Department profile
Transport: Road: Regulatory
UK Guide 2026 : UK-wide
Rankings
Ranked Individuals
Ranked Individuals
About
Provided by Backhouse Jones Ltd
Backhouse Jones, is an award winning firm whose Road Regulatory team provide Industry specific and UK-wide advice and representation in relation to:
- public inquiries (and appeals);
- criminal matters (ranging from allegations of fraud and causing death by dangerous driving to speeding and overloading prosecutions);
- HSE and Environment Agency prosecutions;
- illegal immigration Border Force matters;
- matters concerning the carriage of animals;
- operator licensing;
- construction and use;
- dangerous goods or loads;
- tachograph offences;
- police and DVSA investigations;
- road regulatory compliance; and
- best practice.
It also provides industry specific training and compliance reviews to the HGV and PCV sectors and other businesses with transport at their heart.
The team is made up of:
- Mark Davies, Legal Director of Backhouse Jones.
- James Backhouse, Legal Director of Backhouse Jones.
- Jonathon Backhouse, Legal Director of Backhouse Jones.
- Andrew Woolfall, Legal Director of Backhouse Jones.
- John Heaton, Solicitor.
- Charlotte Fowler, Solicitor.
- Amy Smith, Solicitor.
- Heather Bell, Paralegal.
Contact: [email protected] or call on 01254 828300.
Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Work Highlights
Provided by Chambers
Backhouse Jones successfully represented Rotala in an application to judicially review the decision by Manchester County Council to impose a Temporary Traffic Restriction Order and close an area of Deansgate to all traffic.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
They stand head and shoulders above other law firms who call themselves transport specialists.
Transport: Road: Regulatory respondentUKThey are very prompt to act and assist on any queries or requests and always meet deadlines despite tight turnarounds.
Transport: Road: Regulatory respondentUKThey provide pragmatic, commercial advice backed by excellent knowledge delivered by a highly personable team in an accessible manner.
Transport: Road: Regulatory respondentUKThe Backhouse Jones team consistently demonstrate a remarkable level of responsiveness, ensuring that complex issues are addressed promptly and effectively.
Transport: Road: Regulatory respondentUKBackhouse Jones are unrivalled in their transport expertise and knowledge of the industry.
Transport: Road: Regulatory respondentUK
Notable Practitioners
Provided by Chambers
Senior Statespeople 
Senior Statespeople John Heaton
John Heaton has a strong reputation in the market and a wealth of expertise advising on road transport disputes. He has a great deal of experience before the courts, Traffic Commissioners and tribunals as both a prosecutor and defender in road disputes. John is very knowledgeable about road traffic matters.
Transport: Road: Regulatory respondentUK
Band 1 
Band 1 James Backhouse
James Backhouse enjoys an excellent reputation in the sector for his deep public inquiry experience and wide-ranging regulatory expertise. He represents clients in court and tribunals, and has extensive experience handling issues relating to the application and protection of operator licences. Backhouse also advises on issues such as load security and bus reliability. James is like a wise owl; there isn't much he doesn't know.
Transport: Road: Regulatory respondentUKJames is extremely responsive and client-focused, which complements his legal expertise impressively.
Transport: Road: Regulatory respondentUK
Band 1 
Band 1 Jonathon Backhouse
Jonathon Backhouse has notable expertise in road transport matters. He has experience in public inquiries, cases involving operator licences and matters involving serious road traffic accidents. Backhouse also provides clients advice on compliance. We have absolute confidence in anything we discuss with Jonathon and all reports worked on.
Transport: Road: Regulatory respondentUKJonathon has a great depth of knowledge on a wide range of topics and takes time to understand our business well in order to provide the very best advice.
Transport: Road: Regulatory respondentUKNothing is a problem for Jonathon and he is always ready to help.
Transport: Road: Regulatory respondentUK
Band 2 
Band 2 Mark Davies
Head of the regulatory road transport team, Mark Davies focuses his practice on contentious cases. He has considerable experience advising on regulatory action and transport-related crimes, including fraud in the Crown Court.
Mark is down to earth and intelligent. He makes an effort with us, shows he cares and clearly knows his stuff.
Transport: Road: Regulatory respondentUKI am confident in his technical ability but also his responsiveness and ability to quickly win a client's trust.
Transport: Road: Regulatory respondentUKMark is a pensive lawyer who understands how his advice will impact my business. He is a calm hand on the tiller.
Transport: Road: Regulatory respondentUK
Band 3 
Band 3 Andrew Woolfall
Andrew Woolfall is a solicitor advocate with extensive court and public inquiry experience. He has notable expertise in operator licensing matters. Woolfall acts for a range of clients, including passenger and goods companies, in criminal and compliance proceedings nationwide.
Andrew is extremely experienced and knowledgeable on some of the most obscure and specific elements of the regulatory framework.
Transport: Road: Regulatory respondentUK
Ranked Individuals at Backhouse Jones Ltd (5)
UK-wide
John Heaton
Transport: Road: Regulatory
View profile James Backhouse
Transport: Road: Regulatory
View profile Jonathon Backhouse
Transport: Road: Regulatory
View profile Mark Davies
Transport: Road: Regulatory
View profile Andrew Woolfall
Transport: Road: Regulatory
View profile
Members
Provided by Backhouse Jones Ltd
John Heaton
View profile of John HeatonAndrew Woolfall
View profile of Andrew WoolfallJames Backhouse
View profile of James BackhouseJonathon Backhouse
View profile of Jonathon BackhouseMark Davies
View profile of Mark Davies
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