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  1. Health and safety
  2. Leading individuals

Leading individuals

Clyde & Co LLP’s ‘first-class’ health and safety practice is ‘in the top flight of firms working in this area’, and benefited from the firm’s 2011 merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, now fielding four partners. The firm acted on only the second corporate manslaughter case since the new legislation was created in 2007, representing Lion Steel Equipment over a factory incident in 2008. Rod Hunt instils ‘a significant level of trust’ in clients, and has ‘a very confident air’. It has also advised Asda, Debenhams, NFU Mutual, Walkers and Zurich on health and safety matters.

DLA Piper UK LLP’s four-partner team has ‘a deep understanding’ of the area and of clients’ business pressures. Its 2011 work covered both contentious and non-contentious matters for clients across the energy, residential, retail, finance and medical sectors. It continues to represent Eurocopter in the public inquiry relating to a helicopter crash in the North Sea. Roy Tozer, based in Birmingham, is ‘tactically excellent and very easy to speak to’, and Paul Burnley can seamlessly ‘connect with business managers and directors’.

The ‘first-rate’ team at Eversheds LLP is ‘exceptionally reliable’, and available around the clock to assist with crisis management; it is noted for its willingness to attend accident sites and in providing rapid response. In 2011, it defended Marks & Spencer in a 14-week asbestos-related trial, which saw the company acquitted on four out of six charges. The firm continued to add to its impressive list of clients, gaining DHL, GlaxoSmithKline, E.On and Northern Rail. Kevin Elliott has ‘huge breadth of experience’ and a ‘superb instinct when advising clients’.

Kennedys covers a wide variety of industries including construction, mining, waste, manufacturing, leisure and docks, and its strong reputation in the rail sector continues to generate a steady flow of instructions. It defended Network Rail in the company’s recent prosecution for health and safety breaches surrounding the Potters Bar crash in 2002. It also defended a manager for UK Coal in a prosecution over a fatality, involving an official who died of gas asphyxiation. Daniel McShee is ‘very calm in a crisis’, and ‘gives excellent strategic advice’.

In 2011, Pinsent Masons LLP concluded its work on the first corporate manslaughter case, for Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings and one of its managing directors. Delivering a ‘high-end’ service, it has a strong presence in the construction industry, and is increasingly representing manufacturing clients. Simon Joyston-Bechal heads the practice.

Bond Pearce LLP is the ‘go-to firm’ for prosecution work, in London and the rest of the UK. It continues to assist the HSE in, among other matters, its long-running investigation into a double fatality on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. Other clients include Royal Mail Group, Sainsbury’s, B&Q, and Babcock International Group. Jon Cooper heads the health and safety team, and divides his time between London and Devon. Hilary Ross is now at DWF LLP.

CMS Cameron McKenna LLP has a longstanding reputation in the area, and is particularly recognised for its ‘in-depth knowledge of the oil and gas industry’. 2011 saw the firm bring a three-year case for energy company Maersk to conclusion; it successfully defended the company in relation to an incident involving an offshore gas release, and the ensuing prosecution. It also assisted with several personal injury claims arising from the incident. Jan Burgess is ‘ thorough’, ‘ hardworking’, and ‘clearly a leader in her field’.

Herbert Smith LLP has an ‘excellent’ health and safety practice, led by the ‘superbly knowledgeable and experienced’ Howard Watson. The team is active in corporate support matters, and regularly assists leading multinationals in the energy sector. In 2011 it advised Chevron in relation to the ongoing police and HSE investigation into a major refinery explosion which resulted in four fatalities and one serious injury. Other active clients include EDF, Panasonic and Biotage.

Burges Salmon LLP’s health and safety group has particular strength in the transport (particularly railway), manufacturing, farming and construction sectors. The practice spans inquest work; policy advice relating to health and safety reviews; and a 24-hour response service to major incidents. It recently advised in relation to the inquest into the Grayrigg train derailment, which led to a fatality. Merseyrail and Virgin Trains are active clients. Ann Metherall heads the department.

Health and safety work is a core area for niche firm Fisher Scoggins Waters LLP. Mark Scoggins and Charlotte Waters specialise in advising on major incidents occurring in the construction, chemical, transport, waste and water sectors. The firm has represented the Metropolitan Police in a number of high-profile cases.

Greenwoods Solicitors is primarily an insurance practice, providing litigation and other dispute resolution services. Its three-partner London team is led by the ‘really superb’ Philip Tracey, and Stephen Byass comes recommended as a ‘first-rate litigator’ who will ‘fight hard’ for clients.

Lukas Rootman heads Nabarro LLP’s Sheffield-based health and safety team, which focuses on clients in the chemicals, waste, and mining sectors. It has experience in both civil and criminal litigation, including ongoing cases arising from the Southall high-speed train derailment.

Osborne Clarke has ‘a highly specialised niche practice’, and provides clients with a ‘Rolls-Royce service’. Its client base spans the utilities, infrastructure, electricity distribution and construction sectors. It recently assisted Western Power Distribution in relation to fishing activities by a local business near power lines. Senior associate Andrea Tithecott and Richard Bretton are both ‘outstanding’.

RPC’s team has ‘significant expertise’ and is ‘strong competition’ in the London market. Its 2011 work included representing German company Newag at an inquest into the double fatality after the Channel Tunnel rail link crash. It also assisted in a number of cases involving significant accidents currently under investigation by the HSE. Nick McMahon is ‘unflappable and a very shrewd tactician’.

Russell Jones & Walker, part of Slater & Gordon Lawyers assisted two clients in relation to major corporate manslaughter investigations, and advised on possible regulatory breaches at an electrical energy producing plant, led by James Carlton. The practice also has a focus on trade unions and their members.

The team at Simmons & Simmons LLP advised on regulatory matters in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Belgium and throughout the EU in 2011, and is experienced in advising financial institutions and energy companies on the regulatory component of corporate transactions. Steven McNab is the main contact.

BCL Burton Copeland’s health and safety practice is allied to the firm’s overall focus on crime and regulatory compliance. It regularly provides advice to individuals and companies in serious contentious matters. Guy Bastable is a well-known figure in the field, and has experience in corporate manslaughter matters.

Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP’s London practice is led by Jennette Newman, and is supported by four other partners. The firm helped both HTC Plant Hire Limited and Mitsui in a variety of claims and an HSE investigation relating to a crane collapse at a construction site.

DAC Beachcroft LLP added Fiona Gill to its team of London health and safety lawyers. It successfully represented Swift Horseman in a trial over a construction site fatality. The practice also acts for a variety of insurers, including Zurich and Newline.

SNR Denton advised on two workplace fatalities under investigation by the HSE; and advised Total on health and safety matters relating to the company’s disposal of its retail business to Rontec. Sam Boileau was promoted to partner in 2011.

Squire Sanders LLP’s recent work includes providing a health and safety review for a national charity; conducting a full-service training programme and review for an aviation client; and assisting the HSE in relation to a fatal accident at a construction site. Rob Elvin heads the team, which works across London, Birmingham and Manchester.

Craig Baylis heads the team at Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP, which focuses on transactional health and safety issues; recent examples include the due diligence on Snax 24’s acquisition of 700 petrol stations.

Bevan Brittan LLP’s offers a year-round emergency response service for clients, which include BUPA, Amlin and Costain. It also advises on both civil and criminal employers’ liability matters.

DWF LLP’s London offering expanded in 2011 with the addition of four new lawyers including Hilary Ross from Bond Pearce LLP, who leads the team. Active clients include Whitbread Group and Tata Steel.

Led by Peter Stewart, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP handles health and safety work as part of its corporate risk management practice. Its client base includes Thomas Cook and Virgin Media.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP provides health and safety advice and assistance on risk assessment to major energy clients. Andrew Austin was recently promoted to partner.

Gary Cassidy leads the practice at Hogan Lovells International LLP, which has a good relationship with regulatory bodies. Clients include a variety of internationally known companies.

Norton Rose LLP handles health and safety work as part of its environment, safety and planning practice. It is advising DP World on the London Gateway container port project.

Name partner Madeleine Abas at Osborn Abas Hunt acts on health and safety issues for major organisations across the construction, nuclear, rail and energy sectors.

Alison Newstead is the new head of department at Shook, Hardy & Bacon International LLP, having taken over from Mark Tyler. The firm recently advised on a workplace fatality, and separately on a serious injury case for a national restaurant group.

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Legal Developments in London for Health and safety

  • Personal accounts and auto-enrolment: looking ahead

    The government plans to introduce a new national ‘personal accounts’ pension system in 2012. From October of that year, all employers will be required to auto-enrol eligible employees into either the government’s new personal accounts scheme or, if it meets certain ‘qualifying’ criteria, the employer’s own pension arrangement.
    - Eversheds LLP

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