DAC Beachcroft LLP‘s Leeds-based regulatory team continues to build a strong profile in health and safety, environmental, and inquest work. The practice blends insurance and direct commercial instructions, with a growing reputation for advising on criminal investigations arising from serious workplace incidents. The team is led by Chris Baranowski, who handles complex matters involving fatalities, construction site incidents and regulatory breaches. Matthew Breakell plays a leading role in the regional practice, acting for well-known commercial clients; he continues to advise on a range of complex investigations and prosecutions.

DLA Piper’s Sheffield-based team is a key part of the firm’s national safety, health and environment (SHE) practice, combining deep regulatory expertise with sector-specific insight. Led by UK head Teresa Hitchcock, the group advises a high-profile client base on both preventative risk management and complex contentious matters, including regulatory investigations and prosecutions. Ailish Oxenforth is particularly noted for her strength in strategic advisory work, while Liam Green has developed a standout practice advising on cross-border mandates and high-risk incidents, particularly in the manufacturing and tech sectors.

DWF’s Leeds health and safety team is recognised for its prominent role in complex, large-scale matters, including criminal investigations, regulatory prosecutions and major public inquiries. The team advises corporates, public bodies and individuals facing serious regulatory scrutiny, with growing instructions in high-profile cases involving the HSE, police, and local authorities. Mark Thompson leads the Leeds offering and plays a central role in the firm’s crisis response work. David Chant is a key contact for clients facing regulatory prosecutions, while Neena Sharma has a broad practice spanning motor offences and health and safety issues. Alex Traynor supports across investigations and advocacy.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP fields a notable environment, health and safety team, recognised for defending major corporates facing regulatory scrutiny and delivering high-profile compliance projects across the energy, nuclear, construction and pharmaceutical sectors. Led by Paul Verrico, who is a dual-qualified lawyer and safety professional, the team includes advocates with higher rights of audience and deep technical expertise; Verrico is regularly instructed on Asia Pacific-related mandates. Tim Hill advises on high-hazard risk issues for energy and chemical sector clients, and Sarah Valentine continues to play a central role in international projects.

Walker Morris LLP operates a high-calibre health and safety practice, noted for its focus on complex, high-value matters. The firm frequently acts for household names and is trusted by leading global law firms to advise on UK operations. Stuart Ponting regularly leads on fatal accident cases and high-risk transactional matters. Rachel Turnbull is a key figure for contentious matters, noted for her successful defence work and strategic input on corporate deals. Mike Cordeaux supports across contentious and advisory matters, including regulatory investigations and cross-border transactions.

Addleshaw Goddard has a standout health and safety practice recognised for its 24/7 crisis response, deep sectoral knowledge, and involvement in major public inquiries, inquests, and compliance matters. Led by Erin Shoesmith, the team is active across the transport, energy, healthcare, and construction spaces, with increasing mandates linked to the Building Safety Act. David Young is a go-to adviser on fatalities, product recalls, and regulatory investigations, while Stuart Wardlaw handles major industrial incidents and enforcement defence in Scotland and the North East. Adrian Mansbridge leads the firm’s building safety work and represents clients in complex inquests and prosecutions.

CMS has a strong, multifaceted health and safety practice with a particular focus on high-risk sectors such as the energy, waste, real estate and manufacturing industries. The team frequently advises on complex incidents involving fatalities and serious injuries, and is trusted by major clients to engage directly with regulators and statutory bodies. Lukas Rootman leads the Sheffield-based team and is noted for his significant experience in both defence and advisory matters. Associates Esme Saynor, Aimie Farmer and Megan Hancock play central roles in enforcement defence, BSA 2022 advice, and high-value transactional support.

Weightmans LLP offers nationwide coverage on complex health and safety matters, regularly advising on serious incidents, inquests, and regulatory investigations. The team is known for its longstanding work on major public inquiries. David Lewis, a senior figure in the national practice, has over 30 years of experience and continues to act on high-profile mandates for both public and private sector clients. Anna Naylor leads the Leeds offering and is recognised for her work across a range of regulated sectors, often advising during the immediate aftermath of serious workplace incidents.

Brabners LLP stands out for its deep bench of specialist regulatory lawyers and its independence from insurance panel work, allowing for tailored, high-quality client service. With a strong presence across the North of England, Claire Burrows, based in Leeds, has over a decade of experience and is regularly instructed on complex post-incident investigations.

Clarion’s health and safety practice, led by Paul Matthews, has established itself within the firm’s broader commercial dispute resolution offering. The team has grown its portfolio of large corporate clients, advising on complex regulatory investigations, prosecutions, and strategic compliance matters. Lucy Alderson brings depth to the team with growing expertise in food safety compliance and product labelling work.

Gateley Legal delivers a broad service on health and safety matters, offering comprehensive support from crisis response through to complex trial defence. Led by Ruth Armstrong and Pauline Munro, the team is known for handling multi-defendant, high-profile cases across the construction, manufacturing, waste and retail sectors. The team acts for numerous FTSE 100 and 250 national brands, with recent mandates including a corporate manslaughter prosecution and multiple fatality investigations.

Gordons LLP advises clients across the retail, transport and logistics sectors on regulatory compliance work, investigations and health and safety matters. Led by Simon Tingle, the team handles a mix of contentious and advisory work, including fatal accident cases, inquests and product compliance issues; Tingle is noted for his experience in criminal defence and strategic risk advice. Harvey Blake supports across key mandates, including regulatory investigations.

Kennedys’ Sheffield-based health and safety team is distinguished by its depth of expertise in fatal and near-fatal incident investigations, with particular strength in the healthcare and custodial sectors. Marta Tomlinson and Kadie Cooper are the key names regionally, and are both experienced advocates in complex manslaughter cases and high-profile trials. Hazel Milner further strengthens the team’s inquest and public inquiry capabilities.

rradar’s regulatory team advises a broad mix of businesses on health and safety investigations, prosecutions, inquests and regulatory compliance. Stephanie Thirlwell leads the national team and is known for her practical advice. Helen Taylor heads the Leeds team, adding further strength to the firm’s national footprint, while Rupert Nevin has significant experience in corporate defence and has acted in a number of serious health and safety cases.