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:

Inquests

Sunyana Sharma’s experience in inquest work covers medical negligence cases, deaths at sea, fatal accidents at work and deaths in care home settings and suicides of community and voluntary and involuntary patients. .

She is well equipped to deal with a full range of inquest work as noted by her expertise in areas of professional disciplinary law, maritime law and health and safety work.

In November 2021, Sunyana was appointed as an Assistant Coroner for Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton and now combines this part-time role with her busy inquests’ caseload.

She provides added value to inquests as a result of her previous practice area of personal injury in which she conducted clinical negligence claims, work related illnesses and accidents and police misconduct claims.

Notable Cases

  • Inquest touching deaths of M, J & P (2023): Representing HM Coastguard Agency in three joint inquests following drownings that occurred during the relaxation of COVID pandemic lockdown. PFD concerns raised on the management of beach safety prior to the inquest.
  • Inquest touching the death of AS (2022): Represented a nurse, who had sole care of a tracheostomy child patient with complex care needs.  An article 2 six-day inquest in which neglect issues raised when nurse failed to follow emergency care plan process when tracheostomy dislodged. PFD and referral to NMC avoided.
  • Inquest touching the deaths of YMG & PLF (2021): Represented HMCG in 10-day Judge led inquest which inquired into the drowning of two fisherman following the sinking of the French fishing vessel, the Bugaled Breizh in January 2004.  The inquest considered the structural safety of the vessel, adequacy of training and equipment, the possible causes of the sinking including the involvement of another vessel or submarine and the adequacy of the search and rescue of the fishermen.
  • Inquest touching death of SR (2021): Represented Local Authority in an article 2 jury inquest of a drug related death of a patient who was receiving specialist treatment by Healthcare Services under s.37/s.41 of the Mental Health Act under a Restricted Order. Scope of inquest included the adequate monitoring of the deceased’s mental health and the delay in transferring to another jurisdiction, which led to the overdose.
  • Inquest touching the deaths of S & A (2021): Representing a neonatal nurse who erroneously administered sodium nitrite, an unlicensed drug, rather than sodium bicarbonate on two separate occasions leading to the deaths of two babies.
  • Inquest touching death of GPS (2021): Represented HM Coastguard Agency in article 2 inquest following the failed search and rescue of G who was found 11 days after her disappearance was first notified to the Police.
  • Inquest touching the death of D (2020): Represented care home following the death of an elderly resident with dementia. Coroner exploring errors made by multiple individuals in the care of the resident and poor communication between the Home and GP surgery.
  • Inquest touching the death of JT (2020): Represented family in an Article 2 inquest investigating failures by four clinical settings. Concerns included the response by an Ambulance Service, the care provided at two NHS Trusts one of which led to the amputation of the deceased’s leg and the emergency care given in A & E prior to death.
  • Inquest touching the death of BI (2018): Instructed to represent a dredger Company following a collision with a sailing boat leading to a death at sea.
  • Inquest touching the death of NW (2017): Instructed by HM Coastguard Agency following a death at sea in which article 2 issues were raised in relation to the collaboration of multi-agencies. No PFD Report made.
  • Inquest touching the death of RS (2016): Represented an employee as an IP at a 3-day jury inquest into the death of a colleague whilst at work following a fall through a Perspex roof on his employer’s premises.
  • Inquest touching the death of EG (2013): Represented the family of the deceased in an inquest which challenged the clinical care and treatment provided by an NHS Trust.
  • Recommendations

    Sunyana Sharma of 3PB Barristers is a well-known name across the South and South West regions for her representation of healthcare units, families, police constabularies and the Maritime Coastguard Agency. She has ample experience advising on Article 2 issues, jury inquests, clinical negligence deaths and deaths in the workplace. She has additional expertise in dealing with deaths at sea, a specialist area of law. Sharma sits as an assistant coroner for Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth.
    Strengths: "Sunyana Sharma is an excellent advocate, is very good with clients and provides a high-level service."
    "Sunyana is an experienced inquest barrister. She's great with clients and instructing solicitors, and adept at dealing with complex and sensitive matters."
    "Sunyana is very personable and friendly, with great client care skills. Her advocacy style is very relaxed and positive, which is ideal for inquests."
    "Sunyana is able to communicate in layman's terms, so family members can be fully reassured. She really pleasant and thorough. I understand why she's so popular!"

    Chambers UK 2025/Inquests and Public Inquiries/The Regions

    Sunyana Sharma of 3PB Barristers maintains a strong practice in professional disciplinary regulation following secondments at the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the General Chiropractic Council. She regularly appears before healthcare tribunals acting for a range of healthcare professionals.
    Strengths: "She's really good at getting to grips with the nuances of cases and asking the right questions of the client. She matches her advice and approach to cases to the client."
    "Clients often appreciate her caring and empathetic nature. Her written work is to a high standard and she has excellent advocacy skills that often achieve great results."
    "Sunyana has excellent communication, attention to detail and client care skills."

    Chambers UK 2025/Professional Discipline/London Bar

    ‘Sunyana has an excellent knowledge of professional disciplinary law. Her experience and knowledge mean that she is able to quickly identify the pertinent issues in any case and has a keen eye for the finer detail.'

    Legal 500 2025/Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law/Leading Juniors/London Bar

    Sunyana Sharma is ranked in the Legal 500 2025/Inquests and Inquiries/Leading Juniors/London Bar

    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

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