The ‘go-to’ team at Osborne Clarke LLP handles high-profile health and safety investigations and inquests, criminal investigations and crisis management for leading national and global clients. A key area of growth involves advising employers on compliance with their obligations regarding occupational stress and mental health management. Team lead Mary Lawrence, a specialist in health and safety within the media and entertainment sector, provides support to major international clients operating in the UK on various crisis management and complex health and safety matters. Georgia Lythgoe specialises in criminal regulatory and environmental crime matters, while Matthew Vernon supports clients with crisis management following major incidents, including during regulatory investigations and prosecutions. Alice Babington is a key contact for cross-border health and safety compliance issues. Matthew Kyle departed the firm in September 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The Health & Safety team at Osborne Clarke are always client-focused, delivering bespoke training and tailored advice across our group of companies in an engaging and informative manner. They remain our go-to lawyers across our group.'
- 'The team knows our business very well and understand our risk appetite. This means that investigations were, and are, well-managed with speed but no sacrifice in quality.'
- 'Mary Lawrence: a delight to work with, thoughtful and perceptive.'
- 'Knowledgeable, with pragmatic advice.'
- 'In-depth insight into health and safety issues in large projects. Ability to call on a wide range of specialist advice as required. Complete honesty at all times, never suggesting that they can predict things which can't be predicted.'
- 'Mary Lawrence and her colleagues feel like part of our own team. They have delivered continuity of care for us, which cannot have been easy over such an extended time period, with very variable workloads.'
- 'With a broad knowledge base, commitment to the industry, flexibility and expert advice, my experience is above reproach with the team. Always professional, helpful, and experts in the field.'
- 'Mary Lawrence has been my primary partner; and, in my opinion, she is nothing short of excellent. She has a unique talent for bringing all of our industry professionals together, align and educate over policy and approach, and is second to none in her interpretation and guidance.'
- 'The team advised us on a course of action and listened to what we wanted and delivered very well. The matter was well managed and dealt with efficiently and concluded successfully.'
- 'Osborne Clarke were accessible and listened to our wishes. The matter was dealt with efficiently. The staff were friendly and made themselves available to deal with the matter quickly.'
Key clients
- RWE Generation UK plc
- Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited
- National Grid Electricity Distribution
- Netflix
- Nutricia Limited
- Amazon Studios
- Film & TV Charity
- ITV
- Bluefield
- QinetiQ
Work highlights
Representing RWE Generation UK plc in relation to the high-profile Didcot power station collapse in February 2016. The investigation remains a police investigation with support from HSE and a number of parties have been interviewed under caution.
Supporting a telecoms infrastructure business with a number of issues around health and safety management across its extensive UK operations, including on building and fire safety issues and related personal injury claims.
Acted for a large Electricity Distribution Network Operator (DNO) in respect of an investigation and subsequent prosecution following an incident involving a contractor who sustained serious injuries while undertaking maintenance works on one of the DNO's towers.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Mary Lawrence
Other key lawyers
Georgia Lythgoe; Matthew Vernon; Alice Babington