Outer Temple Chambers

Health and Safety, Personal Injury.

Barrister specialising in Health & Safety, Personal Injury.

Called to Bar 1979, Lincoln’s Inn, Middle Temple, Eastern Caribbean Bar; Recorder 2007 and KC 2011.

Ben Compton KC is a specialist advocate in health and safety renowned for his extensive experience in civil and criminal courts, subsequent appeals at the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court, together with jury inquests throughout the UK.

He is recognised as one of the country’s leading health & safety law barristers, ranked in Band 1 by Chambers & Partners, and in 2015 he was awarded the accolade of “Health & Safety Silk of the Year” at the Chambers & Partners Bar Awards. He is described by them as: “An outstanding silk. He explains client strategy effectively and he’s always on top of the brief.” “He’s absolutely phenomenal – he’s extremely good on his feet and really good tactically.” “He’s immensely experienced and has a fantastic manner with clients.”

Ben is also ranked by Legal 500, described as “a delight to work with and is an absolute star performer in court. Ben is engaged, strategic and willing to roll his sleeves up and think about tactics, which is greatly appreciated by clients. However it is in court where Ben’s skill as an advocate really shines through. I have never seen anyone hold the attention of a courtroom like Ben Compton.”

The vast majority of Ben’s health and safety practice is spent representing corporate defendants and company directors and employees in complex workplace accidents, be they on land or at sea, which result in fatalities or serious injuries. His clients have included some of the country’s leading, corporations, retailers, construction companies, care homes, leisure companies and public bodies.

He is currently instructed in a number of leading cases including the principal contractor in the Grenfell fire tragedy, the explosives contractors in the Didcot power station collapse, Universal studios in the latest Fast and Furious 9 film (serious stunt accident). Recent trials include acting for WH Malcolm in the ORR prosecution following the electrocution of a boy at the Daventry International Railway Freight terminal and for MCFT following the death of an electrician at hospital premises belonging to BMI Healthcare.

He has recently appeared in a number of high profile inquests: including acting for Beko PLC in the deaths of six members of the public from carbon monoxide poisoning from their Beko cookers. Also for Crossrail (MTR) following a suicide by a mother carrying her young child onto a railway line at Taplow.

He has also been retained by the controlling port company in relation to the 39 Vietnamese nationals who died in the back of a haulage lorry.

He has over 15 years’ experience sitting as a Recorder giving him a valuable insight and advantage in reading the likely judicial approach to be taken in any particular case.

Health & Safety Lawyers Association Western Circuit Recorder (2005)