The practice at Addleshaw Goddard regularly handles complex matters for well-known clients in a wide range of industry sectors, from mining to retail. Its workload includes fatal and serious injury claims relating to food, building, fire and product safety breaches as well as criminal regulatory defence and environmental cases. Noted for her ‘razor-sharp intellect’, Erin Shoesmith leads the Manchester practice. Priscilla Addo-Quaye handles health and safety investigations from commencement through to proceedings. She is praised as ‘excellent’ by clients, as is Bethany Robertson. Natasha Roberts has expertise representing clients facing action by the police, the HSE, the fire service, and local authorities. Overseeing the team alongside Shoesmith are London’s David Young, Manchester- and Edinburgh-based Stuart Wardlaw and Adrian Mansbridge in Leeds.

The Manchester-based group at Clyde & Co has well-established abilities assisting its sector-spanning portfolio of clients, including FTSE 100 companies, with the full spectrum of health and safety matters, with the defence of individuals facing custodial sentences for fatal cases of negligence in the workplace a key workstream. The team is formed of ‘premier players in this field’ and is led by Manchester- and London-based Chris Morrison, who is experienced assisting well-known global companies in both advisory and compliance contexts as well as in litigation proceedings. Rod Hunt has a health and safety criminal enforcement specialism, while Mark Brookes‘ practice sees him advise SMEs, blue-chip clients and individuals on regulatory issues. Alan Kells specialises in fatal incident matters. Stephanie Lunt assists clients under investigation by regulators. Lunt and Sophie Cottam are considered ‘standout members of the team’ by clients. Natalie Puce departed the group in February 2024.

The group at DWF in Manchester advises on complex health and safety cases in a wide range of sectors, from education to care. The team’s workload includes representing clients in connection with high-profile public inquiries and investigations into cases of fatal and serious injury in the workplace. Joanne Witheford is noted for her work defending companies and directors in relation to serious workplace incident matters, while Amanda Lea focuses on gross negligence manslaughter investigations and sentencings. Steffan Groch has considerable experience defending companies, directors and managers in prosecutions brought by the HSE, local authorities and the Crown Prosecution Service. Vikki Woodfine advises on safeguarding and multi-agency investigations, particularly in the education and care sectors. Groch and Woodfine oversee the group alongside Liverpool-based regulatory specialist Gary Smith. Simon Belfield moved to the Birmingham office in December 2024.

Kennedys‘ health and safety law team in Manchester has ‘really cemented its position as one of the leading practices’ in the North West owing to its recent experience in high-profile and complex matters. The team defends insurance companies, corporations and employees in relation to fatal and serious injury incidents arising from various food safety breaches and gross negligence, among other reasons. The group is also noted for its experience advising on regulatory investigations and compliance matters; Sally Hancock and Molly Mangan are particularly equipped to advise and defend organisations and individuals facing police and regulatory body investigations. Defending clients in actions brought by the CQC and HSE are Rekha Sharma‘s specialist areas. Steven North‘s areas of expertise include corporate and gross negligence manslaughter investigations. Regulatory defence specialist and ‘standout lawyer’ Nathan Buckley, Sheffield’s David Wright, Birmingham’s Naomi North and London-based Daniel McShee co-head the practice.

Keoghs LLP’s team is well-known for assisting clients, including major companies and insurers, on the full spectrum of health and safety matters. In Bolton, Kathryn Quinley became partner in September 2024 and has experience defending clients facing criminal regulatory action in relation to care, road and fire safety breaches in particular, with Rebecca Stanton also being a name to note. In Manchester, Tom Stevenson represents individuals and organisations, especially those in the care sector, through investigation processes from PACE interviews to court proceedings. At the same office, David Rainey is regarded for his ‘exceptional expertise in this field’ and defends clients facing police, HSE, CQC and local authority investigations, while Nick Gianferrari has abilities handling motor-related crime matters. Chris Newton co-leads the practice alongside Rainey and Gianferrari, splitting his time between the firm’s Manchester and London offices.

Noted for its ‘commitment to excellence’, the group at Pinsent Masons LLP in Manchester is well-versed assisting clients across highly hazardous industries, including construction, manufacturing and transport, on a broad range of health and safety matters. Criminal investigations into serious injuries and fatalities form a significant portion of the team’s workload, while its non-contentious capabilities include advising on policies, procedures and compliance, particularly in connection with product and food safety. Risk advisory expert and ‘one of the most experienced operators in this field’ Kevin Bridges leads the offering. He is also noted for his environmental crime experience. ‘Renowned’ team member and partner as of May 2024 Zoe Betts has significant corporate defence experience including post-incident crisis management. Matthew Sulley‘s workload includes assisting in the handling of criminal proceedings throughout high-profile public inquiries.

Squire Patton Boggs‘ Manchester-based offering is well-placed to assist clients through the various stages of high-profile public inquiries. The team is also equipped to advise on serious accident and fatal incident cases of significant value and complexity, from initial investigation and crisis management through to prosecution conclusion. Rob Elvin heads the practice; he harnesses 25 years’ experience in corporate defence, acting for clients across industry sectors including chemicals, construction, manufacturing, sports and waste. Oliver Bristow is a name to note with expertise assisting both companies and individuals facing investigation and prosecution, with a particular specialism in fire and building safety cases. Roger Cartwright‘s practice includes handling environmental cases from noise abatement matters to permit breaches.

The team at DAC Beachcroft LLP is well-equipped to advise its clientele, which features corporate entities and directors, on regulatory, compliance and safeguarding issues; industry sectors its workload spans include health and social care, manufacturing and construction. The team is also noted for its representation of insurer clients in complex matters. ‘Truly brilliant lawyer’ Rhian Greaves heads up the Manchester-based practice; her experience covers fatal and serious injury investigations as well as corporate manslaughter cases. Heather Vyse is ‘fantastic to work with’ and has expertise in healthcare-related inquests. Notably, Charlotte Miles joined in September 2024.

Clients note that the Manchester-based health and safety cohort at Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP ‘delivers every single time’. The team handles the full range of non-contentious work, including safety governance and compliance matters across sectors from pharma, to energy, to nuclear power. ‘Exceptional lawyer’ and team co-lead Catherine Henney has expertise handling a plethora of sensitive matters and inquests, an example being her recent defence of a client in an investigation into an employee suicide. Paul Verrico co-leads from Leeds. Corporate criminal defence work and related crisis management are specialisms of Lauren Slater.

The health and safety offering at Hill Dickinson LLP is led by Liverpool’s Stephen Barnfield and Aoife Ryan, who splits her time between the firm's Liverpool and Manchester offices. Barnfield is ‘highly recommended’ by clients and has a particular specialism in regulatory defence matters pertaining to the marine sector, while Ryan is well-regarded for her capabilities representing defendants in cases ranging from food and hygiene safety breaches, to serious and fatal workplace incidents. Joanna Trewin in Manchester has a notable healthcare specialism and advises on related investigations and inquiries. Former team lead Philip Moy retired in April 2025.

Markel Law LLP's Manchester practice is well-placed to assist its roster of clients in inquests and investigations following incidents resulting in fatal and serious injuries, including sensitive mental health-related cases. Deborah Nicholson leads the team in Manchester and has particular expertise acting for healthcare regulators. ‘Outstanding professional’ Lauren Wilson has expertise in healthcare and professional discipline cases, while Francesca Snape has a broad-ranging regulatory specialism. Team changes in 2024 include the arrivals of Katherine Whittingham and Kay Sadler in May and September respectively, and the departure of Christian Carr in August.

Pannone Corporate LLP‘s group is well-equipped to assist its clients in police investigations and inquests following fatalities and serious injuries caused by incidents ranging from building collapses to explosions, with its representation of a client in relation to the crowd surge at 02 Academy Brixton which caused multiple fatalities in December 2022 a key example of the team’s work. The group is also noted for handling nuisance claims as well as claims arising from food safety breaches. Workplace, food safety and fire-related health and safety matters are areas Bill Dunkerley assists both corporate and individual clients in. Dunkerley heads up the Manchester-based team alongside regulatory expert David Walton.

TLT's Manchester-based health and safety practice handles high-profile matters across industry sectors including transport, real estate and retail. The team’s workload includes advising on compliance, risk and product safety as well as representing clients in relation to inquests and investigations following serious or fatal accidents, an example being its acting for KAM in connection with fatal tram-related incidents. Defending corporate bodies in proceedings and at inquest is a key strength of Emily Rhodes. Lydia Aspinall is also recommended. Investigation and enforcement expert Jason Cropper leads the team.

Weightmans LLP is active in a variety of sectors, including charity, sports, and insurance, advising on corporate and gross negligence manslaughter investigations, among other matters. Co-leading the practice from Liverpool are regulatory specialists Dewi Ap-Thomas, who frequently acts for clients in notable inquiries, and David Lewis, who is experienced assisting private sector, third sector and major public sector clients. In Manchester, ‘absolute star’ Rosanne McNeil is adept at handling criminal and regulatory investigations. Natalie Puce is also noteworthy.

The practice at Brabners LLP provides assistance to its clients throughout all stages of regulator investigations; its workload spans such sectors as manufacturing and construction. Liverpool- and Manchester-based team lead Lachlan Nisbet is experienced advising companies on safety compliance. The Manchester team was bolstered with the June 2024 arrival of Sadie Thomson. At the same office, corporate and gross negligence manslaughter cases are focus areas of Matthew Coles.

The practice at Browne Jacobson LLP has a regulatory specialism and assists on environmental, road traffic, food safety and care sector-related issues, among others. The team is led by Nottingham-based Andrew Hopkin. Helen Simm goes ‘above and beyond’ and is the name to note at the Manchester office with capabilities representing corporate clients under investigation by the HSE and EA. Olivia Dwan departed the team in September 2024.

Forbes Solicitors' Central Lancashire-based team has a particular specialism in social housing and care-related health and safety issues and in assisting with related investigations. The team also has experience assisting clients in matters with cross-jurisdictional elements where an accident has occurred abroad, for example. The team is co-led by the ‘incredibly knowledgeable’ Kella Bowers. Bowers leads alongside Ridwaan Omar, who has experience handling complex inquest cases, and Preston’s Carrie Gilgun.