Ian Manners

Ian works within the Safety Health and Environment group advising Corporate and Public Sector clients on health and safety compliance and risk issues, responses to regulatory enquiries and prosecutions.

Ian is recognised by Legal 500 as the Next Generation Health and Safety Lawyer in the South West in both the 2017 and 2018 editions.

Enforcement/Prosecution

Ian acts for Corporate Clients and Insured Companies and Individuals in a wide range of health and safety related incidents including a number of high profile Corporate and individual Manslaughter investigations and prosecutions. 

He regularly represents clients in the Coroner's Court at Inquests.

Ian also has experience of advising on licencing issues, trading standards investigations and prosecutions, Public Inquiries conducted by the Office of the Traffic Commissioner the appeal of enforcement notices, cross jurisdictional issues, crisis management (including coordinating a team of lawyers and investigators on the ground following a major incident) and HR issues such as employee counselling and press/PR issues. 

Recent examples include:-

• acting for a large affordable housing developer in relation to the death of a child
• representing the sole director of a glazing company charged with gross negligence manslaughter following a fatal fall from height
• securing the acquittal of a race marshal charged with a health and safety offence following the death of a spectator at a mountain bike race

Advice

Ian has advised clients on health and safety compliance and risk issues and carries out legally privileged incident investigations primarily within the Construction, Manufacturing, Health and Social Care, Agricultural, Retail and Leisure sectors.  He regularly provides training on subjects including Directors duties, managing investigations and health and safety sentencing.

Commercial

Ian advises clients on the commercial decisions relating to regulatory investigations including company disposal and acquisition, with a specific focus on health and safety risks and statutory compliance due diligence enquiries.

A recent example is carrying out health and safety due diligence for an NHS trust who are taking over a number of community services from another trust.