Safety, Health and Environment

As one of the largest safety, health and environmental (SHE) teams in the UK, we provide guidance to individuals and organisations across all sectors. Our expertise covers criminal investigations involving corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, and breaches of regulatory laws including those related to health and safety, fire safety, food safety, and environmental law. Supported by a stable partner group, our team has grown steadily to 30 plus specialist lawyers spread across our UK locations. We are a national team and will select the right lawyers for your needs, depending on skills and sector knowledge, wherever they are based.

Overview

We understand that the impact of regulatory enforcement is not limited to the potential for a large fine, but also the potential reputational and commercial damage, business interruption, and the emotional distress for both frontline workers and senior management.

Many of our matters attract significant media interest and we understand the reputational and financial risks inherent in high profile cases. We are fully trained in supporting the people involved.

The team has particular expertise in the Construction, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Health and Social Care, Public Sector, Retail, Leisure and Rail/Transport sectors.

What we do for you:

  • First class advice throughout any regulatory investigation and prosecution to minimise any potential financial and reputational damage.
  • Strategic management of an incident to help ensure business continuity.
  • Immediate advice to help provide clients with an in-depth understanding of their rights and obligations when responding to regulators.
  • We are regularly instructed to act for the premier customers of leading insurers. We help insurers make an early determination of civil liability, identify large loss indicators swiftly, and ensure prompt and accurate reserving.
  • Designed to help our clients minimise the risks of incidents, and avoid criminal investigations, we provide bespoke training, leadership and strategic reviews.

We are a tier 1 Legal 500 firm in the majority of our locations with several of our team ranked as Leading Individuals. We are also highly commended as a band 2 firm in Chambers, with 6 of our lawyers ranked.

Featured experience

  • We represented a health and safety manager in defence of a Gross Negligence Manslaughter charge relating to fatal injuries sustained by an employee in a hopper incident. Ultimately the case was concluded with a plea to a non-causative breach of s.37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and a low fine, thus avoiding a conviction for manslaughter and the associated risk of a custodial sentence.
  • We acted for a construction company during the HSE investigation of a fatal accident which occurred during the demolition of a disused underground tank at a petrol station. This was a significant project with several parties and also involved complex contractual issues. We provided advice and support throughout an extensive HSE investigation and a seven day jury inquest, involving multiple Interested Persons. We also acted on the client's behalf in relation to improvement notices and prohibition notices issued by the HSE, ensuring that the project site was not closed for an unduly long period. Following the conclusion of the inquest the HSE took no further action against our client.
  • We advised a leading motorsports company in relation to the criminal proceedings following two separate accidents during track days at one of its circuits. There was one fatality and other riders sustained multiple serious injuries. The company was charged with multiple health and safety offences following a lengthy and extensive investigation by the local authority. Following our negotiations with the Council, which included arguments on foreseeability of risk, the prosecution accepted a guilty plea to a single, non-causative breach.

What our clients say

  • DAC Beachcroft have an approach to work in this sector which admirably combines meticulous attention to detail with realistic commercial advice.

    Legal 500

  • The firm fearlessly seeks out all defences for its clients whilst being honest in its appraisal of the strengths of those defences.

    Legal 500

  • Working with DAC Beachcroft made what is a very stressful time, significantly more manageable both from a stress point of view but also explaining and guiding us through the entire process. They helped us navigate a very difficult time and gave us great advice all the way along.

  • "As you go through life there are a few people that really put their all into helping you during your most important/difficult times of need, such as the midwives that helped with the delivery of our children. I fell that you are one of those people that have helped us to your upmost. The work you do is truly amazing."

  • The way you have all worked tirelessly and dedicated a large part of your life to ensuring I got the correct result from the offset, is remarkable and very much appreciated. Any words cannot do justice to summarise the amount of effort you have put in.

  • I want to send my sincere gratitude to you both for the time, effort, assistance and advice you have put into this case for us. Your support on this matter is greatly appreciated.

  • You have been by our side for the whole time and your help, advice & guidance has been second to none.

  • We can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for us over these past 8 years. It really has been a long process and hopefully we can slowly try to move on from this now.

  • A very knowledgeable team who were a great support in dealing with a Jury Inquest. They kept in regular contact at every step of the process and made sure I was in the strongest possible position to give evidence.

  • I can't thank you personally enough for the support you have provided, emotionally, mentally and professionally.

  • I'm honestly bursting with gratitude and wanted to send my sincere thanks to you, Louise and all involved in getting the case over the line. It was the best outcome that we could have hoped for.

  • On behalf of the team, I would like to thank you for your very open, friendly and knowledgeable approach during the last 3 years. You did a very good job in putting together a very strong and well supported mitigation bundle. Your help and advice throughout this process has been invaluable.

  • I will never be able to thank you enough for all you have done us, your effort, energy and level of professionalism since our first meeting has been exemplary. Whilst in difficult circumstances, it has actually been a pleasure working on this with you. We’ve learnt an enormous amount.

  • I just wanted to drop you a quick email just to express our thanks for all you have done for us over the recent months. You’ve made what has been a different experience for us all as easy as I imagine it could ever be.

Safety, Health and Environment key contacts

Who we are

Why choose DAC Beachcroft?

We’re a broad-based commercial firm serving a wide range of sectors with a strong heritage in insurance,
health and real estate. We combine excellent legal skills and cutting-edge delivery expertise to design
solutions that fit the needs of our clients – often involving clever uses of technology.