Led by Leeds-based Chris Baranowski, the established and large team at DAC Beachcroft LLP offers extensive national coverage to clients. The practice has a first-class reputation for its work on some of the most significant manslaughter, health and safety, and environmental cases which are being investigated in the UK. Locally, Steven Harrison has significant experience in representing clients in all aspects of regulatory investigations and prosecutions. Harrison handles cases relating to corporate and gross  negligence manslaughter. He also acts for clients in relation to high-profile and complex inquest proceedings. The team is experienced across all sectors, with particular expertise in construction, manufacturing, transport, retail and the care sector.

The specialist team at Gowling WLG is immersed in key sectors such as construction, building materials, quarrying, aerospace and food. It also deftly covers the health and social care sectors. Practice head Andrew Litchfield has long-standing experience in advising on an array of regulatory criminal offences, statutory public inquiries and inquests. Litchfield frequently assists clients in investigations by the police, the Health and Safety Executive, other regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Agency, and local authorities. Principal associate Michael Hafen is another notable member of the department. Hafen is adept at helping clients when there is a fatality or serious injury that results in an investigation.

Pinsent Masons LLP fields an agile team, which operates across all UK jurisdictions. The skilled group has considerable expertise in advising clients in high-hazard industries such as construction, manufacturing, transport, waste and energy. The practice has noticed significant growth in advising on fire and building safety. Sean Elson leads the Birmingham health and safety offering and specialises in corporate regulatory affairs, with considerable expertise in health and safety matters. Associate Hannah Burton is another name to note. Burton has a varied practice covering mainstream health and safety as well as food and product safety.

At Shoosmiths LLP, Hayley Saunders leads the ‘very approachable‘ team, which provides ‘superb and timely support, going that extra mile to ensure best outcomes’. It receives a regular stream of instructions from corporate clients, with niche safety expertise in sectors such as defence, construction, petrochemical and manufacturing. Saunders has an excellent practice which spans both contentious and non-contentious work. She is noted for her skill at handling investigations and prosecutions for manslaughter, and for her defence of many health and safety offences. In addition, she frequently provides compliance advice to various corporates. Senior associate Kirsty Hughes, who ‘can explain complex legal issues in a straightforward way’, is also recommended. Roy Tozer is now a consultant at the firm.

Weightmans LLP has been described as ‘a firm that is moving into the position of a dynamic market leader’ for health and safety work. Andrew Brammer has an enviable reputation for his work on a range of health and safety cases across various sectors. Principal associate James Muller supports companies and individuals throughout the duration of regulatory investigations. Fellow principal associate Tom Boulton covers a broad spread of contentious regulatory matters. Noteworthy too is the fact that the firm has separate teams which deal with environmental and business crime respectively. The group is also well-equipped to both defend and prosecute cases relating to trading standards, health and safety, fire and food.

The nimble team at Bevan Brittan LLP provides the full scope of health and safety support (contentious and non-contentious) to both the private and public sectors. It frequently works on high-profile and serious incidents, and regularly prosecutes on behalf of local authorities. Adam Kendall is regularly instructed to act for a large number of public and private sector clients. Legal director Louise Mansfield acts for numerous well-known corporate clients and public sector organisations. Mansfield advises on the full range of health and safety issues, and also advises on fire and building safety matters.

At Browne Jacobson LLP, Nottingham-based Andrew Hopkin and Birmingham-based Rachel Lyne co-head the practice, which provides ‘exceptional support’. The group acts for many private sector organisations in relation to health and safety accidents and incidents, including some fatal accidents. It is also adept at advising on health and safety issues that arise from food safety, environmental, care sector and road traffic work. Of note is the fact that the team prosecutes health and safety cases for local authorities and fire authorities.

Legal director Bob Davies leads the criminal regulatory team at the Birmingham office of Clyde & Co. Davies advises on fatal workplace accidents, claims of corporate manslaughter and cases of gross negligence. He has extensive experience of defending clients in Health and Safety Executive investigations and prosecutions. As well as representing corporates, Davies acts for individuals who are charged with serious motor offences due to deaths on the road.

The dynamic team at DWF has considerable strength across a multitude of sectors such as energy, retail, healthcare, construction and local government. Under the joint leadership of David Egan and Steffan Groch, it regularly receives instructions from major insurers, large corporates and individuals on a wide variety of health and safety matters. Senior associate Caroline Depledge specialises in contentious matters with a wealth of experience in defending companies, company directors and individuals.

At Gateley Legal, Ruth Armstrong leads a versatile team, which supports clients in all aspects of crisis management. Armstrong has immense experience in all aspects of corporate defence work. The group has considerable expertise across multiple sectors such as housebuilding, waste management, leisure and retail. It acts for a number of the top 20 housebuilders in the UK, some of whom are FTSE 100 and 250 businesses. Richard Ellis recently joined the practice from Purcell Parker Solicitors, while Kate Oliver departed to join Harrison Clark Rickerbys as a partner.

Tim Coolican heads the practice at Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP. The skilled team advises clients from all sectors on compliance with their health and safety obligations to employees, residents, service users and members of the public. Its work includes representing clients in Health and Safety Executive, police and Care Quality Commission investigations and prosecutions, as well as at inquest proceedings. Coolican’s work is primarily focused on the social housing, health and social care sectors.

The criminal team at Kennedys is headed by Birmingham-based Naomi North, and is part of the wider regulatory team. It has particular strength in defending complex motoring offences ranging from careless driving through to causing death by dangerous driving. North frequently deals with incidents which result in fatal/serious injuries.

The crime and regulatory team at Keoghs LLP is best known for its involvement in cases where there are serious regulatory breaches across all service sectors. It frequently acts for corporate entities, insurers and individual directors. It deals with the entire range of regulatory cases, and is adept at defending corporate manslaughter and gross manslaughter cases. Coventry-based Chris Green and Tim Ingram are well-regarded, aided by London-based Chris Newton.

Manchester-based Rob Elvin heads an excellent practice at Squire Patton Boggs, which frequently defends large corporate organisations and directors facing the most serious health and safety matters. The team has particular strength in the chemicals, energy, sport, entertainment and hospitality sectors. It also has considerable expertise in the food and manufacturing arena. Gary Lewis left the firm in April 2024.