Matthew Breakell

Matthew specialises in providing advice and assistance to organisations and individuals where there has been a workplace accident and the Police, Health Safety and Environment and other Regulators are investigating and/or prosecuting. He provides advice and representation at Inquests and delivers an extensive range of training sessions from Board Room to Boots on the Ground.

Matthew is also frequently called upon by Clients to advise in relation to more day to day regulatory enquiries including advice around enforcement action, roles in bids and tenders and other advisory issues such as policies and procedures.

He has over 10 years’ experience advising clients across a range of sectors including construction, manufacturing, health and care, retail and property.

Matthew specialises in advising organisations about their potential criminal liability arising from serious workplace incidents, especially those relating to construction incidents, deaths and injuries in care/health, manufacturing/retail accidents and rail collisions. 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.

Relevant experience includes advising:

• A global manufacturer following a fall from height incident whereby the individual was seriously injured. His involvement secured an acquittal for the client following a partial trial.
• A very large adult social care organisation in relation to a death whereby the Coroner accepted written statements and submissions meaning that witnesses were not required providing relief to all those involved whilst also avoiding any potential reputational risk issues arising from witnesses giving live evidence.
• A property developer Company following the death of a child on one of its sites. Following an inquest the Company was invited to attend an interview under caution, and following the submission of a written statement the HSE decided to take no further action.

Matthew is recognised by the Legal 500 as a ‘rising star’.