Acting on its own and also able to tap into broader UK-wide resources across the firm's national health and safety offering if needed, the 'outstanding' Newport-based team at DAC Beachcroft LLP has the strength-in-depth and expertise to provide 'high-class' representation to manufacturing, construction and retail companies in complex and high-stakes health and safety incidents. Although it is handling an increasing number of direct corporate instructions, including from an advisory/risk management/training perspective, a high proportion of the instructions derive from the firm's relationships with many leading insurers (where it is often designated to defend their premier clients in respect of complex and high-profile cases). 'Exceptionally knowledgeable, pragmatic and responsive' team head Sally Roff has 'over 30 years of coal face experience representing some of the largest organisations in the UK', and is consequently a reliable choice for clients on high-stakes matters, including in corporate manslaughter cases brought by the police. 'Very much an up and coming star', associate Stefan Desbordes has a 'caseload the envy of many', including on the defence of clients undergoing investigation for both gross negligence manslaughter and corporate manslaughter.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'The attention to detail is outstanding. Making clear and comprehensible advice in how to deal with health and safety enforcement.’
'The Welsh health and safety team is part of DAC Beachcroft’s national health and safety team so it benefits from massive strength in depth and the ability to call on colleagues when required. However, it is very much focused on providing high-class representation to Welsh businesses.'
Key clients
- Zurich Insurance
- AXA Insurance
Work highlights
- Representing an airport operator in relation to catastrophic fire at its car park which contained over 1500 vehicles.
- Representing a regional gas network provider in relation to a house explosion incident, in which the resident died, and involved a joint investigation by the Police and HSE.