Health And Safety

Leading Silks

Simon Antrobus KC –Crown Office Chambers 'He is just the best. He is at the top of his game. He is incredibly bright. The combination of his intellectual skills and his ability to explain legal issues to a jury in a straightforward manner is fairly rare.'

Oliver Campbell KC –Henderson Chambers ‘Oliver is clear and concise in his cross examination and is particularly good at cross examining experts. He is a persuasive advocate.‘

Stephen Hockman KC –Six Pump Court ‘When he speaks in court, people listen. A top pick by most instructing solicitors for the most difficult cases.‘

Jonathan Laidlaw KC –2 Hare Court

Richard Matthews KC – The Chambers of Richard Matthews ‘Richard is one of the leading advocates in the health and safety field. He is very engaging and effective.‘

Keith Morton KC –Temple Garden Chambers ‘He is brilliant at taking in huge amounts of information. Processes information into a coherent, logical argument. Very good with clients.'

Prashant Popat KC –Henderson Chambers ‘His attention to detail is second to none. He is the best in his field and is very persuasive with his cerebral attention to detail which Judge’s and clients respect and appreciate.‘

David Travers KC – Gough Square Chambers ‘An excellent advocate. He is able to deal sensitively with difficult cases, and strikes the right tone. He has an excellent knowledge of the law and is pragmatic as well as technically sound.‘

Dominic Adamson KC –Temple Garden Chambers ‘A strong advocate, tactically brilliant and able to get to the main issues quickly.'

James Ageros KC –Crown Office Chambers ‘James is a leading silk in health and safety matters. He is highly knowledgeable, and particularly adept at analysing and distilling complex material into easily understandable points.'

Christine Agnew KC –2 Bedford Row ‘In court, her vast knowledge and experience are her key assets. She delivers submissions in a way which is focused and gives the court what it needs. All in all, she provides the recipe for success!‘

Ben Compton KC –Outer Temple Chambers

John Cooper KC –Crown Office Chambers ‘An excellent advocate and lateral thinker. He is robust.‘

Adrian Darbishire KC –QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘He brings his experience and expertise across the whole range of criminal justice to health and safety. This makes him stand out.'

Gerard Forlin KC –Cornerstone Barristers ‘Gerard is a great advocate, brilliant with juries, and good with clients.‘

Jamas Hodivala KC –Matrix Chambers ‘Jamas is always commercially astute and provides pragmatic advice.’

Dominic Kay KC –Crown Office Chambers ‘A superb tactician and strategist who is excellent on his feet.‘

Richard Lissack KC –Fountain Court Chambers

James Maxwell-Scott KC –Crown Office Chambers ‘He produces high quality written advice and is able to quickly review and disseminate large amounts of information.‘

Toby Riley-Smith KC –Henderson Chambers ‘His 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.‘

Jim Sturman KC –2 Bedford Row

Stephen Walsh KC –Three Raymond Buildings ‘At the top of his game. Strategic, knowledgeable and hard working.‘

Mark Watson KC –Six Pump Court ‘Mark has excellent interpersonal and social skills, commitment and good judgement. However, it is his attention to detail that is most impressive.‘

Angus Withington KC – Henderson Chambers ‘Angus does not have any weaknesses. He is a brilliant barrister in every respect.'

2022 Silks

Tim Green KC –Henderson Chambers ‘Tim is a class act. He knows the legislation backwards and is always up to date with the latest case law.‘

Deanna Heer KC –5 Paper Buildings ‘Deanna has the law at her fingertips and possesses a relentless and steely determination.‘

Leading Juniors

Mark Balysz –Crown Office Chambers ‘Mark is a brilliant advocate - sharp and succinct.'

Oliver Powell –Outer Temple Chambers

Mike Atkins –Crown Office Chambers ‘Mike is extremely organised and a trusted advisor. He understands clients' businesses and what their priorities are. His advocacy is calm, measured and clear.‘

Pascal Bates –Six Pump Court

Lee Bennett –Six Pump Court 'Lee is strategic, thoughtful and very astute. He is also hardworking and dedicated to getting the right result for our clients.'

Miles Bennett –5 Paper Buildings

Fiona Canby –Temple Garden Chambers ‘Very able advocate. She is liked by clients and solicitors for her court presence and informality of approach.‘

Valerie Charbit –Red Lion Chambers 'Provides very good support, is happy to get on with legwork and is very easy to work with.'

Mark Harris –Six Pump Court

David Hercock –Six Pump Court ‘David is an extremely hard working individual, who is deeply knowledgeable in the field of health and safety. He is a skilled advocate who plans meticulously for every hearing.‘

James Leonard –Outer Temple Chambers

‘One of the best in the country by a long way.’

Andrew McGee –2 Bedford Row ‘He is a brilliant all rounder, always meticulously prepared and great with clients. One of the best advocates around.‘

Gordon Menzies – Six Pump Court ‘He has an incredible memory for detail and brilliant organisational skills – he remembers every fact about a case.'

Eleanor Sanderson –2 Bedford Row ‘Eleanor has a brilliant intellect, and has the ability to clearly explain legal concepts to the lay client.'

Sandesh Singh –Crown Office Chambers ‘Sandesh can distill quite technical and difficult expert reports into easy manageable legal submissions.'

Alex Stein –2 Bedford Row ‘Alex is one of the leading juniors in the field. He is known for his eye for detail and his ability to consider the long-term strategy of any case.‘

Ian Wright –Five Paper ‘A brilliant and persuasive advocate who works exceedingly hard for the instructing solicitor and the client.'

Tom Day –2 Hare Court ‘Tom's advocacy is eloquent and persuasive, and secures great results for his clients.'

Craig Ferguson –2 Hare Court

Sarah Le Fevre –Three Raymond Buildings

Malcolm Galloway –Crown Office Chambers ‘A confident and commanding advocate. His ability to communicate effectively with clients from all walks of life is second to none.‘

Sailesh Mehta –Red Lion Chambers

Saba Naqshbandi –Three Raymond Buildings ‘Saba is excellent at health and safety cases. She quickly gets to grips with the issues and provides succinct and practical advice. She is very highly regarded by the court.'

Laura Phillips – Gough Square Chambers ‘Laura’s preparation is second to none. Her written submissions are hugely helpful and her advice to clients is clear and concise.'

James Purnell –Henderson Chambers ‘James is knowledgeable, has a good client manner and is easy to work with.'

Shauna Ritchie –2 Bedford Row ‘Her client care skills are exceptional as is her knowledge of H&S law and regulations. Shauna’s work ethic coupled with her skill & experience make her an extremely effective advocate.‘

Alexandra Tampakopoulos –2 Hare Court ‘She is very knowledgeable in this field and extremely helpful to instructing solicitors.'

Harry Vann – Crown Office Chambers ‘A tenacious strategist. He is clear and concise in his writing and his advocacy.'

Christopher Adams – Farringdon Chambers ‘Superb attention to detail. Prodigious work ethic. Excellent written advocacy. Calmness personified in court.‘

James Buchanan –2 Hare Court

Christian Du Cann –39 Essex Chambers

Abigail Cohen –Henderson Chambers

Iain Daniels –2 Hare Court

Kathleen Donnelly – Henderson Chambers ‘Very bright, tenacious, and good on her feet.‘

Quentin Hunt –2 Bedford Row ‘Quentin has a deep knowledge of health and safety legislation and is a very experienced operator in this field. He is a robust advocate in court and always up for the fight. Clients are very impressed with his calm yet forceful nature.‘

Jack Murphy – Crown Office Chambers 'Jack is extremely diligent, thorough, well prepared, and has good commercial awareness.'

Nicholas Ostrowski –Six Pump Court ‘Nick provides high quality advice. He has the ability to put forward points of view which had previously not been considered.‘

Paul Spencer –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Paul is extremely knowledgeable, responsive, diligent, conscientious and personable.'

Austin Stoton –2 Bedford Row

Health and safety in London Bar

Tier 1 sets

Crown Office Chambers

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, Mike Atkins, Sandesh Singh, and Malcolm Galloway, all key figures in the junior ranks and acting as opposing counsel in the matter.

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.‘

‘First class service – always putting the client first. Toby Sparrow is first class.‘

‘Excellent. Toby Sparrow is communicative, sensitive to what a case or a client needs and brings years of experience to the role.‘

‘Toby Sparrow is a real star, always going the extra mile to assist instructing solicitors with any issues which arise. He is extremely hard working and a pleasure to work with.‘

‘Toby Sparrow runs a tight ship, very efficient.‘

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 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.‘

‘Clerks are extremely responsive, helpful and accommodating.‘

‘Jason Howsden in the clerks room is very good – he gets it and understands the demands from solicitors/clients in this area of law.‘

‘The clerks’ room is very good. Daniel Smith is impressive.‘

Tier 2 sets

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.‘

‘The clerks are fantastic. Paul Rodgers deserves a particular mention for his can-do attitude.‘

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.‘

‘The set has a great reputation. Training sessions are run in a helpful and lively manner.‘

‘An excellent set. It always goes the extra mile.’

‘As a set, Six Pump Court is second to none in this area of law. If the barrister of choice is not available then the strength of the team is such that the clerks can always find someone with sufficient skill and experience to deal with the matter in hand.‘

Clerking

‘The most personal service. They care deeply about going the extra mile. Pragmatic and professional but totally personable and human. Utterly charming to deal with. Richard Constable and Ryan Barrow in particular could make a living giving masterclasses in clerking.‘

‘The clerks are helpful and friendly, and Richard Constable is always able to deal with any issues efficiently as well as being able to put forward suitable counsel. Likewise, Ryan Barrow is always available to assist and there seems to be a real team spirit in the clerk’s room.‘

‘Very good. Richard Constable leads a great team very effectively!‘

‘The service from the clerks room is excellent. Richard Constable, their chief clerk is peerless in his dedication to the cause. He is ably assisted by Ryan Barrow who deputises for him with great efficiency and humour.‘

‘Richard Constable is one of the best clerks. He is hugely accessible, knows his barristers and those instructing them. He goes out of his way to make sure that the highest standards are maintained.‘

Tier 3 sets

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.‘

Tier 4 sets

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.‘

Coverage By Practice AreaLondon Bar