Six Pump Court is 'excellent for regulatory cases'. The team brings extensive experience in handling high-profile health and safety matters for clients in the oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, rail, health and retail sectors. Additionally, the group garners praise for its expertise in food safety regulatory matters. Mark Watson KC is acting in proceedings arising from the amputation of an engineer’s arm after it became stuck in a lift shaft. Among the juniors, Pascal Bates successfully prosecuted on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in HSE v Cambridgeshire County Council, where the council was convicted of safety mismanagement failures over an 11-year period, concerning multiple fatalities and injuries suffered by pedestrians and cyclists on and near the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. The council received a £6m fine, which is considered to be one of the largest fines imposed on a local authority for safety breaches.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Mentions
Profile
Position
Prosecuting and defending regulatory prosecutions brought by national and local enforcement agencies, at first instance and on appeal – primarily health and safety but also railway, fire, food, trading standards and environment: eg. Taunton Deane BC v WH Smith (2018), HSE v Claxton Engineering Services and others (quadruple fatality at Great Yarmouth) (2017). Advised HSE/ORR on the structural collapse onto the railway at Gerrards Cross. Enforcement Notice appeals: e.g. Cooperative Group Food v Steward (Three Rivers DC) (2017). Disputes about primary authority arrangements. Confidential/strategic advice on regulatory/commercial matters: eg. hydrocarbon pipeline safety; enforceability of non-compete clauses; joint venture agreement between developers. Inquests: eg. In re Fairweather (2018). Disclosure/PII in both civil and criminal contexts. General common and public law with an emphasis on statutory construction: eg. rights to UK passports; allocation of statutory powers between rival public bodies; extent of investigators’ powers; application of EU/UK controls to imported foods. Commercial contract and property: eg. ICFL v Trafalgar Leisure (2018), Halberstam v Gladstar [2015] EWHC 179 (QB), Meretz Investments v ACP [2008] Ch 244, Haller v Deutsche Bank. Contested probate.
Career
MA (Cantab); called 1994; Standing Counsel to HSE & ORR; A List for Environment Agency; Occasional Lecturer UCL
Education
MA (Cantab).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Richard Constable runs a tight ship and leads by example, so the clerks are particularly responsive and approachable.'
- 'Richard Constable is a real star!'
- 'The clerks are efficient.'
- 'Six Pump Court have a set of very talented barristers at all levels.'
- 'There is no other set with greater experience in food safety and water regulation.'
- 'A strong regulatory set with a wealth of knowledge and experience.'
- 'An excellent set.'