Sunyana Sharma 560x670

Sunyana Sharma

Year of Call: 2006
Email Address: [email protected]
CJSM: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 7583 8055

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Clerks Details

  • Clerk Name: Gemma Faulkner
  • Clerk Telephone: 020 7583 8055
  • Clerk Email: [email protected]

Overview

Sunyana Sharma is an inquest and professional discipline barrister with specialist knowledge in maritime and fishing law and health and safety law. She also has experience in regulatory compliance.

Sunyana sits as an Assistant Coroner for Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth and as a Deputy District Judge in Civil and Family law. To read more about Sunyana’s relevant expertise, please see her specialist inquests profile.

Prior to joining Chambers, Sunyana worked for the Solicitor International Human Right’s Group (‘SIHRG’) with whom she organised the Zimbabwe Fundraising Event called 'Protecting Lawyers in Zimbabwe' in collaboration with the Bar Human Rights Committee. She also worked as part of a team in researching and drafting legal submissions on the rule of law and the importance of an impartial tribunal following the suspension of the Chief Justice of Pakistan in March 2007. In addition, she undertook an internship with the criminal justice department of 'JUSTICE', the all party law reform and human rights organisation. She assisted with the research on policy papers commissioned by JUSTICE, which included changes to the rape in the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and responses to the Home Office paper on 'New powers against organised and financial crime’.

Reported Cases

[2010] EWCA Crim 109; [2011] 1 Cr App R (S) 36: The Court considered whether exceptional circumstances exist justifying the court in not imposing the required minimum sentence for the possession of firearms.

Publications

Sunyana has written for a number of publications on topics such as inquests, public law and life at the Bar. These articles include:

Health and Safety law

Health and Safety Sunyana Sharma has appeared for both the prosecution and defence in a number of health and safety cases in various tribunals and courts.  She was previously appointed to the C list of Specialist Regulatory Advocates for The Health & Safety Executive, Environment Agency and Office of Rail Regulation.  Between 2017 and 2018, Sunyana was contracted to work as In House Counsel for National Grid PLC in Health, Safety and Environment. She was therefore exposed to various health, safety and environmental issues in the Electricity and Gas Industry.  Her work extends to representing both local authorities as well as Companies and individuals.  She has expertise in the following:

  • Electricity and Gas safety
  • Food safety
  • Unsafe products
  • Accidents at work
  • Accidents and collisions at sea
  • Environmental and pollution offences
  • Housing Act 2004 breaches
  • Animal Welfare Act offences

Recent cases

HSE v. EBM (2023): Instructed to represent a managing agent following asbestos exposure at a residential block of flats.

Inquest touching death of TR (2022): Represented care home following death of young man with Dystrophia myotonica where alleged care home failed to mitigate against the risk of falls ultimately leading to death.

CQC v. P (2021): Represented a care home and its owner following the tragic death of resident who fell from an external staircase that should not have been accessible.  Following written response to CQC, no charges brought under Regulation 12(1) and 22 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

HSE v. L (2021): represented Company for offence under regulation 4(1) of the Work at Heights Regulations 2005 following fall from height during a barn conversion project leading to life changing injuries.

R v. SG (2020): Represented a Maritime Operations Officer (‘MOO’) for their involvement in a search and rescue operation following a person in the water at New Brighton who subsequently died. Although police investigation into gross negligence manslaughter allegations against MOO, early involvement in case led to client not being arrested or charged.

WAL & LY v. LB of Camden (2020): Acted for Appellants in an appeal against final notices to impose civil penalties for failing to license and HMO.

National Grid PLC and National Grid Gas PLC (‘NGG’) (2017 to 2018):

  • Advised on various HSE investigations, prosecutions, improvement notices
  • Advised on amendments to the NGG Gas Safety Case including interpretation of duties in respect of Meters on the Network
  • Advised a Control of Major Accidents Hazard site on improving health and safety arrangements for the distribution network operators on site maintaining their own assets
  • Involved in meetings and discussions on industry led changes to the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996
  • Advised on the regulatory compliance of major assets e.g. The Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulations 2015
  • Led the team to update policy in relation to employees travelling overseas
  • Responded to ‘Environmental Information Regulations 2004’ requests

Inquest touching the death of RS (2016): Represented an employee as an interested party at a three day jury inquest into the death of a colleague whilst at work following a fall through a Perspex roof on his employer’s premises.

Buckinghamshire County Council v. B Ltd & PD (2015): Represented a Company and its Director for producing and supplying an ‘unsafe product’ known as the ‘Nutkins cot bed’, attempting to pervert the course of justice and breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.  This was a high profile case which featured on the BBC’s ‘The One Show’ due to the near death of a child.

London Borough of Islington v. C Carnavale Ltd & Others (2015): Drafted in at the last hour to represent a Company in a complex application to dismiss for offences pursuant to regulation 4 of the General Food Regulations 2004 as enabled by the Food Safety Act 1990 relating to the traceability requirement and an offence contrary to the regulation 19(1) and 19(2) of the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 in respect of the processing of raw cow’s milk.

R v. SJ Norman (2015): Represented the Crown in prosecuting a slaughter house for failing to take a stem cell sample from a bovine contrary to regulation 5(a) and paragraph 8(1) of Schedule 2, Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (England) Regulations 2010.

Ealing Borough Council v. MMC Ltd (2014): Instructed in advising a Company and its management on a local authority prosecution in relation to hygiene offences and emergency prohibition order breaches under the Food Safety Act 1990 of its restaurant.

South Weald Inns Ltd v. Brentwood Borough Council (2012): Represented South Weald Inns Ltd in an appeal of a noise abatement notice pursuant to the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Health and Safety Executive v. MB Facilities Ltd (2012): Represented the Defendant Company for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Work at Height Regulations 2005 arising from the fall of an employee whilst working at height.

Slough Borough Council v. Bellforce Developments Ltd, Gurpartap Singh Bhullar, and Jagdeep Singh Bhullar (2012): Successfully prosecuted 3 Defendants in a 9 day appeal to the Crown Court for a local authority for breaches of s.234 and s.72 of the Housing Act 2004.

South Oxfordshire District Council v. Doris Davey (2011): Successfully prosecuted a 78 year old Defendant for 11 out of 18 offences for breach of a noise abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  • Recommendations

    Sunyana Sharma is ranked in the Legal 500 2024/Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law/Leading Juniors/London Bar

    Sunyana Sharma is ranked in the Legal 500 2024/Inquests and Inquiries/Leading Juniors/London Bar

    [Sunyana Sharma is] ‘Able to assimilate large volumes of information quickly and focus on the key issues, with questioning that is succinct but focused – a highly competent barrister.’

    Legal 500 2023/Inquests and Inquiries/Leading Juniors/London Bar

    ‘Strengths include a wealth of knowledge, strategic acumen and impeccable client care. In addition to being incredibly talented, Sunyana is also efficient, approachable, and always easy to reach and happy to advise. Instructing solicitors cannot rate the service provided by Sunyana highly enough.’

    Legal 500 2022/Inquests and Inquiries/Leading Juniors/London Bar

    'She understands both sides of nursing and midwifery cases.'

    Legal 500 2016/Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law (including police law)/Leading Juniors

    “Sunyana has conducted numerous prosecutions for us as a regulator over several years. Sunyana is a diligent hard-working barrister who provides clear advice with absolute clarity on a consistent basis.
    A barrister who always appears to be pro-active, on the front foot and seemingly always one step ahead of the game. Sunyana serves us as a client timely and measured response in all instructions and is keen to work with us the regulator at an early stage in all matters.

    In the court room is where you see the real deal with Sunyana, strong and robust advocacy, fast thinking and good on her feet, clearly respected by the bench and peers alike and consistently builds strong working relationships with all parties in every case we have worked on together.

    In all Sunyana is hugely knowledgeable, highly effective whilst still being a delightful person to work with.”

    Head of UK Maritime Investigations Team, Maritime & Coastguard Agency

    “I just wanted to say a big thank you for your hard work on our recent case. Considering you only received the papers at very late notice, your knowledge and understanding of the case was outstanding. I was so impressed by your meticulous preparation and would have no hesitation in instructing you again or recommending you to any of my colleagues. Thank you again”.

    Partner, Law firm

    "Hardworking, intelligent, very approachable and a pleasure to work with. She is always available to speak to and bounce ideas off and is very good both at advising clients and managing their expectations".

    Senior Associate, Law firm

    • Expand recommendations
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