Crown Office Chambers 'remains at the top of its game in the health and safety arena'. In a high-profile matter, John Cooper KC and Sandesh Singh defended North East London NHS Trust in a longrunning case which involved allegations of corporate manslaughter and a breach of s3 HSWA 1974 arising from the death of a patient in a mental health facility; the trust was acquitted of the charge of corporate manslaughter. Elsewhere in chambers, Simon Antrobus KC, Mike Atkins and Katie Sage are representing Jersey's domestic gas distributor in a case involving allegations of manslaughter and corporate manslaughter arising from the Haut De Mont explosion in 2022, which resulted in the complete destruction of a block of flats and ten fatalities.
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Profile
Position
Mike Atkins practises exclusively in the field of criminal regulatory law, with particular expertise in health and safety, inquests, consumer law, product safety, fire safety, environmental law, and food safety. He regularly appears in significant and high-profile cases, both in his own right and as a junior. He is instructed in cases of corporate and gross negligence manslaughter, prosecutions following fatal and other serious accidents, and appeals against enforcement notices. He frequently appears on behalf of multinational and household name companies as well as directors, employees and public bodies.
He has experience of cases involving construction and demolition, work at height, manufacturing and technology, warehousing and logistics, the rail industry, waste management and recycling, mining and quarrying, work with asbestos, fire safety, gas and electrical safety, medical treatment, residential care, schools and nurseries, food poisoning and severe allergic reactions, deaths in custody, and road traffic accidents. His regulatory and consumer experience includes consumer protection, product safety, food safety, trade descriptions and advertising, the regulation of medical devices, and building regulations. He is also instructed in prosecutions for environmental offences including cases of serious water pollution and breaches of permit conditions.
As junior counsel, he secured the acquittal of the first NHS Trust to be charged with corporate manslaughter. He was junior counsel for the acquitted Managing Director in the Lion Steel corporate manslaughter case, and junior counsel to the Coroner in the inquests into the Lakanal House tower block fire which lasted 3 months. He secured the acquittal, after a 7 day jury trial, of a director charged with neglect after an employee suffered serious injuries in a fall from height.
He regularly advises on challenges to invoices issued under the HSE Fee for Intervention (FFI) scheme. He has been appointed to List B of the list of specialist regulatory advocates to prosecute on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive, the Environment Agency and the Office of Rail and Road and is a contributor to Westlaw Insight on food law.
Career
Called 2006, Middle Temple. Tenant at Crown Office Chambers since 2008. Formerly a tenant at 6 King’s Bench Walk (Chambers of David Fisher QC and David Perry QC) 2007-2008.
Languages
Basic German.
Memberships
Health and Safety Lawyers Association.
Education
Barton Court Grammar School, Canterbury; Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge (2004, BA First Class (Hons) Law); BVC 2006 (Outstanding).
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- 'Toby Sparrow is excellent.'
- 'Toby and Lisa Searle are simply amazing - an asset to Crown Office Chambers.'
- 'Toby and Lisa are fantastic clerks who provide exceptional service.'
- 'Superb clerking.'
- 'Crown Office Chambers has established itself as a leading set for health and safety work. The chambers offer impressive strength-in-depth, with a range of talented barristers at various levels of seniority.'
- 'Crown Office are the go-to set for health and safety defence work. Fantastic strength in depth with leading silks and juniors alike. They are unrivalled.'
- 'Crown Office Chambers remains at the pinnacle for all health and safety work. They have a great breadth and strength of depth.'