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 trials. A recent case includes HSE v Exolum, a three-week trial relating to risks posed to workers from an oil pipeline. The team is well regarded for its representation of major corporations and their directors. Instructing solicitors emphasise the depth of team, reporting: "Crown Office boasts a wealth of outstanding barristers at both KC and junior level." Other interviewees state: "Senior and junior counsel are all genuine experts."

Henderson Chambers maintains its reputation as a leading set that provides advice that is "top quality from both a technical and commercial perspective." They are valued by clients 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 HSE v Falcon Tower Crane Services, involving a triple fatality following a crane collapse.

Jason Housden is the chambers director.

2 Hare Court is a well-regarded criminal set with "outstanding individuals who provide excellent advice and a high level of support." It 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 in the Grenfell Tower public inquiry, representing the contracted cladding specialists, and other large criminal investigations.

Julian Campbell is director of clerking.

The barristers at 2BR are experienced in the prosecution and defence of corporate manslaughter and individual gross negligence manslaughter cases. 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 included HSE v Chelmsford City Council, where the set successfully prosecuted a local authority after a fatality during a waste round. One interviewee states: "It is a strong set of chambers with robust, reliable and very competent counsel, offering very efficient service."

The senior clerk is Paul Rodgers.

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 barristers "always add considerable value," and are "highly skilled and responsive advocates. They have an excellent reputation for health and safety cases, which is well deserved." Most recently, barristers acted in the Didcot Power Station collapse that involved four fatalities.

Andy Hunter is the senior practice manager.

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 Six Pump Court "are always willing to go the extra mile to help us achieve what we need to with our cases." Recently the advocates successfully prosecuted on HSE v SERCO, a case involving the killing of a SERCO employee by a prisoner that focused on the health and safety culture within the organisation.

Richard Constable is the senior clerk.

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. An interviewee states: "3 Raymond Buildings has strength and depth in public law, in particular, inquest and regulatory work."

Eddie Holland is the senior clerk at the set.

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 say that its barristers "provide excellent strategic thinking at every step." Recent work highlights include R v Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, a case relating to the death of a homeowner from carbon monoxide poisoning due to unsafe gas appliances.

Dean Norton is the senior clerk.