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No5 Barristers' Chambers

Health & Safety

UK Bar Guide 2026 : Midlands (Bar)

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No5 Barristers' Chambers

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About

Provided by No5 Barristers' Chambers

The Regulatory team at No5 provide a top level service to all clients nationwide both Defending and Prosecuting in this area.

Members are well equipped to provide assistance in any form needed from detailed formal advice, to conferences with expert witnesses, to urgent Court assistance and long running multi-handed Trials.

They provide advice and representation at every stage of proceedings on all aspects of health & safety enforcement including:

    • Initial advice at the onset of any potential investigation.
    • Representing clients at Inquests arising from fatalities.
    • All breaches and compliance advice relating to enforcement including improvement notices, prohibition notices and potential prosecutions.
    • Investigations into Breaches of the Health and Safety at Work act involving workplace accidents, injuries or fatalities.
    • Full coverage of Health and Safety, Fire Safety, Food Safety and Environmental matters.

Members receive instructions from a wide range of clients including:

    • National, regional and international law firms.
    • Local Authorities.
    • Professional Regulatory bodies.
    • Private companies from SMEs to multinational corporations.
    • In-house legal teams.

Member have been involved in many high profile and precedent-setting cases over recent years including:

    • Acting in Inquiries such as the Hillsborough and COVID Inquiries.
    • Representing National employers in defending high profile fatal cases.
    • Prosecuting high profile fatal cases on behalf of Regulatory bodies and Local Authorities.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Health & Safety - Midlands (Bar)

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

No5 Barristers' Chambers is a highly regarded set on the Midlands Circuit, and is regularly instructed to both prosecute and defend a wide range of health and safety offences. Members are noted for their adroit representation of individual and corporate defendants, as well as several regulators and local authorities. A number of tenants are on the Regulatory List of Prosecution Counsel for the HSE, EA and CQC, and the team also has experience of appearing at inquests. Members at the set recently prosecuted on HSE v Johnsons Textile Services in relation to an appeal, where the defendant was fined £400,000. Instructing solicitors note that the group takes a "balanced, pragmatic and well-informed approach" and provides "excellent advice".

Danny Griffiths is the director of clerking in Birmingham.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Both the clerking team and the barristers are excellent.

    Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

  • Their clerks are superb; they absolutely go above and beyond and the speed they turn things round is first-class.

    Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Bernard Thorogood
    Bernard Thorogood

    Bernard Thorogood

    Bernard Thorogood is an astute senior junior who has developed an enviable regulatory practice. He prosecutes and defends complex health and safety cases across the country and is also adept in related inquests. He continues to elicit praise for his extensive experience and knowledge of health and safety law.

    • He is my go-to for public sector health and safety. When I need someone who knows their way around sentencing guidelines, in my experience no one does it better.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • As well as delivering the service we required, he was also mindful of our organisation and the personal learning of our own team involved.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar
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  • Tim Pole
    Tim Pole

    Tim Pole

    Tim Pole is a well-regarded health and safety practitioner in the Midlands who acts for local authorities and the HSE, as well as various private sector entities. He has experience handling prosecutions and HSE investigations and navigating through sentencing exercises following serious injury and death.

    • Tim is the master of environment health and safety. He is an immensely skilful defender and hugely fair.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • Tim is shrewd, he thinks carefully. I think he is unflappable, and he has the measure of the court as well.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar
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  • Christopher Hopkins
    Christopher Hopkins

    Christopher Hopkins

    Christopher Hopkins is held in high regard throughout the market for his ability to represent clients in cases arising from fatal incidents. He is routinely called upon to defend private companies, although he also boasts notable strength in acting as the prosecution.

    • Chris Hopkins is very thorough, provides excellent levels of client service and is an outstanding and pragmatic advocate.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • He is our go-to for Midlands-based work; he provides solid advocacy, good tactical acumen and great client care skills.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar
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  • Ian Bridge
    Ian Bridge

    Ian Bridge

    Ian Bridge is experienced in both the defence and prosecution of health and safety cases. He is well placed to handle serious injury and fatal accident incidents across a range of industries, including construction and manufacturing.

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Ranked Barristers at No5 Barristers' Chambers (4)

Midlands (Bar)

Members

Provided by No5 Barristers' Chambers

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