With a ‘wealth of experience’, Shoosmiths LLP is highly regarded for its experience advising high-profile clients across the spectrum of health and safety matters. The team is led by Birmingham-based Hayley Saunders, following the retirement of Roy Tozer last year, and boasts both contentious and non-contentious advisory expertise, particularly in sectors such as defence, automotive, healthcare, construction and manufacturing. Charles Arrand, based in Milton Keynes, is an experienced regulatory crime practitioner, familiar with a broad array of health and safety investigations, prosecutions, inquests and inquiries. Philip Ryan, in the Thames Valley, advises clients, ranging from large corporates to SMEs, on serious and fatal accidents including prosecution and defence, as well as assisting with risk strategy. Joanne Sear, also in the Thames Valley, has a strong practice in inquests, as well as health and safety compliance. Rubina Zaidi, based in Milton Keynes, regularly assists regulatory bodies in health and safety prosecutions, as well as defending these.

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP consistently advises well-known clients across the retail, construction, and luxury retail sectors on an array of health, safety, fire and environmental issues within the remit of regulatory crime. The team, led by legal director Rachel Warren, is based in Guildford and has experience acting for those under investigation and subject to enforcement action by safety regulators. Charlotte Healy also has experience advising on risk management pertaining to food safety and product liability.

Led by Michelle Di Gioia in Newbury, the team at Gardner Leader LLP has an established practice relating to compliance, risk management, and litigation in health and safety, with a particular focus on the construction sector. The firm regularly advises clients on risk assessments and directors’ liabilities, with Di Gioia offering a backdrop of corporate support. Stephen Bennett, based in Maidenhead, has experience acting for health and safety consultants instructed by indemnity insurers regarding investigations into workplace deaths, among other compliance issues.

Primarily dealing in private defence, the team at Woodfines LLP regularly represents both individuals and corporate bodies against prosecutions and regulatory action brought by the CPS, Trading Standards, Health and Safety Executive, and other enforcement agencies. The team is led by Mike Hayward in Milton Keynes, who has a wealth of experience dealing with workplace incidents and assisting clients facing public law challenges. Jane Anderson strengthens the firm’s capacity to advise on breaches of health and safety regulations.