants caught up in the gangland culture particularly but not exclusively in South Manchester over the Course of the last 30 years in cases of Murder manslaughter and Drugs conspiracy.
Patrick's criminal law practice includes;
- Murder and manslaughter
- Serious Organised Crime
- Serious Sexual Offences
- Gangland and violent crime
- Firearms and other offensive weapons
- Drugs offences and conspiracies
- Criminal fraud and proceeds of crime
- Death by dangerous/careless driving
- Mental health crime
Inquests, Regulatory and Professional Discipline
Top Ranked in Legal 500 2012-2021:
Peer barristers praise Kenworthy's Chambers' 'unflappable' Patrick Cassidy for his hard work and empathetic nature which is 'no doubt a reassuring presence for clients in difficult cases'. Cassidy is a highly experienced practitioner, particularly in Article 2 inquiries. He is a go-to for death in custody cases, prisoners who kill while on license, as well as failures in medical treatment of patients in care homes and hospitals.
Patrick Cassidy has a developed speciality in representing properly interested persons in Inquests arising out of default in a number of public sector settings namely Police, Prisons, and the Education sector. He is familiar in the high emotional temperature of inquests and the presence of a jury whether by reason of Article 2 issues or by application of Section 7 of the Coroners and justice Act 2009.
Senior Managers requiring protective advice and representation particularly when there is a potential conflict with their organisation that is emerging as well as families who require a thorough and wholehearted search for the truth are his particularly niche.
His health and safety pedigree extends over numerous defence trials involving Gross Negligence Manslaughter cases and Misconduct in a Public Office. He established with Salford university in 2007 a ground breaking 4 day Health and Safety Course and has lectured extensively on the subject including a lecture to the local govt Association annual conference on Corporate Manslaughter.
He accepts direct access instructions.
Education
Patrick was a National Lead in Governance and Chair of Governors and will advise and represent in the following areas;
- Teacher misconduct, competence and capability
- School Governance, and impasse
- Head Teacher management
- Special Educational Needs / Tribunal hearings
- Behaviour Discipline and Safeguarding
- Admissions and Exclusions
- Governance Reviews
- Critical Incidents - incident management, Reviews/Independent Inquiries
- Seminars for leadership teams in schools, safeguarding Boards & LADO's
Direct Access
Patrick accepts Crime, Inquests and Professional Discipline instructions on a Direct Access basis for appropriate cases. Please refer to the below pricing range for their services; this is subject to case type, complexity and seniority or experience of the barrister. Accurate quotes will be provided prior to commencement of the work involved.
Crime
Magistrates
Advice & Preparation (Hourly Rate): £75 to £200 + VAT
Court Attendance (Day Rate): £300 to £1000 + VAT
Conferences (Hourly Rate): £100 to £125 + VAT
Crown Court
Advice & Preparation (Hourly Rate): £100 to £250 + VAT
Trial Attendance (Day 1): £1000 to £4000 (Additional days) £500 to £1500 + VAT
Conferences (Hourly Rate): £125 to £250 + VAT
Pre-Trial & Post-Trial hearings: £300 to £1000 + VAT
Court of Appeal & High Court
Advice & Preparation (Hourly Rate): £150 to £300 + VAT
Court Attendances (Day Rate): £1000 to £4000 + VAT
Conferences (Hourly Rate): £125 to £250 + VAT
*These price ranges are based on local courts; other courts will incur a travel charge.
Please contact our Senior Criminal Clerk, Paul ([email protected]) for further information.*
Inquests
Advice & Preparation (Hourly Rate): £120 to £150 + VAT
Court Attendance (Day Rate): £500 to £1500 + VAT
Conferences (Hourly Rate): £125 to £250 + VAT
*These price ranges are based on local courts; other courts will incur a travel charge.
Please contact our Senior Criminal Clerk, Paul ([email protected]) for further information.*
Professional Discipline
Advice & Preparation (Hourly Rate): £120 to £150 + VAT
Court Attendance (Day Rate): £500 to £1500 + VAT
Conferences (Hourly Rate): £125 to £250 + VAT
*These price ranges are based on local courts; other courts will incur a travel charge.
Please contact our Employment Clerk, Tom ([email protected]) for further information*
Civil Litigation and Costs
Content
Sandwell and Dudley Coroners Court (2019)
Two-week Article 2 Inquest in to death of nurse Lisa Skidmore. Case of national importance. Probation and Police offender managers criticised. Transforming rehabilitation criticised. National systemic failures unearthed. Representing senior Probation officer managing murderer released into community after serving IPP for Rape.
Doncaster Coroners Court (2019)
Two-week Article 2 Inquest in relation to failures of system to properly observe vulnerable prisoner who committed suicide, Coroner in pfd report asks for greater training for officers in relation to their observation duties. Case of national importance in terms of observation of vulnerable prisoners.
Stockport Coroners Court (2019)
One week representing family dealing with failures of care home managing vulnerable patient with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. PFD on the lack of guidance of observation systems applicable to epileptics in care homes referred to NICE. Coroner found observation systems at the home to be fundamentally flawed.
Stockport Coroners Court (2019) -
Jury inquest into death from Scaffold fall 8-day hearing into death in fall from height of roofer. Sub-contractor/principal contractor argument as to causation. Representing sub-contractor.
Nottingham Inquest (2017)
3-week non-jury inquest into death of an 8 year old at the hands of her step parent. Multiple agencies involved and represented. Representing Assistant head separately from school. My client Head of Safeguarding and allegations that school did not report to Social Care the nature and extent of bruising found on regular basis. Judgement finds client exonerated and Head teacher referred to teaching council for inter alia safeguarding failure.
Preston Inquest (2017)
2-week Article 2 jury prison suicide of young short term prisoner with history of depression. Client Prison officer who had asserted that he had asked Governor to move prisoner from wing the evening before his suicide placing him in conflict with the prison case.
Wakefield Inquest (2017)
2-week jury inquest representing Prison Officer who had failed to regularly monitor a prisoner on an ACCT whilst in segregation. Relied upon rule against self-incrimination upon advice.
Leicester Inquest (2017)
3-day non-jury Representing Teacher in Hospital school whose pupil had autism and was refusing to attend. Depressive symptoms. Questions over the effectiveness of inter-agency work between CAMHS and school before suicide at home.
Manchester Inquest (2016)
Advising parents whose only son committed suicide at University upon the adequacy of pastoral and medical care.
ACCT Regime Advice (2016)
Advised Prison officers Association upon new proposals from NOMS to reorganise ACCT regime.
Rochdale road rage
Acquittal on Attempted Murder Charge following a violent incident with an axe.
Press coverage
R v A (2019)
Defending a Senior Prison Officer accused of manslaughter and failing to take reasonable care for the health & safety of others.
Press coverage
R v Maughan (2016)
Death by Dangerous Driving Case in Sheffield Crown Court.
Press coverage
R v J (2016)
Firearms case where a 75 year old man, formerly the Secretary of a local gun club faces imprisonment for the possession of firearms stored at his home without appropriate licences.
