“A formidable presence in the health and safety market, bringing the firm’s expertise in criminal law to bear on its defence work.”

Chambers UK

BCL regularly advises organisations, directors and employees in the related areas of corporate manslaughter, health and safety, fire safety, and the environment, with particular expertise in fatal accidents and major disasters. We provide pragmatic solutions in relation to responding to inspection visits, accident investigations and enforcement action (including criminal prosecutions for corporate manslaughter and regulatory breaches).

Our unrivalled experience and expertise, combined with an acute commercial awareness, ensures that our clients receive expert advice in order to achieve the best possible resolution with the minimum of business interruption and in recognition of the need to maintain a good ongoing working relationship with the regulator.

The work includes emergency advice; crisis management and ongoing response to an investigation; privilege protected internal investigation; removal of an enforcement notice; remedial action; appealing licence/permit restrictions; representation in an interview under caution; and defence of a prosecution in the Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court.

In particular, BCL has considerable expertise in relation to defending investigations/prosecutions arising out of fatal accidents. Our lawyers have unparalleled expertise in defending allegations of corporate / gross negligence manslaughter. In addition, we represent clients at Coroners’ inquests, where there is often great scope to influence the likelihood and shape of any future criminal prosecution. Further, our expertise extends to the offence of corporate manslaughter and we have an in-depth understanding of the secondary liability of directors pursuant to the ever increasingly used consent, connivance and neglect provisions.