Housed within the firm's business regulatory group, which is headed by Claire Rawle , Blake Morgan LLP's diverse health and safety offering encompasses both prosecution and defence work, ensuring that the team has an excellent perspective from both sides of the "v". Rawle is particularly accomplished at handling defence work in the health and social care space, regularly handling standalone cases brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or the police, as well as supporting the firm's strong public inquiries offering. In addition, the firm continues to grow its offering in relation to product liability advice and food safety-related work, regularly acting for food manufacturers and consumer/electrical product manufacturers in relation to product recalls and civil litigation. Senior associate and barrister Tom Walker has been responsible for developing the aforementioned aspect of the practice, although his primary focus remains on handling prosecution work, including for the HSE. Consultant Robin Havard is vastly experienced across both the defence and prosecution front; he continues to be retained to assist the HSE, often  in liaison with the CPS, relating to corporate and gross negligence manslaughter investigations.

Acting on its own and also able to tap into broader UK-wide resources across the firm's national health and safety offering if needed, the 'outstanding' Newport-based team at DAC Beachcroft LLP has the strength-in-depth and expertise to provide 'high-class' representation to manufacturing, construction and retail companies in complex and high-stakes health and safety incidents. Although it is handling an increasing number of direct corporate instructions, including from an advisory/risk management/training perspective, a high proportion of the instructions derive from the firm's relationships with many leading insurers (where it is often designated to defend their premier clients in respect of complex and high-profile cases). 'Exceptionally knowledgeable, pragmatic and responsive' team head Sally Roff has 'over 30 years of coal face experience representing some of the largest organisations in the UK', and is consequently a reliable choice for clients on high-stakes matters, including in corporate manslaughter cases brought by the police. 'Very much an up and coming star', associate Stefan Desbordes has a 'caseload the envy of many', including on the defence of clients undergoing investigation for both gross negligence manslaughter and corporate manslaughter.

 

An experienced firm in the field, Dolmans can 'handle complex health and safety and regulatory cases with expertise and professionalism'. Although it does handle work within the private sector, the team is best-known for its defence of local authorities in Wales and England, which are appreciative of the firm's deep knowledge of the law but also the nuances associated with work in the public sector. 'Very knowledgeable, dedicated and caring' team head Peter Bennett is key to the firm's success in the area, regularly taking the lead in catastrophic cases, helping clients 'feel protected and reassured' in often tragic circumstances. Claire Thomas is also 'superb', regularly providing assistance to Bennett on a number of the cases.

 

The 'well-resourced and knowledgeable' team at Hugh James provides 'top-class client care' to a range of prosecuting entities across a myriad health and safety matters. 'Highly competent' senior associate Justin Davies is key to this work, not only by virtue of his 'niche knowledge of fire safety law' but also his prosecution work for the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency and local authorities in cases relating to food safety and housing safety. Martin Jones heads up the overarching regulatory offering and is most active from a health and safety perspective on the defence side , adding particular insight as a result of his former work as an HSE solicitor agent.  

Led by the vastly experienced and skilled Andrew Manners, Morgan LaRoche has a market-leading reputation within the care standards sector, regularly representing independent (early years) education and adult social care providers in high-stakes health and safety investigations throughout Wales and England. These include cases involving serious injury and death, with Manners particularly skilled at handling multi-agency investigations, including those involving the HSE, police and local authorities.