Weightmans LLP

Tom Boulton

Tom specialises in health and safety law and regulatory compliance. Having previously prosecuted on behalf of HSE and various Local Authorities he joined Weightmans’ Regulatory team in the Birmingham office in 2016. Tom is a determined litigator with a proven track record in regulatory matters including Health and Safety and Road Traffic offences. Tom tenaciously defends clients who find themselves under investigation.  Since joining Weightmans Tom has developed a growing reputation for successfully defending individuals and organisations (both public and private sector) in relation to a full range of health and safety and regulatory offences. Testimonials (Legal 500 - 2023)   “Tom Boulton has a calm and level-headed approach towards his cases which provides his clients with reassurance in challenging circumstances.” “Tom Boulton has always been very focussed on helping his clients get the best advice they could so that they understand the challenges facing them and can act from a position of informed choice. I was impressed that Tom went beyond providing the traditional provision of high-quality legal advice following incidents. He also identified areas where clients could improve their practice and manage risks better to avoid future incidents or to mitigate their impact. In doing so, he sought input from relevant engineering risk management experts so that his client got the best possible combination of engineering and legal advice.”

James Muller

James has specialised in regulatory law since 2012, covering all aspects of: Health and safety Corporate manslaughter/gross negligence manslaughter Inquests Fire safety Careless/dangerous driving Food hygiene/safety Environmental law. He has a national practice and represents clients throughout England and Wales. James provides advice and representation for companies and individuals throughout the entire duration of regulatory investigations, often being instructed in the immediate aftermath of serious and fatal accidents, and carrying matters through to their conclusion. He has extensive experience of court litigation and trial preparation, and has particular skill in dealing with complex areas of expert evidence. James is passionate about getting to know his clients’ businesses in detail, ensuring that his advice always takes into account the wider impact the matter might have on the business as a whole. He works for all manner of businesses, ranging from multi-nationals to sole traders and individuals, with particular experience in manufacturing, construction, health and social care, leisure, agriculture, food and hospitality, local government, education, fire services, haulage, waste and recycling, and mining. At the outset of his career, James gained significant experience in the prosecution of health and safety and fire safety cases. Having experience of how such cases are prosecuted gives James a significant tactical edge when defending. James regularly advises clients in relation to fire safety matters and issues arising from the new regulatory regime under the Building Safety Act. James wrote an article on the Building Safety Act that was published by the Law Society’s quarterly Property in Practice magazine. James also carries out non-contentious advisory work for his clients, including advising on health and safety and fire safety requirements, providing training, and carrying out due diligence in relation to the firm’s corporate deals. He recently advised private equity investors in relation to the health and safety (and fire safety) implications of its acquisition of a group of 171 health and social care companies. James is currently instructed in relation to numerous complex health and safety cases, including: manufacturing fatalities in Nottinghamshire and Shropshire; Crown Court trials in Birmingham, Southwark and Chelmsford; and HSE investigations into construction accidents causing life-changing in Northumberland and Berkshire. He recently represented a company director in the West Midlands who was acquitted of gross negligence manslaughter in relation to a fatal accident at a recycling facility.

Andrew Brammer

   Andrew Brammer joined Weightmans in April 2019, to become the Lead lawyer in the Midlands Regulatory Team. Since qualifying in 1996, he has developed an enviable reputation as a specialist Regulatory lawyer.Working for national and international organisations across multiple sectors, Andrew’s practice focuses on protecting businesses and key decision makers during criminal investigations and prosecutions. He has defended hundreds of clients against regulatory bodies like the Health and Safety Executive, Environment Agency and Local Authority Trading Standards teams. His polished but practical style enables him to advise at all levels and he has been described as "highly experienced and impressively robust" and is known for his "tactical astuteness" and "excellent attention to detail".Drawing on his knowledge and experience, clients regularly call upon Andrew to offer in-house training and compliance management support.Andrew’s expertise in contentious health and safety and environmental law has been recognised by legal directories for over a decade and he is cited as being a "Leading Individual" by the Legal 500 for his health and safety work.