Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers
Health & Safety - London (Bar)
1
Band 1
What the Team is Known For

Crown Office Chambers houses a strong bench of senior and junior barristers who are experienced in the handling of prosecutions arising from a wide range of health and safety offences. Areas of expertise for the team include food safety prosecutions and cases brought under the HSWA. Members are noted for their expertise in corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter cases, and regularly appear in inquests and major cases, including High Court representation of Ampelmann regarding a serious injury sustained on a Shell offshore oil rig. The team is well regarded for its representation of major corporations and their directors. Instructing solicitors emphasise the depth of team, reporting: "Crown Office Chambers have strength and depth. They are hugely experienced, with a lot of silks and juniors who are very committed." Other interviewees state: "Crown Office Chambers is the go-to set for health and safety. What I like about it is the breadth and depth of experience; it has members from the junior level all the way up the silk level with experience for health and safety."

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers
Dominic Kay KC
Dominic Kay KC
Star Individuals

Dominic Kay KC handles a large volume of health and safety prosecutions, regularly undertaking corporate and individual manslaughter prosecutions for clients from various industry sectors including the retail, construction and agriculture sectors.He has particular expertise in multi-fatality accident cases.

"Dominic is calm, collected and on top of things. He is a very good strategist."

"Dominic is best-in-class for handling large corporations and managing their expectations. He comes across very well in boardrooms and is very good on his feet. He has experience and expertise."

"Dominic is excellent. He is brilliant with clients and consistently secures the best outcome for them."

Simon Antrobus KC
Simon Antrobus KC
Star Individuals

Simon Antrobus KC represents companies in high-profile health and safety prosecutions and corporate manslaughter cases, and is considered a go-to barrister for a long list of major corporations and private individuals. He is regularly instructed to undertake the most serious fatality cases.

"Simon is first class. He is incredibly clever, practical, and clients are really impressed with him. He is very strong and deserves to be at the top."

"Simon is exceptional when it comes to managing clients, and academically he is superb. He is modest, thoughtful in his strategy and among the best in his ability to analyse cases."

"Simon is really strategic and always has his eye on where the case will end up. He doesn't get bogged down in the detail."

1
Harry Vann
1
Band 1

Harry Vann is an experienced barrister with a respected health and safety practice which entails handling cases of serious injuries and death. He has a wide client base consisting of those in the transport, construction and manufacturing sectors, which he regularly represents in HSE prosecutions and various other regulatory matters.

"Harry is a bit of a legal force of nature. He is incredibly clever, very personable and comes across well with clients. He is very impressive."

"Harry is very good at knowing and applying the law to the case. He is commanding on his feet and is good at getting to grips with the case."

"Harry Vann has a huge intellect. He really thinks around cases and brings a lot of original thinking to cases. He can bring real judicial insight to cases and gets good results."

1
James Ageros KC
1
Band 1

James Ageros KC is a specialist health and safety silk who handles an array of defence and prosecution work. He has a number of enviable clients including construction companies, hospitals and local authorities, which he has represented across the full spectrum of health and safety matters.He is particularly expert at undertaking complex inquests and high-profile inquiries.

"James is in demand. He is great."

"James is knowledgeable, accessible and empathetic."

1
James Maxwell-Scott KC
1
Band 1

James Maxwell-Scott KC advises clients on both civil and criminal matters pertaining to fatal and non-fatal accidents, and represents a wide range of clients from private individuals to large organisations. He has been involved in some of the most high-profile public inquiries and inquests involving multiple fatalities, including the Grenfell Tower fire.

"James Maxwell-Scott is very good. He is a brilliant advocate and is very good with clients."

"James Maxwell-Scott's advocacy is very strong. He is knowledgeable and sensible."

1
John Cooper KC
1
Band 1

John Cooper KC is hailed for his extensive knowledge and expertise in the health and safety and regulatory arena. He is praised for the volume of inquests and trial work he undertakes on behalf of major companies and directors.He is routinely called upon to handle cases arising from serious injury or death.

"John is great with clients and tactically very astute. He has a great way with both judges and the jury, and is incredibly experienced."

"John Cooper is a warrior and certainly the man you want on your side at a substantial trial. He is a very strong performer in the health and safety field and the first silk I would look to."

"John's advocacy is very strong. He is analytical and ferocious."

1
Malcolm Galloway
1
Band 1

Malcolm Galloway specialises exclusively in health and safety and is instructed to undertake high-profile investigations on behalf of a wide range of clients including local authorities, transport companies and multinationals. He is particularly sought out by commercial clients facing prosecution and is an expert in corporate manslaughter investigations.

"Malcolm is very knowledgeable, really good at tailoring to both lay and professional clients and has a very commanding presence. He is probably one of the top juniors practising and my go-to."

"Malcolm is always meticulously prepared, and if there is a point to be taken or an angle to be pursued, he will find it and he will mercilessly prosecute that point.Malcolm always finds a way."

"Malcolm brings a great practical approach and his sector knowledge comes across well."

Mike Atkins
1
Mike Atkins
1
Band 1

Mike Atkins is a leading practitioner in the criminal regulatory field who represents individuals and companies facing charges of corporate and gross negligence manslaughter. He also possesses expertise in fire safety cases and food safety law. His clients include multinational corporations, company directors, public bodies and employees.

"Mike is superb. He is calm, measured and great on his feet. He is good at talking to clients at all levels, great at drafting and does a top job."

"Mike Atkins has huge levels of intelligence and commitment. He is at the top of his game."

"Mike cuts through the complexities to address the key issues in the way likely to give the best outcome."

"Mike's attention to detail is second to none. He is incredibly hard-working and meticulous in his preparation of the case."

1
Sandesh Singh
1
Band 1

Sandesh Singh represents clients in various health and safety-related matters which include HSE and police investigations, prosecutions and inquests. He handles sensitive cases concerning on-site accidents resulting in death and serious injury to employees, hospital patients and members of the public.

"Sandesh is head and shoulders above any other junior working in health and safety. He is very analytical and extremely thorough and well prepared; he knows the case inside out."

"Sandesh is definitely a silk in the making. He is well prepared and incredibly intelligent, but very able to communicate effectively and reassuring with clients."

"Sandesh is all over the details. He is extremely intelligent and very diligent."

"Sandesh has a forensic eye for detail which is unrivalled."

2
Jack Murphy
2
Band 2

Jack Murphy advises clients on a variety of health and safety matters, including manslaughter cases and prosecutions under the 1974 Act. His clientele includes both large-scale companies and individuals.

"Jack Murphy is always very good. He is very detail-focused and very good with clients. He is an all-rounder."

"Jack is one of the bright sparks. He is an incredibly intelligent guy and handles highly complex cases. He gets to the point immediately and is absolutely first class."

"Jack is fast becoming a go-to junior within Crown Office Chambers. He is meticulous with detail and can deal with high-stakes work."

"Jack is a rising star. He has a great grasp of the law and technicality and what is needed to get the best outcome for the client."

2
Julia Kendrick
2
Band 2

Julia Kendrick regularly receives instructions covering the full spectrum of health and safety law. She handles health and safety prosecutions arising from serious and fatal accidents, and is also regularly sought after for cases relating to food safety, fire safety and road traffic offences.Kendrick is an expert in cases arising out of accidents on construction and demolition sites.

"Juliais quite a tenacious person. She is very on the ball and has an excellent way of being able to respond to curveballs under pressure. She is good in court and is a really brilliant lawyer."

"Julia is very responsive and easily contactable. She is quite creative in her approach to dealing with cases and is empathetic with clients. She handles witnesses well and is very patient."

Katie Sage
2
Katie Sage
2
Band 2

Katie Sage is adept at both defending and prosecuting health and safety cases. She has experience handling fatal accident and serious injury matters. She frequently appears in both the Crown and Magistrates' courts.

"Katie is outstanding. She is a go-to junior in health and safety who offers well-articulated advice in a timely manner."

"Katie is great. She is on top of the evidence."

Lucy Wright
2
Lucy Wright
2
Band 2

Lucy Wright possesses experience in both the prosecution and defence of health and safety matters. Her work covers explosions, gross negligence manslaughter and fatal falls.

"Lucy's advocacy is very strong. She is a pleasure to work with. She is trusted by our corporate clients and is able to build a rapport with people at all levels and within all roles."

"Lucy is punchy and she takes no prisoners. You get the feeling that she really feels for her clients."

"Lucy is excellent and a rising star."

Mark Balysz KC
2
Mark Balysz KC
2
Band 2

Mark Balysz KC is a leading health and safety law barrister who defends clients in highly complex prosecutions. He is experienced in the handling of both individual and corporate manslaughter cases.

"Mark is very good. He is at the top of his game and one of the premier silks in health and safety. He is really impressive."

"Mark is outstanding and always impresses. He has excellent advocacy skills and secures fantastic outcomes for the client."

"Mark is technically excellent, always prepared to look at different, more left-field strategies and fearless in how he robustly holds position."

"You get good results from Mark. He is great on strategy and very strong on the tactics. He is so experienced and there is not much he hasn't come across."

"Mark is the best advocate, there is no other way to put it. He is just fantastic in court, incredibly charming and very good at presenting and judging what to go into."

Ranked Barristers at
Crown Office Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Health & Safety

Dominic Kay KC
Dominic Kay KC
Star Individuals
Simon Antrobus KC
Simon Antrobus KC
Star Individuals
1
James Ageros KC
1
Band 1
1
James Maxwell-Scott KC
1
Band 1
1
John Cooper KC
1
Band 1
Mark Balysz KC
2
Mark Balysz KC
2
Band 2

Juniors

London (Bar)

Health & Safety

1
Harry Vann
1
Band 1
1
Malcolm Galloway
1
Band 1
Mike Atkins
1
Mike Atkins
1
Band 1
1
Sandesh Singh
1
Band 1
2
Jack Murphy
2
Band 2
2
Julia Kendrick
2
Band 2
Katie Sage
2
Katie Sage
2
Band 2
Lucy Wright
2
Lucy Wright
2
Band 2