Blackfords LLP
Blackfords LLP‘s health and safety offering is experienced in handling the remit of matters, from criminal, which can involve HSE investigations and prosecutions, gross negligence manslaughter and corporate manslaughter claims. The team acts for both corporate and individual clients, with rail and healthcare being particular areas of focus. Its workload often includes inquests into workplace deaths and serious injuries. Experienced across the full scope of work, ’first-class health and safety lawyer’ Gary Rubin leads the practice, which has considerable experience handling large-scale rail accident-related cases.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The partners in the team are hugely experienced and knowledgeable. They are a big firm with a small firm's attitude.’
‘Gary Rubin is a first-class lawyer with unparalleled experience and knowledge in the industry - he is the safest pair of hands.’
‘The team has an incredible range of clients and for a firm of their size they punch way above their perceived weight. The team have been involved in nearly all of the train or tram disaster health and safety cases in the last 30 years. They are client-driven, think outside the box and make the client's best outcome their entire focus.’
‘Gary Rubin is an incredible tactician in health and safety cases, Trevor Francis is a modern-thinking managing partner, excellent with clients. Both have the great skill of knowing the best experts in their respective fields.’
‘Gary Rubin has vast experience in cases involving fatalities in many sectors such as education and health. His experience in serious criminal litigation is invaluable when navigating the inevitable police investigations and Coroner's Inquests which overlap fatalities. He is able to identify well in advance the type of expert evidence that is required in a case.'
‘Gary Rubin has been involved in a number of the high-profile cases over the last 15 to 20 years. He has a great tactical mind and knows this area of regulatory work like the back of his hand. Gary Bloxsome is a well-known top flight criminal lawyer who is equally at home undertaking health and safety work.’
‘Gary Rubin is a star - loved by clients, he leaves no stone unturned and is fully engaged from start to finish. Sophie Payne is particularly good too, exceptionally responsive, clear-thinking and hardworking.’
‘Gary Rubin has almost unrivalled experience in rail-related health and safety cases, acting for individuals.’
Work highlights
- Acted for a train driver in relation to the inquest into a workplace fatality, being the death of another driver who was crushed between two trains which were in the process of being coupled in a depot.
- Acted for numerous gas engineers employed by the utility company SGN in relation to a police/HSE investigations into a gas explosion in South London, where a young child tragically lost her life in August 2022.
- Acting in a series of investigations into alleged health and safety offences arising from the Grenfell Tower fire.
Lawyers
Leading individuals
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Gary Rubin