The barristers at Crown Office Chambers are often sought for their experience in high-profile inquests and prosecutions, with particular expertise acting on behalf of directors, managers, and major corporations. In R v Arcadia and Others, James Ageros KC acted for the claimant, going up against Simon Antrobus KC in relation to the death of a young child at a Topshop store, a death leading to the discovery of multiple alleged safety issues at various stores throughout the country. John Cooper KC acted for a man charged with a manslaughter offence for the death of an employee at a scrap site. Dominic Kay KC and Harry Vann acted in the trial and subsequent appeal on behalf of one of the defendants, ultimately clearing them of gross negligence manslaughter charges in relation to the death of four workers following an explosion at Bosley Mill. Also active in this case were Mark Balysz KC, Mike Atkins, Sandesh Singh, and Malcolm Galloway, all key figures in the junior ranks and acting as opposing counsel in the matter.
Health and safety in
London BarCrown Office Chambers
Testimonials
Set
‘The number one go to set for H&S matters.‘
‘A set that has depth throughout all years of call.’
‘The strongest H&S set.‘
‘Crown Office has built up a formidable team of silks, senior juniors and juniors which in my view is without comparison in this niche field.‘
‘Excellent – go to chambers for regulatory work. Incredible strength in depth and fantastic collegiate work ethic – all the silks are ready to chip in to help juniors through unexpected storms.‘
Clerking
‘Very responsive clerks, especially Toby Sparrow.‘
Henderson Chambers
‘Superb set‘ Henderson Chambers fields expertise in HSE enforcement actions, investigations, and high-profile prosecutions. Oliver Campbell KC is acting for the defendants, while Prashant Popat KC is instructed by the prosecutor in a case regarding a fatal accident to an engineer as he carried out repairs to machinery in a private hospital. Toby Riley-Smith KC represented Whirlpool, the producer of the fridge alleged to have been the fire’s starting point, in procedural hearings relating to the Grenfell Tower disaster. Angus Withington KC acted for a precast concrete manufacturer and supplier facing allegations that hundreds of workers suffered permanent injuries at one of its concrete fabrication plant after being exposed to excessive vibration. Kathleen Donnelly KC is another notable figure, having had represented Vestas Wind Systems in the inquest into the death of an employee as a result of pulmonary thrombosis.
Testimonials
Set
‘A leading set for Health and Safety work.‘
‘The set has a very strong team with barristers at all levels enabling selection to suit the case.’
‘Superb set. Strength in depth.’
‘The regulatory team has strength in depth and is able to offer counsel for different levels of instruction.‘
‘Henderson Chambers is one of the leading sets in the health and safety sphere.‘
Clerking
‘Very professional and competent clerks room. Friendly and helpful.‘
2 Bedford Row
2 Bedford Row ‘has strength in terms of skillset and the numbers to give it the reputation it richly deserves’, with its members regularly acting on the defendant and claimant side with regard to a range of corporate and gross negligence manslaughter prosecutions in the retail, construction, entertainment and manufacturing sectors. In R v Hilux Ltd & Jalal Rana, Christine Agnew KC was instructed to represent both defendants with respect to health and safety offences arising out of a fatal accident on a building site in Birmingham. Alex Stein prosecuted for the CPS in R v Alutrade Limited and Others, a corporate manslaughter case arising from a workplace death at a recycling facility.
Testimonials
Set
‘Chambers has some very talented barristers.‘
‘For health and safety, the set has strength in terms of skillset and the numbers to give it the reputation it richly deserves.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are well led by John Grimmer and Paul Rodgers and are always on hand to assist and accommodate instructing solicitors.‘
‘The junior clerks are very able, in particular Tom Powell and Joe Martin.‘
‘Very impressive. John Grimmer is a very reassuring presence.‘
‘Lee Bartlett is always accessible, helpful and responsive, both in terms of assessing counsel availability and in relation to fee queries. He’s a real asset to chambers.‘
Six Pump Court
Six Pump Court is ‘a great set‘ which is ‘always dedicated to clients‘. Mark Watson KC, who is considered a ‘tactical genius‘, acted on behalf of the CPS in a corporate manslaughter prosecution arising from a transport failure at a waste company.
Testimonials
Set
‘Chambers is clearly very strong in H&S.’
‘The chambers offers a wide range of experience and expertise and the barristers are user friendly and accessible.‘
2 Hare Court
Providing ‘all round coverage in the health and safety, crime and inquests sectors’, the barristers at 2 Hare Court represent clients in a variety of sectors, including transport, food, healthcare, construction, and energy, acting in high-profile inquiries, manslaughter prosecutions, and cases brought by regulators and enforcement bodies. Chambers head Jonathan Laidlaw KC is acting on behalf of ShowSec and Live Nation in the inquiry and subsequent criminal investigation arising out of the Manchester Arena bombing. In addition, Tom Day went up against James Buchanan in a gross negligence manslaughter case in the wake of the death of a construction worker during the construction and refurbishment of a block of flats.
Testimonials
Set
‘Chambers provides good all round coverage in the health and safety, crime and inquest sectors.‘
‘2 Hare Court is one of the go to chambers for health and safety regulatory work – very experienced and well respected for its work in this area.‘
Clerking
‘Julian Campbell is great.‘
‘The clerks’ room is well led by Julian Campbell, who is always approachable.’
‘Excellent. Julian Campbell is particularly exceptional, making an effort to respond promptly to requests and going above and beyond to provide support.‘
Temple Garden Chambers
With ‘great depth in health and safety‘, Temple Garden Chambers‘ team is regularly instructed in corporate manslaughter cases and high-profile health and safety prosecutions under the Health and Safety at Work Act. The ‘wise and impressive advocate‘ Keith Morton KC acted on a waste management company alleged to have caused the death of a traffic marshal at the BBC Television Centre site during construction work. Dominic Adamson KC is acting on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, representing the Local Authority Building Control responsible for certifying cladding products in relation to Module 2 and 6. Fiona Canby is also active in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, advising the tower’s main contractor, Rydon Maintenance Limited in a criminal investigation relating to the fire.
Testimonials
Set
‘A strong regulatory set.‘
‘TGC has great depth in health and safety.‘
‘TGC is a go to set for H&S and inquests.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks always go out of their way to find a solution and ensure counsel availability.‘
‘Helpful and approachable.‘
Three Raymond Buildings
Noted for its ‘excellent strength in depth‘, Three Raymond Buildings‘ health and safety team has a strong track record in representing individuals, companies and regulators in inquests; in a prominent example, Stephen Walsh KC continues to act for the London Fire Brigade in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Amongst the juniors, Sarah Le Fevre acted for the defendant in HSE v Aviramp Ltd, which focused on a serious accident at a manufacturing company. In another matter, Saba Naqshbandi represented the London Fire Commissioner in a case in which BUPA was fined for admitted safety failures following the death of a care home resident.
Testimonials
Set
‘Very strong at all levels including juniors. The juniors are clearly brought up to embody the 3RB spirit and ethos. Due to the strength in depth at all level availability is always good.‘
‘Top set and excellent strength in depth.‘
Clerking
‘Very good commercial clerks especially Dean Brown and Eddie Holland.‘
‘Strong – Dean Brown is a main contact but junior clerks are also diligent.‘
‘The clerks are excellent, responsive, and easy to deal with.‘
Crown Office Chambers
Testimonials
Set
‘The number one go to set for H&S matters.‘
‘A set that has depth throughout all years of call.’
‘The strongest H&S set.‘
‘Crown Office has built up a formidable team of silks, senior juniors and juniors which in my view is without comparison in this niche field.‘
‘Excellent – go to chambers for regulatory work. Incredible strength in depth and fantastic collegiate work ethic – all the silks are ready to chip in to help juniors through unexpected storms.‘
Clerking
‘Very responsive clerks, especially Toby Sparrow.‘
Henderson Chambers
‘Superb set‘ Henderson Chambers fields expertise in HSE enforcement actions, investigations, and high-profile prosecutions. Oliver Campbell KC is acting for the defendants, while Prashant Popat KC is instructed by the prosecutor in a case regarding a fatal accident to an engineer as he carried out repairs to machinery in a private hospital. Toby Riley-Smith KC represented Whirlpool, the producer of the fridge alleged to have been the fire’s starting point, in procedural hearings relating to the Grenfell Tower disaster. Angus Withington KC acted for a precast concrete manufacturer and supplier facing allegations that hundreds of workers suffered permanent injuries at one of its concrete fabrication plant after being exposed to excessive vibration. Kathleen Donnelly KC is another notable figure, having had represented Vestas Wind Systems in the inquest into the death of an employee as a result of pulmonary thrombosis.
Testimonials
Set
‘A leading set for Health and Safety work.‘
‘The set has a very strong team with barristers at all levels enabling selection to suit the case.’
‘Superb set. Strength in depth.’
‘The regulatory team has strength in depth and is able to offer counsel for different levels of instruction.‘
‘Henderson Chambers is one of the leading sets in the health and safety sphere.‘
Clerking
‘Very professional and competent clerks room. Friendly and helpful.‘
2 Bedford Row
2 Bedford Row ‘has strength in terms of skillset and the numbers to give it the reputation it richly deserves’, with its members regularly acting on the defendant and claimant side with regard to a range of corporate and gross negligence manslaughter prosecutions in the retail, construction, entertainment and manufacturing sectors. In R v Hilux Ltd & Jalal Rana, Christine Agnew KC was instructed to represent both defendants with respect to health and safety offences arising out of a fatal accident on a building site in Birmingham. Alex Stein prosecuted for the CPS in R v Alutrade Limited and Others, a corporate manslaughter case arising from a workplace death at a recycling facility.
Testimonials
Set
‘Chambers has some very talented barristers.‘
‘For health and safety, the set has strength in terms of skillset and the numbers to give it the reputation it richly deserves.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are well led by John Grimmer and Paul Rodgers and are always on hand to assist and accommodate instructing solicitors.‘
‘The junior clerks are very able, in particular Tom Powell and Joe Martin.‘
‘Very impressive. John Grimmer is a very reassuring presence.‘
‘Lee Bartlett is always accessible, helpful and responsive, both in terms of assessing counsel availability and in relation to fee queries. He’s a real asset to chambers.‘
Six Pump Court
Six Pump Court is ‘a great set‘ which is ‘always dedicated to clients‘. Mark Watson KC, who is considered a ‘tactical genius‘, acted on behalf of the CPS in a corporate manslaughter prosecution arising from a transport failure at a waste company.
Testimonials
Set
‘Chambers is clearly very strong in H&S.’
‘The chambers offers a wide range of experience and expertise and the barristers are user friendly and accessible.‘
2 Hare Court
Providing ‘all round coverage in the health and safety, crime and inquests sectors’, the barristers at 2 Hare Court represent clients in a variety of sectors, including transport, food, healthcare, construction, and energy, acting in high-profile inquiries, manslaughter prosecutions, and cases brought by regulators and enforcement bodies. Chambers head Jonathan Laidlaw KC is acting on behalf of ShowSec and Live Nation in the inquiry and subsequent criminal investigation arising out of the Manchester Arena bombing. In addition, Tom Day went up against James Buchanan in a gross negligence manslaughter case in the wake of the death of a construction worker during the construction and refurbishment of a block of flats.
Testimonials
Set
‘Chambers provides good all round coverage in the health and safety, crime and inquest sectors.‘
‘2 Hare Court is one of the go to chambers for health and safety regulatory work – very experienced and well respected for its work in this area.‘
Clerking
‘Julian Campbell is great.‘
‘The clerks’ room is well led by Julian Campbell, who is always approachable.’
‘Excellent. Julian Campbell is particularly exceptional, making an effort to respond promptly to requests and going above and beyond to provide support.‘
Temple Garden Chambers
With ‘great depth in health and safety‘, Temple Garden Chambers‘ team is regularly instructed in corporate manslaughter cases and high-profile health and safety prosecutions under the Health and Safety at Work Act. The ‘wise and impressive advocate‘ Keith Morton KC acted on a waste management company alleged to have caused the death of a traffic marshal at the BBC Television Centre site during construction work. Dominic Adamson KC is acting on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, representing the Local Authority Building Control responsible for certifying cladding products in relation to Module 2 and 6. Fiona Canby is also active in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, advising the tower’s main contractor, Rydon Maintenance Limited in a criminal investigation relating to the fire.
Testimonials
Set
‘A strong regulatory set.‘
‘TGC has great depth in health and safety.‘
‘TGC is a go to set for H&S and inquests.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks always go out of their way to find a solution and ensure counsel availability.‘
‘Helpful and approachable.‘
Three Raymond Buildings
Noted for its ‘excellent strength in depth‘, Three Raymond Buildings‘ health and safety team has a strong track record in representing individuals, companies and regulators in inquests; in a prominent example, Stephen Walsh KC continues to act for the London Fire Brigade in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Amongst the juniors, Sarah Le Fevre acted for the defendant in HSE v Aviramp Ltd, which focused on a serious accident at a manufacturing company. In another matter, Saba Naqshbandi represented the London Fire Commissioner in a case in which BUPA was fined for admitted safety failures following the death of a care home resident.
Testimonials
Set
‘Very strong at all levels including juniors. The juniors are clearly brought up to embody the 3RB spirit and ethos. Due to the strength in depth at all level availability is always good.‘
‘Top set and excellent strength in depth.‘
Clerking
‘Very good commercial clerks especially Dean Brown and Eddie Holland.‘
‘Strong – Dean Brown is a main contact but junior clerks are also diligent.‘
‘The clerks are excellent, responsive, and easy to deal with.‘