Health & Safety Law Firm of the Year UK

Firm Profile

We are one of the largest litigation law firms in the country – 95% of our turnover relates to the resolution of disputes.

Our legal specialists provide advice to a broad range of

commercial and public sector clients, including insurance companies, FTSE-100 companies, small and medium enterprises, local authorities, medical defence organisations, police authorities, professional service organisations, government departments, universities and other public sector institutions. We provide an extensive range of legal services in almost 50 areas of law, grouped broadly into nine market sectors: • Construction and property • Corporate risks • Healthcare • Insurance and indemnity • Leisure • Media and technology • Public sector • Retail • Transport

The firm is over 1,300 strong, with over 145 partners and more than 550 additional legal professionals.

The safety, health and environment team

BLM’s dedicated national team of safety, health and environment specialists have been ranked as Leaders in their Fields in the 2012 edition of Chambers & Partners. We provide advice and support to clients facing regulatory enforcement activity such as enforcement notices, prosecutions, inquests and public inquiries arising from incidents involving injuries and fatalities. We regularly advise in respect of corporate and individual manslaughter investigations, statutory/regulatory health and safety breaches, other regulatory investigations and defence of motor prosecutions. We offer a rapid response service through our dedicated 24-hour helpline, in addition to providing bespoke training and consultancy to prevent incidents. The team’s service includes: Incident response and defence: • 24-hour emergency incident helpline • Crisis management support • Rapid response service • PACE interviews under caution

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• Incident investigation • HSE / local authority / police investigations

• Corporate Manslaughter • Coroner’s Inquests • Magistrate Court proceedings • Crown Court proceedings • Media management • Rehabilitation

Prevention and risk management: • Crisis management training • Compliance health checks • Review of inspection and risk assessment regimes

• Incident review and audit / lessons learned training

• Directors & officers training on regulatory obligations

• Strategic risk review and board level governance

• Trend spotting and analysis

"My first proper engagement with Berrymans Lace Mawer was over eight years ago. There had been an accident on a construction site near Birmingham and immediate legal assistance was requested. BLM sent a senior partner to meet me at the scene who stayed to help manage events and accompany witnesses for initial questioning by the authorities. My relationship with BLM has continued, not only with helpful advice and assistance post-incident, but also with ongoing practical advice on safety policy and legislation. Whilst BLM is a large firm with national coverage, the personal relationship offered by its lawyers means I can get the right legal advice and assistance whenever and wherever I need it."

Steven McNicholas - Compliance Director McNicholas

‘This firm's nationwide team represents a diverse client portfolio drawn from a range of industry sectors. Its well-regarded training and consultancy services are particularly valued by clients.’

Chambers & Partners UK

Notable Legal Work

Emergency response: Advising a plant hire company in relation to a highly publicised crane collapses in the North West. A specialist partner was on site the same day within 30 minutes of being notified and co-ordinated with the client in the immediate aftermath to assist with responding to the police and HSE investigation. In addition, extensive support was provided in the days following.

Child fatality resulting from lamp post collapse: The team is involved in a high profile incident following an incident where a 40ft lamp post fell onto members of the public resulting in the death of a baby. The

investigation involved consideration of corporate manslaughter against three and more organisations as well as manslaughter investigations for a number of individuals. The team has guided the client through the complex issues in the case whilst also protecting its commercial interests. Major explosion: Involvement in one of the two large explosion cases in the North West resulting in a three mile cordon, extensive police involvement and an aggressive HSE investigation.

Contact

Birmingham Chris Wiggin Tel: 0121 633 6601

Email: chris.wiggin@blm-law.com

Bristol & Cardiff Matthew Harrington Tel: 02920 44 7621 Email: matthew.harrington@blm-law.com

Leeds

Richard Clarke Tel: 0113 261 5577

Email: richard.clarke@blm-law.com London

Jennette Newman Tel: 020 7865 3422

Email: jennette.newman@blm-law.com

Liverpool Rodney Wilson Tel: 0151 471 5421 Email: rodney.wilson@blm-law.com

Manchester Atiyah Malik Tel: 0161 838 6774

Email: atiyah.malik@blm-law.com 

Southampton David Tye-Reeve Tel: 023 8038 2603

Email: david.tye-reeve@blm-law.com Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2011