Chris Baranowski

Chris specialises in providing advice and defence services to individuals and organisations in relation to corporate manslaughter and health and safety investigations by the police and Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

He has over 20 years’ experience advising clients across a range of sectors including construction, manufacturing, retail and leisure, and transport and logistics.

Chris specialises in advising organisations about their potential criminal liability arising from serious workplace incidents, especially those relating to falls from height, falling materials from demolition work, workplace transport collisions, management of contractors, asbestos exposure and legionella. He regularly provides initial advice and support in the immediate aftermath of a major adverse incident, including incident investigation, legal representation at interviews under caution and advocacy work at Magistrates' Court.

Chris also devises and delivers bespoke training workshops for clients which includes training to directors, managers and employees on key health and safety issues.

Relevant experience includes advising:

• A large global manufacturer of materials for the construction industry in relation to a workplace transport fatality at a customer’s premises. Chris helped steer the client through a challenging criminal investigation by the HSE and inquest proceedings including advice on potential changes to be made to its systems and procedures. This resulted in no enforcement action by the regulator and the client’s reputation was protected during the inquest.
• A property management company and its director following criminal investigations and a prosecution arising from the death of a sub-contractor who fell from the roof of premises managed by the client. The director was investigated for gross negligence manslaughter but ultimately charged with a health and safety offence. Chris advised the director and his company throughout the inquest and criminal proceedings which resulted in a conviction but a suspended custodial sentence for the director and a £20,000 fine for the company.
• A multinational company charged with a health and safety offence arising from alleged failings in the management of its sub-contractor following catastrophic injuries sustained by a worker who fell from a significant height at the client’s premises. Chris advised the company throughout the criminal investigations and prosecution, and his thorough case preparation and strategic excellence helped the client successfully defend the charge at trial thus preserving the client’s brand and reputation.

Chris is recognised by Chambers Legal Directory as a leading lawyer for health and safety. He is recognised as “highly proficient in advising on HSE and corporate manslaughter investigations” and being “very responsive and very available”.

Chris is a member of the Law Society. In addition, he is a regular contributor to Construction News and organises DAC Beachcroft’s annual regulatory conference which draws in experts on the hot topics of the day.