James Muller > Weightmans LLP > Birmingham, England > Lawyer Profile

James Muller

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Position

James has specialised in regulatory law since 2012, covering all aspects of:

Health and safety
Corporate manslaughter/gross negligence manslaughter
Inquests
Fire safety
Careless/dangerous driving
Food hygiene/safety
Environmental law.

He has a national practice and represents clients throughout England and Wales.

James provides advice and representation for companies and individuals throughout the entire duration of regulatory investigations, often being instructed in the immediate aftermath of serious and fatal accidents, and carrying matters through to their conclusion. He has extensive experience of court litigation and trial preparation, and has particular skill in dealing with complex areas of expert evidence.

James is passionate about getting to know his clients’ businesses in detail, ensuring that his advice always takes into account the wider impact the matter might have on the business as a whole. He works for all manner of businesses, ranging from multi-nationals to sole traders and individuals, with particular experience in manufacturing, construction, health and social care, leisure, agriculture, food and hospitality, local government, education, fire services, haulage, waste and recycling, and mining.

At the outset of his career, James gained significant experience in the prosecution of health and safety and fire safety cases. Having experience of how such cases are prosecuted gives James a significant tactical edge when defending.

James regularly advises clients in relation to fire safety matters and issues arising from the new regulatory regime under the Building Safety Act. James wrote an article on the Building Safety Act that was published by the Law Society’s quarterly Property in Practice magazine.

James also carries out non-contentious advisory work for his clients, including advising on health and safety and fire safety requirements, providing training, and carrying out due diligence in relation to the firm’s corporate deals. He recently advised private equity investors in relation to the health and safety (and fire safety) implications of its acquisition of a group of 171 health and social care companies.

James is currently instructed in relation to numerous complex health and safety cases, including: manufacturing fatalities in Nottinghamshire and Shropshire; Crown Court trials in Birmingham, Southwark and Chelmsford; and HSE investigations into construction accidents causing life-changing in Northumberland and Berkshire. He recently represented a company director in the West Midlands who was acquitted of gross negligence manslaughter in relation to a fatal accident at a recycling facility.