Health & Safety | UK Bar

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."

Henderson Chambers maintains its reputation as a leading set with "huge experience, quality, strength in depth and excellent service" for complex and high-profile health and safety matters. Members are regularly called upon to represent defendant corporations in inquests and prosecutions arising from fatal accidents and breaches of the HSWA and Fire Safety Regulations. The team is also instructed by the HSE and other regulatory bodies, and has continued to appear in several high-profile matters, such as the Stonegate fatality in Durham due to a queue crush.

The barristers at 2 Bedford Row are experienced in the prosecution and defence of corporate manslaughter and individual gross negligence manslaughter cases. Members are instructed in matters arising in several different industry sectors, including hospitality, construction and transport, and are regularly called upon to act for and advise clients on cases involving the Regulatory Reform Act and complex prosecutions relating to breaches of fire safety. The set's enviable client list includes major corporations and their directors, as well as the HSE, the ORR, and fire and rescue authorities. Recent work highlights include providing counsel in the Chester trampoline park case. One interviewee states: "It is a strong set of chambers with robust, reliable and very competent counsel, offering very efficient service." The senior clerk is John Grimmer.

2 Hare Court is a well-regarded criminal set "with high-calibre counsel who are experts in their field." It is regularly called upon to act for and advise corporates, individual directors, local authorities and enforcement bodies such as the HSE and Environment Agency. Members are experienced in the handling of health and safety matters relating to deaths at work and in care homes, as well as complex enforcement matters involving hazardous substance accidents. The team is highly regarded for its expertise in corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter cases. The set's tenants also frequently appear at inquests and high-profile public inquiries. High-profile work handled by the set includes acting in the Grenfell Tower public inquiry and criminal investigations. Market sources state: "I think they are impressive; they have done a really good job at breaking into and establishing themselves as a leading set in the regulatory field." Julian Campbell is director of clerking.

The barristers at Outer Temple Chambers are well regarded for their expert handling of prosecutions arising from a wide range of health and safety offences. The set houses considerable experience in cases arising from maritime accidents, and its members are regularly instructed to both prosecute and defend complex prosecutions brought by the Maritime and Coastguard Authority. Cases involving fatal rail crashes and fires also form a key part of the set's practice. Additional areas of strength for the team include gross negligence manslaughter and corporate manslaughter cases, as well as complex HSE investigations. Sources say: "There are some very well-respected barristers in Outer Temple Chambers for regulatory work." Another source states: "Outer Temple is a fantastic, market-leading set with real strength in depth. They have an excellent reputation for health and safety cases, which is well deserved." Advocates from Outer Temple recently advised Highways England following a fatality on a smart motorway.

Six Pump Court houses a strong bench of seasoned health and safety practitioners who are regularly called upon to handle prosecutions arising in the oil and gas, manufacturing, transport, construction and retail sectors, among others. Members are particularly well regarded for their expertise in environmental offences and food safety matters and have experience both prosecuting and defending complex and high-value cases. The set's clients include several large multinational organisations, as well as local authorities and regulators such as the HSE, FSA, ORR and MCA. Sources say: "Six Pump Court are so good and easy to deal with. It is a pleasure to deal with them." Recently the advocates successfully prosecuted the helmsman of an RIB in a high-profile manslaughter case.

3 Raymond Buildings is noted for its expert handling of health and safety prosecutions arising across a range of sectors, including construction, transport, care and retail, among others. Members are sought after to act for regulators such as the HSE and ORR, as well as regulated corporations and individual directors. Areas of expertise for the team include food and fire safety matters, corporate manslaughter cases and prosecutions relating to serious and fatal accidents at work. The set's tenants also regularly appear in notable mandates, such as the Croydon Tram Trial. Interviewees state: "Their extensive experience and sterling reputation in criminal cases, inquests and regulatory work make 3 Raymond Buildings highly proficient in handling complex and sophisticated matters." Eddie Holland is the senior clerk at the set.

Temple Garden Chambers is well regarded for its handling of complex health and safety prosecutions and enforcement proceedings. Areas of expertise for the set include gross negligence manslaughter and corporate manslaughter cases, as well as prosecutions arising from workplace fatalities and rail accidents. Members are also regularly called upon to represent their clients at inquests and public inquiries. The tenants are noted for their expert representation of both defendant corporations and prosecuting authorities. Sources say that "Temple Garden Chambers is our go-to for health and safety matters." Recent work highlights include involvement in the ongoing criminal investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire. Dean Norton is the senior clerk.