DWF

The group at DWF in Manchester advises on complex health and safety cases in a wide range of sectors, from education to care. The team’s workload includes representing clients in connection with high-profile public inquiries and investigations into cases of fatal and serious injury in the workplace. Joanne Witheford is noted for her work defending companies and directors in relation to serious workplace incident matters, while Amanda Lea focuses on gross negligence manslaughter investigations and sentencings. Steffan Groch has considerable experience defending companies, directors and managers in prosecutions brought by the HSE, local authorities and the Crown Prosecution Service. Vikki Woodfine advises on safeguarding and multi-agency investigations, particularly in the education and care sectors. Groch and Woodfine oversee the group alongside Liverpool-based regulatory specialist Gary Smith. Simon Belfield moved to the Birmingham office in December 2024.