Colin acts for companies and individuals prosecuted for manslaughter offences (including corporate manslaughter) and offences relating to health and safety and fire safety. He is frequently called in to advise clients following fatal and serious workplace accidents where urgent assistance is required in the face of Police and HSE investigations. He has over 15 year experience advising clients across a range of sectors including construction, manufacturing, retail and leisure, and transport and logistics.

Colin also provides representation at PACE interviews in relation to a wide range of common law and regulatory offences, including gross negligence manslaughter, health and safety, environmental, fire safety, food safety and hygiene and neglect.

Colin delivers commercially focused non-contentious health and safety advice to large corporate clients on a wide range of topics including managing regulatory risks in corporate re-structuring and the transfer of risk in outsourcing transactions.

The role of a regulatory lawyer is highly varied, but a constant factor is the need to provide reassurance alongside business-critical legal advice to clients in a crisis. Colin is a key part of delivery of that service to our clients and is well thought of for his comforting manner with clients, be they large corporates or individuals.

Relevant experience includes advising:

• Colin was part of the DACB team which secured an acquittal in the first corporate manslaughter prosecution against an NHS trust (R v Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ) a case which remains the leading authority on issues such as the definition of senior management and the control of activities in a large organisation.
• Colin is part of the DACB Team acting for Rydon Maintenance Ltd in relation to the Grenfell Tower fire, including the Grenfell Tower Inquiry (now into its second phase) and the Metropolitan Police Investigation into potential criminal offences.
• Representing a lifeguard who was on duty at the time a swimmer suffered a heart attack. Colin provided advice in response to the HSE’s investigation including in relation to an interview under caution, representation at an Inquest and during a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in September 2019. Our client was acquitted of all charges.

Colin is recognised by the Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner as one of the practice heads of our Tier One Ranked team in London. He has been described in Legal 500 as: “an experienced big-hitter and not fazed by the big case and quick to understand a complicated issue. He gets to the point and achieves great results. He has a particularly sound knowledge of the relevant legislation.”

He is also ranked in Band 3 for Health and Safety – UK wide in Chambers where he described as having “considerable knowledge of HSE and police investigations following fatal workplace accidents” and as "the sort of lawyer you want on your side in a complex case. He has a lovely completeness of good legal training, knowledge and the ability to dilute and untangle a complex situation."