Gerard Forlin KC > Cornerstone Barristers > London, England > Barrister Profile

Cornerstone Barristers
2-3 GRAY'S INN SQUARE
LONDON
WC1R 5JH
England

Position

Specialist in health and safety; corporate manslaughter: disaster litigation; aviation: railways; fire; shipping safety; regulatory offences; product liability; crowd safety; official state events; fire: diving; local government; healthcare; commercial fishing; corruption; waste offences; and public inquiries and inquests. Described as “one of the most compelling advocates that you could ever see in a courtroom.” Standing counsel to numerous PLCs and agencies in the UK and abroad. Advised on over 250 fatality cases, including: Grenfell Tower, Shoreham Air Disaster, MH370, recent inquest F1 McLaren, Watford, Notting Hill Carnival, Southall, Paddington, James Porter, Teebay, Barrow, Hatfield, Purley, Faversham, Britannia Air Crash, City of London Lift Case, Alton Towers, Greek catamaran, inquests in Falklands and other sporting, aviation and construction cases. Acted in over 150 jury inquests in the UK and overseas. Regular presenter for FCO, ASEAN and UN on bribery and corruption. Direct Access Licensed.

Regularly used as an expert pundit on BBC, Sky and CNN, and various other TV companies.

Career

Called 1984; Lincoln’s Inn; QC 2010 in both civil and criminal bandings; Senior Crown Counsel, Hong Kong; State Chambers, Sydney; worked over 65 countries; appeared in court in several jurisdictions; standing counsel to numerous unions, PLCs and government departments; visiting lecturer to numerous universities and other institutions in UK and worldwide, consultant to the Bar Council on the Corporate Killing Bill; lecturer to the police and ACPO on disaster management. Publications of note: numerous articles; practical research paper on manslaughter (Sweet & Maxwell); general editor of Corporate Liability: Work Related Deaths and Criminal Prosecution (Bloomsbury, 3rd edition 2014, next edition in 2023); law chapter in Butterworths’ Handbook of Disaster and Emergency Management: Principles and Practice (December 2002; 2004); two chapters in Butterworths’ Licensing Law and Practice (2013); joint author of A Practical Guide to Health and Safety Prosecutions (Thomas Telford, 2007). Actor and script writer. Undertakes numerous mock trials in the UK and globally. Client base in over 65 countries.

 

Languages

French, Italian.

Memberships

CBA; vice chair of Health and Safety Lawyers; ADLR; Global legal panel of Royal Aeronautical Society legal list; Member of State Chambers Sydney;Called in the BVI, Ireland (after passing the Irish Bar examination) and Australia.

Education

Trinity Hall, Cambridge (MPhil); London School of Economics (LLM; LLB Hons) Dip Air and Space Law, UCL.

Leisure

Travel, acting, swimming and walking.

Lawyer Rankings

London Bar > Aviation

(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3

Gerard Forlin KC – Cornerstone Barristers ‘Gerard has a big heart and looks to act in the best interests of his clients.’

London Bar > Health and safety

(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2

Gerard Forlin KCCornerstone Barristers ‘Great advocate, good with juries. Very personable and fun to work with.‘

London Bar > Inquests and inquiries

(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 4

Gerard Forlin KCCornerstone BarristersA fierce advocate, who is fabulous on his feet.’