Annual Conference Updated Programme and Timings (25 April 2023)
Please see below our updated programme and timings for the HSLA conference, which will be held on the afternoon of 19 May 2023, followed by our annual dinner at the beautiful Fishmongers’ Hall. Please note that the conference runs to 5.30pm.You will see that we have a fantastic line up of speakers who will look at building safety, fire safety, recent health and safety cases as well as providing an insight into the Arcadia case by those who were instructed and involved in the trial. The conference is also a valuable opportunity to network and connect with colleagues and friends.
CONFERENCE FROM 13.00, DINNER (SOLD OUT) FROM 19.00
HSLA Conference Programme 2023
1.00-1.30 pm
Registration
Please join us for refreshments over the registration period.
1.30-1.40pm
Welcome and Opening from HSLA Chair
Danny McShee Partner, Kennedys and HSLA Chair
1.40-2.30pm
A view from the Building Safety Regulator
With parts of the Building Safety Act already in force and far wider implications for building owners that were perhaps first thought, we get an insight from the new Building Safety Regulator on their aims and objectives for improving standards across the sector and how it intends to use its powers to achieve proportionate regulatory outcomes.
Sarah Mallagh, Building Safety Regulator Policy Lead, Health and Safety Executive
Sarah Mallagh has worked for HSE for over 30 years in a diverse range of roles. She began her career as an operational inspector working in the engineering, manufacturing and construction sectors. She then led various business change projects to deliver improvements in HSE’s inspection and complaint handling processes. More recently she has had a number of policy roles, dealing with civil liability, asbestos and occupational lung disease, radiation and preparations for the UK’s exit from the EU in relation to the supply of chemicals. Since May of 2021, Sarah has led HSE’s Building Safety Regulator’s Policy and Legislation team.
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2.30-3.30pm
Fire safety critical: A panel discussion
Following the Grenfell Fire tragedy fire safety should be top of the agenda for all duty holders with an interest in buildings. However, fire safety investigations and prosecutions are on the rise so our panel will discuss the challenges and opportunities around compliance in this crucial area.
Chair:
Colin Moore, Partner, DAC Beachcroft
Colin acts for companies and individuals prosecuted for manslaughter offences (including corporate manslaughter) and offences relating to health and safety and fire safety. He is frequently called in to advise clients following fatal and serious workplace accidents where urgent assistance is required in the face of Police and HSE investigations. He has over 15 year experience advising clients across a range of sectors including construction, manufacturing, retail and leisure, and transport and logistics.
Panellists:
John Bonney CBE, Director, Alendi Consulting
John had been one of the leading figures in the UK Fire and Rescue Service for over a decade. He joined the London Fire Brigade in 1981, moved to Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service in 1997 as Deputy Chief Officer. In 2004 took up the post of Chief Fire Officer in Hampshire where he served for 11 years, alongside being President of the Chief Fire Officers’ Association from 2009-11.
Retiring in 2014 he received a CBE in 2015 for his work within the sector. He is now a consultant and sought after speaker. He is a fellow of the Institute of Directors and holds the chartered director qualification. He sits on the board of the US based National Fire Protection Association as a global advocate in Fire Safety where he is currently serving as vice chair.
Throughout his career he has been involved in a number of significant health and safety investigations following emergency incidents.
Katherine Metcalfe, Partner, Pinsent Masons
Katherine is at the forefront of Pinsent Masons’ thought leadership on building, fire and construction product safety, advising clients on regulatory change occasioned by the Building Safety Act and wider reform of fire safety. She is a member of the British Property Federation Building Safety Sounding Board. Katherine spent two years heading up the in-house legal team at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. She regularly guide clients through the complexities of fire safety regulation across the UK. She is currently supporting clients with a broad range of fire-related issues.
James Leonard KC, Outer Temple
James specialises predominantly in Health, Safety & Environmental Law and has an established practice in Disciplinary & Regulatory cases. He has a considerable background in complex industrial accident cases, fraud and corruption cases, financial services, multi-jurisdictional confiscation proceedings and Public Law.
3.30-3.50 pm
Break
3.50-5.10 pm
Legal update of recent cases & an insight into the Arcadia/Topshop prosecution
Simon Antrobus KC of Crown Office Chambers will provide an update on interesting legal cases over the last 12 months, which will be followed by a detailed behind the scenes look at the Arcadia prosecution. Last year, Topshop and its former owners were found guilty of health and safety breaches after a 10-year-old boy died when a queue barrier toppled on him during a family shopping trip in 2017. Join those who were instructed in the case for an insight into the pertinent issues at trial.
Simon Antrobus KC, Crown Office Chambers
Simon has been well known as one of the leading barristers in the health and safety field, he is currently recognised by both of the legal directories as a band 1 Silk, and was Chambers & Partners’ Health & Safety Silk of the Year in 2021. Simon has represented corporate clients in some of the highest profile health and safety cases, including the Buncefield Oil Terminal explosion, the prosecution of Merlin Entertainments for the Smiler Rollercoaster accident at Alton Towers, the recent criminal prosecution relating to the Hillsborough football stadium disaster of 1989, and the ongoing public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire. He has successfully defended large and small companies in relation to health and safety offences, directors and employees in relation to manslaughter charges.
Jim Ageros KC, Crown Office Chambers
James practises exclusively in health & safety and environmental law. For many years he has been recognised as one of the most accomplished and versatile barristers in the field. He has been rated in the top category for juniors in health and safety for a number of years and has been consistently nominated as outstanding junior. He is the co-author of Matthews & Ageros, ‘Health & Safety Enforcement, Practice & Procedure’, OUP, now in its third edition.
Valerie Charbit, Red Lion Chambers
Valerie has extensive experience in health and safety cases, both prosecuting and defending. She is often instructed to prosecute by the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities in respect of fatalities and other breaches of health and safety legislation. Her clients have included companies, NHS trusts, local authorities, the Health and Safety Executive, and the Office of Road and Rail, as well as individuals including directors and trustees. Valerie is appointed to the A list of Special Regulatory Advocates in Health & Safety and Environmental Law.
Mike Atkins, Crown Office Chambers
Mike is one of the most sought-after junior counsel for complex and high-profile health and safety cases, including prosecutions for corporate and gross negligence manslaughter. He specialises exclusively in the field of criminal regulatory law, with particular expertise in health and safety, inquests, fire safety, food safety, and product safety. He is regularly instructed on behalf of multinational and household name companies as well as directors, employees, and public bodies. His recent cases include the prosecution of Arcadia and Topshop, the Bosley Wood Mill explosion, and the Croydon tram disaster. He is consistently recognised in the directories as a leading junior in the field.
Austin Stoton, 2 Bedford Row
Austin is consistently ranked in the directories for Health and Safety. He is principally a health and safety practitioner, regularly to be found co-defending in corporate fatality cases. He covers the entire gamut of health and safety work, including Inquests into deaths in the work place, statutory enforcement notices, criminal prosecutions (corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter and section 2 and 3) advice on collateral civil claims, all aspects of fire related work, and judicial review. Austin’s practice also extends to regulatory crime, serious business crime, environmental work, and professional disciplinary work. Over the last couple of years he has been instructed in the Grenfell Public Inquiry into the death of 72 people in July 2017.
5.10-5.20pm
An update on the UK Retained EU Law Bill
Simon Joyston-Bechal
Simon heads the Turnstone Law team as Director and has over 25 years’ experience as a solicitor. Specialising in regulatory defence, he is widely regarded as one of the UK’s leading health & safety lawyers. His experience also covers fire safety, trading standards, product liability, food safety, white-collar crime, environmental defence, judicial review, human rights, and commercial litigation.
5.20-5.30 pm
Closing remarks from the Chair
Danny McShee
Dinner (Sold out as of 25 April 2023)
Investment:
Conference only – £115 members/ £145 non-members
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.
