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Leading Silks

Simon Antrobus KCCrown Office ChambersSimon advocates on his clients’ behalf with grace and panache. His statements are concise and precise, often encapsulating complex points and principles in both judge and jury-friendly terms and aided by his crystal-clear delivery.
Oliver Campbell KCHenderson ChambersOutstanding advocate at the highest level. Very thorough and skillful strategist. Very reliable in all areas of industry and services.
John Cooper KCCrown Office Chambers 'A heavyweight silk in health and safety work. He inspires confidence from the off.'
Stephen Hockman KCSix Pump CourtStephen has the innate ability to factor in his experience on environmental and administrative cases and provide good solutions to the client.
Jonathan Laidlaw KC2 Hare Court ‘Jonathan is a master of advocacy. He is a force to be reckoned with and leads the way in this field.’
Prashant Popat KCHenderson ChambersThe leading most impressive advocate for health and safety, public inquiries, and inquests. Head and shoulders above all contemporaries.
David Travers KCGough Square Chambers  ‘Definitely one of the leading silks in the country in this area of law. He is a very good advocate, and strikes the right tone with judges and juries.
Dominic Adamson KCTemple Garden ChambersExcellent communication skills, very knowledgeable and puts clients at ease. Technically and strategically very astute.’  
James Ageros KCCrown Office ChambersJust seems to get stronger and stronger. Possibly the calmest lawyer on the circuit, perfect for difficult clients and difficult tribunals. Brings a logical approach and defuses situations with charm.
Ben Compton KCOuter Temple Chambers ‘Ben is a stand-out silk in this field. He is a star performer with clients and is wonderful to watch in the courtroom. He makes advocacy look effortless.’
Gerard Forlin KCCornerstone Barristers ‘Great advocate, good with juries. Very personable and fun to work with.‘
Jamas Hodivala KCMatrix ChambersJamas is always commercially astute and provides pragmatic advice.’
James Maxwell-Scott KCCrown Office ChambersHe produces high-quality written advice and is able to quickly review and disseminate large amounts of information.
Toby Riley-Smith KCHenderson ChambersHis impeccable output – whether that is his work on paper, or his superb and incredibly careful advocacy – is the ultimate reflection of the incredibly hard graft he puts in.
Stephen Walsh KCThree Raymond Buildings ‘Stephen is at the top of his game, his judgement is second-to-none, and he provides strategic legal advice to clients in crisis situations.‘
Mark Watson KCSix Pump CourtMark has excellent interpersonal and social skills, commitment and good judgement. However, it is his attention to detail that is most impressive.
David Whittaker KC2 Hare Court 'He is a very efficient and persuasive advocate with an impressive jury rapport. A fair and balanced approach to cases, identifying well what points to press and which to leave.'
Angus Withington KC – Henderson ChambersAngus is excellent with clients and swiftly builds a rapport to help reassure them at what is often a difficult time. He has been a real asset to the team.

2022 Silks

Tim Green KCHenderson ChambersTim is a class act. He knows the legislation backwards and is always up to date with the latest case law.
Tim Green KC  – Henderson Chambers 'Tim is a key figure in the field of health and safety and leads from the front. His strength is in bringing forward the juniors in the chambers and giving them exposure in order to gain experience.'
Deanna Heer KC5 Paper BuildingsDeanna has the law at her fingertips and possesses a relentless and steely determination.

2023 Silks

Mark Balysz KCCrown Office ChambersHe has been one of the leading and most effective advocates in this area for many years - passionate about his clients and this comes across in his advocacy.
Kathleen Donnelly KC – Henderson ChambersVery good experienced advocate. Excellent with clients under pressure.
James Leonard KCOuter Temple ChambersWell known and respected.

2024 Silks

Saba Naqshbandi KCThree Raymond Buildings ‘Saba is brilliant at grasping detail quickly and advising clients pragmatically. A go-to for fire safety cases.‘

Leading Juniors

Mike AtkinsCrown Office ChambersA leading junior in the field of criminal health and safety defence work. Mike has an incredibly bright future ahead of him.
Pascal BatesSix Pump Court 'Exceedingly thorough and on top of the detail.'
Oliver PowellOuter Temple Chambers 'Oliver is a leader in his field when it comes to maritime regulatory matters. A safe pair of hands and great operator.'
Lee BennettSix Pump CourtLee has the ability to take in vast quantities of complex evidence and with consistent accuracy get to the heart of the matter. He is a very well measured and succinct advocate.
Miles Bennett5 Paper Buildings ‘Miles is a great tactician and a first-class advocate. His cross-examination is particularly impressive, and juries enjoy his approach to witnesses.’
Valerie CharbitRed Lion ChambersA deep thinker and committed advocate.
Malcolm GallowayCrown Office ChambersClear advice, robust advocacy, the ability to foreshadow opponents' arguments and to structure submissions accordingly.
David HercockSix Pump Court ‘He is very much obsessed with the detail, without losing sight of the overall strategy. His written work is extremely strong and he is able to duplicate this on his feet in person.‘
Andrew McGee2 Bedford Row ‘Hard working, great with clients and a fierce advocate - he operates at a level commensurate with King's Counsel.‘
Gordon MenziesSix Pump Court ‘He is a skilful jury advocate. Softly spoken, no theatrics, just good old-fashioned presentation of evidence and persuasive advocacy.’
Shauna Ritchie  - One Mayfair Place  ‘Shauna is a very engaging advocate.‘
Eleanor Sanderson  - One Mayfair Place  ‘Eleanor is first-class. She is fun to work with, all over the detail, empathetic and razor-sharp.
Sandesh SinghCrown Office Chambers ‘He is extremely intelligent and brilliant on technical cases involving science which he is able to bring down into a more simple form.‘
Alex Stein2 Bedford RowAlex is excellent, providing thorough and extremely helpful advice not only in a calm and measured way but also in terms readily understandable by the client.
Ian WrightFive PaperIan is the oracle on all things related to improvement and prohibition notice appeals. He is a force to be reckoned with, whether he is for the appellant or respondent.
James Buchanan2 Hare Court 'James is an all-rounder - he is an impressive advocate, personable with clients and excellent at assessing the most appropriate strategy depending on the individual case circumstances.'
Craig Ferguson2 Hare CourtWell-known and respected in health and safety cases and inquests.’
Sarah Le FevreThree Raymond Buildings 'Sarah has excellent attention to detail and judgement on complex and difficult cases.'  
Laura PhillipsGough Square Chambers ‘She is good at spotting the strengths and weaknesses of the client’s position and also good at anticipating and preparing for the issues that will be raised in proceedings.‘
James PurnellHenderson ChambersJames works extremely hard and absorbs huge quantities of material very quickly. He is clever and gives sensible, pragmatic advice.
Harry VannCrown Office ChambersHarry has a commanding presence both in conference and in court, and clients and judges listen when he speaks. His written advices are superb. He will go far.’
Abigail CohenHenderson Chambers ‘A good advocate who works well with clients.’
Jack MurphyCrown Office Chambers ‘Jack is very quick and has an eye for detail. He is very much a specialist health and safety lawyer. Highly recommended.‘  
Nicholas OstrowskiSix Pump Court 'Nick is a very composed and persuasive advocate. He is able to identify the important issues in a case and convey points in a very calm but forceful manner.‘
Paul Rogers Outer Temple Chambers 'Approachable, persuasive advocate, who gives sound and robust advice. Clients are very comfortable with Paul.'
Austin Stoton2 Bedford Row 'He is incredibly bright and has the ability to get to the crux of a case with ease.'
Lucy Wright  – Crown Office Chambers ‘Lucy is confident and has the ability to cut through large amounts of documentation and establish the real issues.’

Health and safety in London Bar

Crown Office Chambers


Sought out by high-profile individual directors and managers, through to multi-billion pound corporations, the set at Crown Office Chambers continues to be a pre-eminent set for a whole array of high profile health and safety matters, including corporate and individual manslaughter, prosecutions under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and appeals against improvement and prohibitions notices. John Cooper KC, James Ageros KC, and Lucy Wright, who joined the set from Lincoln House Chambers in November 2022, were all instructed in a trial relating to a Section 3 and Section 37 Health and Safety at Work Act case concerning five fatalities at a recycling centre in Birmingham. Simon Antrobus KC recently successfully defended a managing director in relation to four charges of manslaughter, and Mark Balysz KC is defending a paramedic at trial charged with gross negligence manslaughter.

Testimonials

‘Toby Sparrow is without question the best clerk around. Hard working, diligent and anticipates the needs of instructing solicitors.’

‘The clerks are always extremely efficient in dealing with any enquiries.’

‘The clerks are great – they are highly responsive and easy to contact when required. Toby Sparrow leads a great team.’

‘Toby Sparrow leads a strong and efficient team of clerks.’

‘The clerks room is well led and helpful generally and specifically Toby Sparrow assists in the selection of counsel and offering of alternatives, promoting candidates in an effective but non-pushy way.’

‘The countries leading H&S set with strength and depth at silk and junior level.’

‘The barristers are all leaders in the field and the service is second to none.’

‘Crown Office Chambers is the ‘go-to’ set for health and safety and inquest instructions. The set has a broad experience, at all levels, and the clerking is top rate. Members of this set are at the forefront of H&S case law, and are involved in some of the highest profile cases of recent years. Cannot recommend the set enough.’

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Henderson Chambers


Henderson Chambers is reputed for established expertise in fatal and serious injury trials and HSE prosecutions. Prashant Popat continues to be instructed on behalf of many large UK organisations and companies, such as National Highways, and was recently instructed by Siemens in a Health and Safety at Work Act prosecution following a fatality at a rail depot. Expert for corporate manslaughter prosecutions Oliver Campbell KC has been representing Branston Site Services in HSE v Tarmac and Branston Site Services, a high-profile prosecution arising out of a fatal accident in the largest quarry in the country. Tim Green KC is prosecuting for the HSE in a case arising from the death of a construction worker whilst unloading glass from pallets.

Testimonials

‘All the clerks are great to work with. Dan Smith is always reliable and quick to resolve any queries.’

‘Senior clerk Jason Housden is outstanding, as is Daniel Smith.’

‘Good and responsive.’

‘Very high calibre!’

‘Excellent!’

‘Henderson chambers are the leading set for health and safety.’

‘Premier team for Health and safety with real skills at KC and junior level with appreciation of commercial realities.’

‘Henderson Chambers are a go-to set for health and safety, products and complex injury. Counsel at the set are both excellent technically and reliable.’





2 Bedford Row


With a particular strong corporate manslaughter and individual gross negligence practice, 2 Bedford Row stays highly active across numerous industries, including leisure, retail, construction and health care, and is also experienced in advising fire and rescue authorities on prosecutions for fire safety breaches. Jim Sturman KC represented Costain and Galliford Try in a prosecution following the death of a construction worker working on the construction of the M1 “smart motorway”. Christine Agnew KC was instructed in the prosecution of two men charged with gross negligence manslaughter after a collision in Southampton water that caused the death of a 15-year-old girl. Alex Stein is prosecuting Amberley Homes Limited following a fall from height fatality at a construction site.

Testimonials

‘The clerks are always proactive and helpful. Paul Rodgers is very good.’

‘Paul Rodgers is excellent. Hardworking, responsive and always going the extra mile in terms of the provision of training etc.’

‘Certainly a strong criminal set and with a number of silks and senior juniors experienced and trustworthy in the health and safety and related “corporate crime” fields.’

‘Fantastic criminal set.’

‘2BR are a good set. Lots of strength in this field.

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Six Pump Court


Six Pump Court is sought out by high profile clients, including multinational organisations, across a broad range of industries, such as manufacturing, rail, nuclear, maritime, construction and retail. Mark Watson KC prosecuted a manslaughter prosecution arising from a worker being fatally injured as a result of being run over by a reversing lorry. Mark Harris represented the Environment Agency in an inquest arising from the death of an employee of the organisation whilst felling trees near Shepperton Lock.

Testimonials

‘Richard Constable and Ryan Barrow in the clerks room are excellent at what they do. Not least, they make their work seem effortless, which is the sign of a very able clerk.’

‘The clerks provide the exact service you require, prompt and friendly, easy to communicate with.’

‘The clerks are always willing to go the extra mile and find a solution to a problem. The clerks are a credit to the set. They are approachable and friendly.’

‘The clerks are very good, proactive, personable and accommodating. Very prompt and contactable and always willing to help.’

‘The senior clerk Richard is extremely knowledgable and helpful. He is proactive in dealing with the crown court list offices and assists our paralegals immensely in ensuring the smooth progress of the case.’

‘Michael Hearn at 6 Pump Court is the best clerk I have worked with. He responds quickly to emails, is always willing to negotiate on fees and is friendly and approachable. ‘

‘6 Pump Court is a brilliant set. It has a large portfolio of health and safety lawyers, all of whom are dedicated and talented.’

‘I have always been extremely happy with the set as a whole. A decent bunch of people from the clerks all the way up to KC’s’

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2 Hare Court


2 Hare Court continues to advise and defend a broad range of corporate clients, as well as individual directors, on proceedings by regulators and enforcement bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive. Alexandra Tampakopoulos is instructed by Seaway Heavy Lifting Ltd in relation to a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive arising from an incident which injured seven employees installing an offshore wind turbine in the North Sea. James Buchanan is defending two paramedics who are charged with gross negligence manslaughter after a series of incidents that culminated in a vulnerable member of the public’s death.

Testimonials

‘The clerking service is excellent – they provide prompt responses in requests and regularly help with sorting listings. Julian Campbell is particularly impressive.’

‘Clerks are always very helpful.’

‘Easy to work with and responsive clerks.’

‘Good clerking.’

‘2 Hare Court are highly regarded within the regulatory arena and provide an impressive offering of counsel’

‘2 Hare Court have an industry-leading reputation for health and safety work. Jim Buchanan and Craig Ferguson are very well respected. Their annual health and safety seminar highlights the technical expertise of the Chambers.’

‘2 Hare Court provide an impressive offering.’

‘Availability is good and the 2HC Regulatory Seminar is always worth attending.’

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Temple Garden Chambers


Temple Garden Chambers is known for successfully handling corporate manslaughter charges at trial and on appeal. Keith Morton KC is leading Fiona Canby in representing Transport for London in the prosecution arising out of the Croydon Tram crash, and also represented the employer of a bus driver who had been run over and suffered life changing injuries while running near his depot. Dominic Adamson KC acted for Incarcare Ltd in a prosecution following a fatality at a stock car racing track in Birmingham.

Testimonials

‘Helpful, knowledgeable and courteous clerks.’

‘The clerks are always friendly and approachable.’

‘A strong set for a wide range of regulatory cases. Go-to chambers in London.’

‘Strong leaders and talented juniors.’

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Outer Temple Chambers


Equipped to handle an array of health and safety matters, Outer Temple Chambers offers established expertise in maritime and rail related safety cases, and has a track record of prosecution for the Maritime and Coastguard Authority. James Leonard KC ‘s recent workload includes the representation of a company director charged with gross negligence manslaughter and section 37 offense following a fatal accident on a demolition site. Paul Rogers was represented MotorSport Vision in a prosecution arising from a fatality in an accident during a motorcycle track day.

Testimonials

‘The clerks are very good.’

‘Nicholas Levett is extremely professional and great to deal with. He is personable and runs a very smooth and effective operation.’

‘Always helpful and responsive.’

‘Outer Temple is an excellent set for health and safety / regulatory work. Serious talent on display at every level.’

‘Several well known and respected regulatory juniors and silks.’





Three Raymond Buildings


With particular experience in the construction, transport, retail and entertainment industries, Three Raymond Buildings is sought out by local and national regulators, companies and individuals for advice on a range of health and safety matters, including major disasters and serious workplace injuries and fatalities. Sophie Cartwright joined the set in February 2023, and is also a member of Deans Court Chambers in Manchester.

Testimonials

‘Great clerks room. Eddie Holland is notable.’

‘The clerks are excellent. Responsive, bright and helpful. Dean Brown and Chris Feathers in particular are fantastic.’

‘The clerks are very helpful.’

‘Clerks room is very good. Dean Brown excels.’

‘Three Raymond Buildings are an exceptional set of criminal, public law and regulatory barristers. They are always my first port of call.’

‘Very strong set.’

‘3 Raymond Buildings is an excellent Chambers with strength in depth.’

‘Good set for inquests and inquiry work.’

Work highlights