Shaun O'Neil

Shaun qualified as a solicitor in 1994 and joined DAC Beachcroft in 2016 with a team of public sector liability lawyers from DWF. This team has been further strengthened as a national public sector team by a large team joining DAC Beachcroft in London from Clyde and Co.

With 25 years' experience in defending employers and public liability claims, predominantly for public sector clients, Shaun also has considerable experience in representing public sector organisations in regulatory proceedings and at inquests.

Shaun has advised a variety of clients including larger insurers, local authorities, schools, care providers and the emergency services.

Relevant experience:

• Acting for a local authority client in a complex investigation and in the subsequent inquest following a death in a care home. Providing support and assistance to the care home staff. Providing advice at board level on tactics, risk management and media issues arising.
• Providing pro-active support and advice to a highway authority client through a period of change. Ensuring that procedures remain robust to maintain high repudiation rates and the ability to rely upon the section 58 statutory defence is not prejudiced. Providing witness support and training to new or inexperienced personnel.
• Acting for a public sector client in regulatory proceedings and in the defence of multiple civil claims following an outbreak of legionnaires disease. The case was the first prosecution of a local authority for gross negligence manslaughter. This prosecution was successfully defended at a trial.

Training and added value:

Shaun regularly provides training and legal updates to insurance and local authority clients. In particular, Shaun has provided training to management teams and at board level on health and safety matters, including corporate manslaughter.

Awards and recognition:

Shaun is a member of the Forum of Insurer Lawyers (FOIL) and is also an associate member of ALARM.