James Healy-Pratt

James sits part-time as HM Coroner, conducting over 150 inquests, including complex jury cases involving medical, human rights, and toxicology issues. He also represents families at inquests across England and Wales.

• HM Deputy Coroner for East Sussex and HM Assistant Coroner for West Sussex, since 2016.
• Acted as HM Coroner on over 150 Inquests, including high-profile complex inquests with juries.
• Acted as HM Coroner on complex jury inquests involving clinical and healthcare environments.
• Acted as HM Coroner on complex inquests involving Human Rights Act issues.
• Acted as HM Coroner on multiple inquests involving complex toxicology and pharmacology.
• Acted as Advocate for families of 2015 Shoreham Airshow disaster, and 2018 Papillon Grand Canyon accident at Coroner’s Court, and many other families at Coroners’ inquests in England & Wales.

James acts as an arbitrator in international commercial disputes, including financial services. He also represents parties in mediations and insurance arbitrations across multiple global jurisdictions.

• Acted as an Arbitrator with the leading US arbitration and mediation firm JAMS, largely made up of former judges.
• Arbitrated for international commercial disputes, including financial services under US and UK law.
• Acted for families and aviation insurers in more than 1,000 mediations in the jurisdictions of USA, UK, EU, Asia, and Australia.
• Represented All Risks insurers with dispute with War Risk insurers.

James specialises in international and domestic aviation accidents. With an unrivalled understanding of the aviation insurance market, he represents families in high-profile aviation accidents.

• Represented (and resolved claims of) families of Malaysian Airlines Flights 370 and 17 (missing/shot-down).
• Advised and resolved claims by families from airline disasters around the world, including international litigation where required, against the following airlines:

Emirates

American Airlines

Continental Airlines

Ethiopian

Kenya Airways

Air Philippines

Garuda

Adam Air

Lion Air

Air France

British Airways

GOL (Brazil)

Egyptair

Sibir (Russia)

Qantas

Malaysian Airlines

• One Two Go Airlines (Thailand): Advised numerous high-net-worth families in helicopter and business jet crashes in the UK, Europe, USA, Africa and Asia (including Lord Ballyedmond and Charles Stisted, the CEO of Guards Polo Club).
• Acted for families and aviation insurers in more than 1,000 mediations (USA/UK/EU/Asia/Australia) since 1992.
• Resolved claims for aviation insurers arising from the 9/11 2001 US Terrorist Attacks in New York and Washington DC.
• Represented All Risks insurers with dispute with War Risk insurers.
• Deputy Chairman, Aviation Insurance Clauses Group, Lloyds of London 2006.
• Contributing Editor to The Law of Aviation Insurance, 3rd edition, Butterworths 2000.

James has 15 years’ experience in the London co-insurance market for both companies and Lloyd’s. He resolved insurance and reinsurance coverage disputes as well as regulatory investigations (UK/US/EU).

• Advised on international acquisition of American Aviation Underwriters by Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers.
• Advised on international establishment of Bermudan insurance company for Amlin plc.
• Advised Lloyd’s of London in relation to EU Commission investigation into competitive practices.
• Advised underwriters on broker remuneration and commission arrangements following US DOJ investigation into competitive practices.
• Frequently appointed as Arbitrator in international financial services disputes.

James advises on aviation fatal accident claims across Africa, representing families in actions against airlines, operators, and manufacturers following incidents in Kenya, Libya, Cameroon, Sudan, Malawi, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Congo.

• Represented and advised UK, Kenyan, and South African families with claims against Kenya Airlines following the KQ507 fatal air incident in Douala, Cameroon.
• Represented and advised UK and Australian families on a charter flight to view a mining operation in Congo that was AN Aero-Service fatal air accident. This case was a High Court trial in liability (Cassley v GMP Resources and others [2015] EWHC 722 QB).
• Represented and advised UK, Kenyan and South African families with claims against Kenya Airlines and the Boeing Corporation following the KQ507 fatal air incident in Douala, Cameroon.
• Represented and advised 5 UK tourists and a Canadian pilot on claims against Nyika Safaris following Cessna 206’s fatal air accident in Malawi.
• Represented and advised Safari air operator after a fatal Cessna 404 crash in Tanzania involving 10 US tourists and two Tanzanian crew.
• Represented and advised Lebanese, French and Ethiopian families with claims against Ethiopian Airlines and the Boeing Corporation following the ET 409 fatal air incident from Beirut to Addis Ababa.
• Represented and advised Sudanese families with claims against Sudan Airways following the Flight 109 fatal air incident in Khartoum.
• Represented and advised four South Africans on claims against Robinson following a R44 fatal accident in South Africa.
• Represented and advised South African and Libyan families with claims against Afriqiyah Airlines following the Flight 771 fatal air incident in Tripoli, Libya.
• Represented and advised family of a commercial helicopter pilot following an oil exploration Aerospatiale Dauphin helicopter fatal accident in Nigeria.

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Aviation 2022–2026

Recognised by Chambers UK for Aviation: Claimant 2022–2023, 2026

Recognised as by Chambers UK as a Senior Statesperson for Aviation 2020–2026

Recognised by The Legal 500 Hall of Fame for Travel 2023–2026

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Commercial Litigation 2023–2026

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation 2023–2025

Recognised by Best Lawyers UK for Aviation 2024–2025

Recognised by Who’s Who Legal for Transport – Aviation Contentious 2022–2023

Recognised as a Leading Individual by Who’s Who Legal for Aviation 2018

Frequently appears on BBC, ITV, Sky CNN, and in the national and international press as an aviation legal expert