HSLA COMMITTEE ELECTIONS
Election Timing
21 April – Voting opens
Noon 5 May- Voting closes
The results will be announced at the AGM on 9 May 2025.
How to view the candidates
By clicking the candidate’s name, this will open up their short biography and why you should choose them.
You can either leave the bio open or click to close. You could shortlist candidates by leaving their bios open.
How to vote
Use the dropdown for each of the positions (you may need to scroll down depending on the device you are using) and click your choice. At the foot of the form, click Submit.
Members can make two votes for a Junior Officer, one vote for the Treasurer and one for the HSLA Officer.
Treasurer
HSLA Treasurer
Biography
I am Samuel Glanville, barrister at 6 Pump Court. I practise across 6 Pump Court’s areas of expertise, with a particular interest in Health & Safety, Environmental, Regulatory and Criminal Law.
Since joining 6 Pump Court as a tenant in October 2024, I have taken instructions in my own right from local authorities, regulators and regulated individuals.
I am building a professional practice founded on regulatory law and was recently appointed to the Regulatory List of counsel C-Panel, used by, inter alia, the Health & Safety Executive, the Office of Rail and Road and the Environment Agency.
I was recently instructed as junior counsel (pro bono) in Save Windermere’s successful challenge against the refusal of United Utilities to release information under the EIR (link). In addition, I have provided advice in matters concerning the Fire Safety Order 2005, defending summary proceedings brought by individuals aggrieved by statutory nuisance and breaches of Tree Preservation Orders.
I am a determined advocate for my clients and, if I am successful in this election, I will be equally determined in my work for the association.
What I will bring to the HSLA
As a director of a property company based in Oxfordshire and trustee of Gresswell Environment Trust, which is focused on the preservation of the landscape and built environment, I have good experience of prudent financial management in both the profit and non-profit sectors. My charitable and business experience will assist in ensuring that the HSLA is well-placed to continue to educate and train our members with events that are free or heavily subsidised.
I am also acutely aware of the excellence of the professional development work the HSLA provides. For example, when I attended “Do recent environmental fines show us the future for health and safety cases?”, hosted by the HSLA, I witnessed the excellent work the association does for its members.
In addition to talks provided by leaders in their respective fields, Dominic Kay KC and Lisa Roberts KC, I was struck by the deeply engaged and challenging questions asked by solicitors and barristers in the audience.
As treasurer I will work alongside committee members to ensure that we continue to provide a stable foundation for hosting similarly exciting events.
Officer of the HSLA with an interest in communication
HSLA Officer
Biography
My name is Olivia Dwan, I am an Associate at BCL. I have a mixed practice across corporate crime and regulatory work with a particular focus on Health and Safety. I am standing to be an Officer of the HSLA with an interest in communication.
Having initially trained at the criminal bar and qualifying in 2019, I spent 4 years at Hickman & Rose where I represented corporates and individuals in HSE investigations. Two of my early cases involved fatalities in the workplace. These experiences motivated me to take a proactive interest in Health and Safety work.
At BCL I work as part of a small but well-connected team of regulatory lawyers. Although I have only been at the firm since September 2024, I have developed my experience of HSE investigations. I work on cases as the sole associate alongside a partner and am given significant responsibility for the day to day running of cases and setting the strategy from investigation to trial.
I currently sit as the Social Secretary on the Young Fraud Lawyers Association. Strong communication skills and the ability to bring energy and appeal to the events which the YFLA offers to its members has been key to succeeding in this role. I pride myself on my ability to build rapport and trust with people in a variety of contexts, but also to deliver on deadlines outside of my work. This membership year the YFLA have experienced a significant increase in membership numbers since last year, which has led to an increased demand for events. All of the three events I have organised as Social Secretary this year have sold out. I think this is due to the true collaborative effort of the committee and an understanding of how to engage our demographic.
What I would bring to the HSLA
As well as the experience outlined above, I spent a year working for Browne Jacobson in Manchester, where I advised a range of clients including local authorities on Health & Safety cases and assisted on a fire safety case where an abuse of process argument was being prepared. I built a new group of contacts, as well as working with colleagues in the Nottingham and Birmingham offices. The fact that I have built some of my experience in a legal community outside of London means I have some understanding of how different member demographics may be affected by decisions that the HSLA takes.
As firms often combine their fraud practice with some element of regulatory practice, I’m sure that I would be able to use the contacts I have made as Social Secretary of the YFLA to provide access to firms and individuals who may not have considered joining the HSLA. Part of this role has involved releasing communications in relation to events, designing marketing materials and ensuring that the membership year is punctuated by events which members are motivated to attend.
Before qualifying, I worked as a National Campaigns Assistant at Cancer Research UK. This gave me an early appreciation of how to motivate and engage stakeholders. Having been state school educated and mentored students to encourage them to pursue a career in law, I would also use my position on the HSLA to develop a sense of community for members from all backgrounds.
HSLA Officer
Biography
As an Associate in the Birketts Regulatory and Corporate Defence Team I work on significant health and safety matters, conducting on-site accident investigations and supporting clients in the aftermath of disasters and fatalities through the inquest process and to conclusion. I qualified in 2021 but have worked in this area for 6 years, previously paralegalling in Construction law.
Following my extensive work on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, I have developed a particular interest acting for and advising construction industry and social housing clients on their Building Safety Act and Fire Safety Act obligations and potential criminal liabilities. Because of the interplay between my work on Health and Safety matters and the evolution of the Building Safety Act and the Building Safety Regulator I believe I can bring a unique approach to an HSLA role.
I have a significant interest in the mental health element of Health and Safety Law and the development of this for the HSA in the coming years. I have researched and written about this particular niche area and given seminars on the topic which is anticipated to be a primary focus of the HSE’s going forwards.
Prior to starting my career in law, I worked for 8 years in marketing, PR and business development with my final year of this as a marketing and PR officer for a law firm, I therefore feel that the transferrable skills I developed in that past life could benefit the position of HSLA Officer with an interest in communications.
Junior Officer of the HSLA
HSLA Junior Officer
Biography
Since my qualification in 2021, I have been fortunate to be part of the wonderful specialist team at Kingsley Napley LLP working on matters relating to health & safety and fire safety law, acting for corporate and individual clients in relation to inspections, investigations and enforcement action. I have received individual recognition in Legal 500 for my contributions in this area.
I know first-hand how vital professional networks can be for junior lawyers as they seek to expand their networks and expertise. That is why, as a Junior Officer of the HSLA Committee, my key aim would be to strengthen engagement with junior members from firms and organisations across the country by seeking their views on events, publications, and initiatives that reflect their interests and that would support their professional and personal development.
I’m particularly keen to promote mentoring opportunities, create more accessible learning content, and grow a community of junior members who feel confident to engage in events and with each other. I believe there is certainly scope to increase awareness of HSLA’s purpose and activities amongst junior practitioners who are not (yet) members too.
I am listed in the Pro Bono Recognition List 2025 and know what it takes to devote additional time to causes that I am passionate about. This is one of them.
If elected, I would be delighted to work closely with the HSLA Committee to ensure that junior voices are heard and that members, regardless of PQE and/or professional status, feel they can thrive.
HSLA Junior Officer
Biography
I am a HSLA member with experience of health and safety matters since qualification. I believe I am the ideal candidate for the Junior Officer.
I have always been passionate about membership organisations that promote engagement and connection amongst members of the legal profession, and I have previous experience of committee membership.
Between 2016 and 2020, I served as a member of the Women Lawyers Division of the Law Society, a committee that represents the interests of 80,000+ women solicitors. In this role, I developed mentorship and returner programmes and initiatives with the Law Society. I also contributed to driving forward the introduction of the Women in Law Pledge, an initiative first launched in June 2019 during my tenure as a committee member.
Between 2017 and 2020, I also served as a committee member of the London Irish Lawyers’ Association, a networking group focused on the interests of Irish lawyers in London. I helped drive forward the organisation which today, is thriving.
Most recently, I hosted an HSLA event to celebrate International Women’s Day. As a HSLA committee member, I hope to build on the momentum we achieved that evening to ensure that the interests of our junior and underrepresented members are voiced at committee level. I will advocate for the introduction of junior members’ mentorship programmes and article writing initiatives which will facilitate further opportunities for networking, leadership and exposure for our junior members.
HSLA Junior Officer
Biography
I am eager to bring my enthusiastic and diligent approach to the HSLA Committee. My practice focuses on internal and law enforcement investigations, particularly in health and safety and financial services. With nearly five years of post-qualification experience, I have gained extensive trial experience and have acted on public inquiries and inquests. I have advised global construction and tech companies on Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigations into workplace fatalities and serious accidents. Additionally, I have provided COVID-19 health and safety advice, conducted training sessions, and drafted policies.
As a confident public speaker, I regularly deliver seminars and pitches on health and safety topics, preparing me well to support HSLA events and panels. My advisory role with the Ministry of Defence has equipped me to balance external commitments alongside my full-time position, enhancing my ability to collaborate effectively with committee members from diverse backgrounds.
I am keen to raise the profile of the HSLA among junior members, emphasising the importance of networking and peer support when dealing with complex and sensitive cases. This is a great opportunity to ensure that the HSLA’s aims in shaping the development of health and safety law are supported by the next generation of professionals.
I hope you will consider voting for me, so I can bring my experience and insights to the committee, supporting its aims in advancing health and safety law and fostering a strong and supportive environment for our colleagues.
HSLA Junior Officer
Biography
I am interested in joining the HSLA Committee as a Junior Officer. I practise at Red Lion Chambers, specialising in business crime and regulatory law, and I am a member of the Regulatory Panel (B Panel).
Alongside my work, I have been an active member of several internal committees at Red Lion Chambers, including the Education and Training Committee and the Information Security Committee. This has given me a good understanding of the importance of collaboration, communication, and consistency to the success of a busy committee.
If given the opportunity, I would bring energy, reliability, and genuine enthusiasm for building on the fantastic work the HSLA does for its membership.
HSLA Junior Officer
Biography
I am an Associate in the Crime and Regulatory team at Kennedys, specialising in health and safety and inquest work. Prior to rejoining the regulatory field in 2023, I worked at two large regional firms in East Anglia in commercial and property litigation. Since 2023, my experience includes both prosecution on behalf of local authorities, and defending individuals and companies in criminal and regulatory matters.
I consider myself sociable, outgoing, and organised both in my professional life and outside of work. I am an active netball player and umpire in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, and regularly support talent development pathways for young players pursuing competitive sport.
Throughout my career, I have proactively engaged in firmwide sector groups, networking and business development events, as well as the coordination of work experience opportunities. I am also a member of a dedicated construction-focused group that advocates for improved approaches to practical health and safety on construction sites. One of our key events includes supporting East Riding of Yorkshire Council in piloting the integration of health and safety requirements into their tendering process.
I advocate for junior voices and early-career opportunities. I believe in creating an inclusive, supportive space where young professionals can grow their confidence and networks. I also consider that HSLA will positively benefit from a wider audience by welcoming non-legal professionals who can share their expertise from a different perspective.
As a Junior Officer, I aim to bring energy, a collaborative mindset, and a commitment to increasing engagement and accessibility.
HSLA Junior Officer
Biography
Sophie McCormick is an associate solicitor at HCR Law, she specialises in health & safety law regularly advising corporate entities and individual directors and officers in relation to HSE investigations and prosecutions. Sophie has experience in the construction, manufacturing and recycling sectors.
Sophie brings a unique perspective as a defence lawyer as she has also has experience running private prosecutions. Sophie is particularly interested in learning and development in the health and safety arena and she often writes articles, speaks at events and offers clients bespoke legal training.
Sophie is dedicated to achieving the best results for clients; her clients comment on her attention to detail, approachable and down to earth manner and ability to quickly identify important issues and risks.
Sophie is based in the Midlands and travels all over the UK for her health & safety work. Sophie is keen to become a HSLA Committee member and represent the voice of junior lawyers.
Sophie has led internal and external networking events previously and understands the importance of bringing junior lawyers together. If elected, Sophie wants to develop the HSLA junior lawyer network to all those lawyers to come together and voice their opinions, gather and challenge each others views and to create a strong network of expertise for those lawyers can rely on for the entirety of their career.
Sophie is a foodie who enjoys travel and trying new restaurants as well as keeping fit at reformer Pilates.
