From a thorough grounding in general criminal procedure the criminal team have developed a specialist practice in the niche area of regulatory crime.
Whilst regulatory prosecutions take place within the criminal courts and within the same general procedural and evidential framework as general crime, certain aspects of these prosecutions mean that specialist advice is desirable, in particular in relation to
- Inquests
- Corporate status of defendants and piercing the corporate veil
- Specialist technical knowledge and understanding
- Forensic accountancy
- Multi-national elements
- Specialist sectors, e.g. railways, offshore and local authority work.
- Working in conjunction with other enforcing agencies
Andrew Broome, Director, has been specialising in regulatory crime for over 10 years.
He is featured in Chambers and Partners as a leader in the field.
Simon Belfield, Director has been specialising in regulatory crime since 2001.
Tom Cleary, Director, was an inspector for the Health and Safety executive for 10 years before qualifying as a solicitor in 2007. In addition to his law degree he has a degree in applied chemistry.
Ruth Barber, Director and Solicitor-Advocate, has specialised in Health and Safety prosecutions since 2004. She has completed the Off-Shore safety course and is the co-author of two articles on Health and Safety Law (on sentencing and use of experts) published in the New Law Journal, regular contributor to the Journal of the Institute of Explosives Engineers and contributing editor of the 2nd edition of Corporate Liability: Work Related Deaths and Criminal Prosecutions.
The lawyers are ably supported by our admin team Claire Norton, Layla Smith and headed by Vicki Kelly who has twenty years experience in the preparation of regulatory crime cases.