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bto has a leading practice concerning fatal accident inquiries (FAIs), as well as being very active in the non-contentious side. The team provides ‘first-class service’ and has ‘an excellent depth of resource and knowledge’. Practice head Clare Bone has ‘a calm and professional manner’.

Aberdeen-based Paull & Williamsons LLP focuses on clients in the oil and gas sector. Recent work includes advising an oil company in relation to a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into an offshore installation mooring failure.

Pinsent Masons LLP gained Laura Cameron’s team from McGrigors LLP. In 2011 the group successfully represented the Maritime & Coastguard Agency in an FAI concerning an accident at sea. Clients praise the ‘excellent’ service, ‘in-depth knowledge’ and ‘very fast response times’.

Simpson & Marwick predominantly acts for insurers, including Zurich Commercial, Aviva and Gallagher Bassett International. The team has particular experience in health and safety prosecutions and FAIs.

Anderson Strathern continues to act as an external adviser to the HSE. The team recently represented The Coal Authority in a high-profile FAI following the death of a solicitor who had fallen down a collapsed mine shaft. Robert Fife and Chris Dickson are recommended.

Clients praise Brodies LLP’s ‘consistently high standard of service’ and ‘prompt responses’. The firm strengthened its health and safety offering in 2011 by adding Malcolm Mackay from Balfour+Manson LLP. Clients include Scottish Power and National Express.

New hire Ewan McIntyre leads the team at Burness LLP, having joined from Morton Fraser. The team advises corporate clients, public sector and self-insured organisations in relation to civil and criminal health and safety issues. New clients include Lidl and Bhs.

CMS Cameron McKenna LLP has experience in high-hazard industries such as energy and oil and gas, particularly in offshore matters. Recent work includes successfully representing Maersk in relation to an incident involving a gas release offshore. Team head Jan Burgess is recommended.

Morton Fraser is legal adviser to the HSE, and also represents the Ministry of Defence and Royal Mail. The team recently advised the HSE during a high-profile FAI into the deaths of two open cast mine workers whose car was crushed by an earth excavator.

DLA Piper Scotland LLP has experience in FAIs, and also provides non-contentious health and safety advice to companies in the construction, manufacturing, retail and energy sectors. The team continues to act for Eurocopter concerning a North Sea helicopter crash in April 2009.

The team at DWF Biggart Baillie acts for clients in HSE prosecutions and FAIs. Clients have included Scottish Power, Babcock International and Towergate Insurance.

Debbie Milne leads HBJ Gateley’s team, which advises a variety of clients, including marine and construction companies and hotel and leisure industry businesses. James Lowe is a shipping safety expert.

HBM Sayers represents leading insurers and blue-chip companies. John Morrison heads the team.

MacRoberts LLP’s health and safety team is led by Craig Turnbull, who is ‘personable, highly responsive and professional’. Clients include GlaxoSmithKline and W H Malcolm.

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Legal Developments in Scotland 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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