Diana specialises in representing companies and individuals who are investigated and prosecuted in complex and often high-profile cases to include corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter and breaches of health and safety law.    Diana provides crisis management support in the immediate aftermath of an incident, arising out of fatalities and very serious injuries. 

Diana has a broad range of clients and is experienced at guiding both large corporates and SME's through the various stages of an investigation, to include interviews under caution.    She works with the following sectors: charities, ports, railways, automotive industry, leisure and travel, care homes, transport, food processing, highways construction and the entertainment industry.

Alongside side investigations and prosecutions, Diana also represents individuals and organisations in jury and non-jury inquests, to include proceedings where Article 2 is engaged.

Relevant experience includes:

• Instructed to represent a car dealership who was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive when a sales executive crushed a member of the public during the demonstration of a high-performance sports car.  
• Advised and represented a club when a member of staff fell from an unguarded roof during the course of his handyman duties suffering fatal injuries.    Prosecution by the local authority and inquest before the Coroner.
• Represented a major food production company when an employee suffered serious injuries when he became entangled on an unguarded turkey deboning line.        
• Instructed to represent a national cinema chain when a customer fell from a balcony in an auditorium sustaining serious injuries.  
• Advised a care home manager, suspected of ill-treatment and wilful neglect.
• Represented a holiday company at inquest whose employee tripped and fell on protruding pipework in a store cupboard, suffering injuries where there was a potential causal link to her death. 

Endorsements:

'a standout individual; incredibly hardworking, excellent at client care with brilliant bedside manner with clients in even the most stressful of situations' – Legal 500 2024.

A 'go to' lawyer – Legal 500 2023.

'extremely passionate on behalf of and dedicated to all her clients' – Legal 500 2022

'a real fighter.  No stone is left unturned in the defence of her clients.' – Legal 500 2022

'I was particularly impressed by Diana Hardesty.  She was able to help the client understand what was needed, keep them on board despite their frustration with the situation they found themselves in, and build a good relationship, all of which paid off in an excellent result in the end.' – Legal 500 2021