Health & Safety | UK Bar

Crown Office Chambers houses a strong bench of senior and junior barristers who are experienced in the handling of prosecutions arising from a wide range of health and safety offences. Areas of expertise for the team include food safety prosecutions and cases brought under the HSWA. Members are noted for their expertise in corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter cases, and regularly appear in inquests and major cases, including the Topshop/Topman fatality matter. The team is well regarded for its representation of major corporations and their directors. Instructing solicitors report: "This is a leading set in the sphere of health and safety. We regularly entrust our most complex matters to KCs and juniors at Crown Office."

Henderson Chambers maintains its reputation as a leading set for complex and high-profile health and safety matters. Members are regularly called upon to represent defendant corporations in inquests and prosecutions arising from fatal accidents and breaches of the HSWA and Fire Safety Regulations. The team is also instructed by the HSE and other regulatory bodies, and has continued to appear in several high-profile matters, such as the Grenfell Tower inquiry. "Henderson Chambers are consistently able to assist with complex matters, no matter what the issue," says one interviewee.

The barristers at 2 Bedford Row are experienced in the prosecution and defence of corporate manslaughter and individual gross negligence manslaughter cases. Market sources note: "Their KCs and juniors are all really well known in the health and safety arena." Members are instructed in matters arising in several different industry sectors, including hospitality, construction and transport, and are regularly called upon to act for and advise clients on cases involving the Regulatory Reform Act and complex prosecutions relating to breaches of fire safety. The set's enviable client list includes major corporations and their directors, as well as the HSE, the ORR, and fire and rescue authorities. Recent work highlights include providing counsel in the Grenfell Tower inquiry.

2 Hare Court is a well-regarded criminal set which is regularly called upon to act for and advise corporates, individual directors, local authorities and enforcement bodies such as the HSE and Environment Agency. Members are experienced in the handling of health and safety matters relating to deaths at work and in care homes, as well as complex enforcement matters involving hazardous substance accidents. The team is highly regarded for its expertise in corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter cases. The set's tenants also frequently appear at inquests and high-profile public inquiries. High-profile work handled by the set includes acting for Pret-a-Manger following a series of allergen cases. Interviewees report: "2 Hare Court has a very knowledgeable and impressive offering of counsel."

The barristers at Outer Temple Chambers are well regarded for their expert handling of prosecutions arising from a wide range of health and safety offences. The set houses considerable experience in cases arising from maritime accidents, and its members are regularly instructed to both prosecute and defend complex prosecutions brought by the Maritime and Coastguard Authority. Cases involving fatal rail crashes and fires also form a key part of the set's practice. Additional areas of strength for the team include gross negligence manslaughter and corporate manslaughter cases, as well as complex HSE investigations. Sources say: "The practitioners are bright, responsive and have worked on many of the leading cases in the regulatory field." Advocates from Outer Temple recently represented clients in the Didcot Power Station case.

Six Pump Court houses a strong bench of seasoned health and safety practitioners who are regularly called upon to handle prosecutions arising in the oil and gas, manufacturing, transport, construction and retail sectors, among others. Members are particularly well regarded for their expertise in environmental offences and food safety matters, and have experience both prosecuting and defending complex and high-value cases. The set's clients include several large multinational organisations, as well as local authorities and regulators such as the HSE, FSA, ORR and MCA. Sources say: "They have strength in depth at all levels from silks through to juniors." Recently the advocates defended a company at trial in relation to release of asbestos in school.

Temple Garden Chambers is well regarded for its handling of complex health and safety prosecutions and enforcement proceedings. Areas of expertise for the set include gross negligence manslaughter and corporate manslaughter cases, as well as prosecutions arising from workplace fatalities and rail accidents. Members are also regularly called upon to represent their clients at inquests and public inquiries. The tenants are noted for their expert representation of both defendant corporations and prosecuting authorities. Sources note that they offer an "excellent level of expertise." Recent work highlights include acting on behalf of clients in the Croydon Tram disaster.

3 Raymond Buildings is noted for its expert handling of health and safety prosecutions arising across a range of sectors, including construction, transport, care and retail, among others. Members are sought after to act for regulators such as the HSE and ORR, as well as regulated corporations and individual directors. Areas of expertise for the team include food and fire safety matters, corporate manslaughter cases and prosecutions relating to serious and fatal accidents at work. The set's tenants also regularly appear in inquests and major public inquiries, such as the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and the inquest into the Croydon tram crash.