Health and Safety

We advise and act in all criminal, regulatory, civil, inquest and inquiry proceedings that follow health and safety incidents. We also have significant experience in conducting independent investigations. Our barristers have unrivalled, multi-disciplinary experience across all relevant sets of proceedings that follow risk related incidents, as well as across the sectors in which issues and incidents arise.

In respect of criminal prosecutions, our barristers have experience acting in and advising on Magistrates’ and Crown Court proceedings, including: pre-charge representations, internal investigations and privilege, improvement and prohibition notices, plea and venue, s.8 disclosure applications, applications to dismiss, trials, sentencing and appeals against conviction and sentence.

Our barristers have specialist experience in health and safety, building safety, and fire safety legislation. A number of our members acted in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry that gave rise to the current building and fire safety regimes.

As a result, we are regularly instructed to act for and advise individuals, organisations and the enforcement bodies and regulators on the scope and application of this legislation, as well as in criminal proceedings that follow risk related incidents. Because of our multi-disciplinary strength, our barristers can act for and advise clients throughout a number of proceedings, saving the time and inconvenience of instructing barristers across multiple sets of chambers.

Our clients include corporate entities and their boards; directors, managers and employees facing personal liability; principal contractors, clients, designers, specifiers and subcontractors; regulators; NHS trusts, independent healthcare providers and care operators; local authorities, fire and rescue services; energy, nuclear, rail, water and infrastructure operators; schools, academy trusts and universities; partnerships; insurers and policyholders; and bereaved families and other interested persons at inquests.

Our barristers appear in the Magistrates’ Court, the Crown Court, the Court of Appeal Criminal Division, the Divisional Court, in the Employment Tribunal (on appeals against enforcement notices), in the coroners’ courts, in statutory and non-statutory public inquiries, in regulatory and disciplinary tribunals, and in the civil courts at every level.

Chambers has offices in London, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai, and our barristers can advise on incidents overseas (including civil conflicts of laws) and on English law contracts governing operations abroad.