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
Frisby and Co are also involved in the mobile telephone voicemail interception proceedings involving News Group Newspapers Limited. Simon Belfield is currently representing a claimant who is alleged to have had his telephone hacked by journalists at the News of the World. Simon is advising the claimant in relation to the Compensation Scheme that has been set up by NGN and also in relation to possible litigation.
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.
He is currently advising a large national company in relation to its involvement in the M5 motorway collision on 4th November 2011 near Taunton when 7 people tragically lost their lives and many more were seriously injured in a multi-vehicle pile-up. It was described as the worst motorway incident in living memory the causes of which seem to focus on fog and smoke from the nearby rugby club fireworks display. The investigation by the police and other agencies remains ongoing.
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, Michelle Birch and headed by Vicki Kelly who has twenty years experience in the preparation of regulatory crime cases.