Our UK public sector team provides a wide range of advice including construction, contracts, employment, outsourcing and property issues. We have a comprehensive understanding of local government from every perspective, which helps us to offer cost effective and timely advice to our clients.
We advise local government in all areas of risk including employers’ liability issues - from health and safety regulation through to independent contractor issues. We specialise in public liability, including highways cases and also offer local authorities motor liability advice on policy matters, indemnity disputes and we defend personal and catastrophic injury cases and large loss claims. We also specialise in subsidence and property damage advice to local authorities and offer a range of property services.
Our team has extensive experience of work-related criminal investigations and provides practical advice, often in the immediate aftermath of a workplace accident or incident.
We defend and advise our clients facing investigations and proceedings for corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecutions, coroner's inquests and public inquiries. We also provide health and safety policy and management advice, as well as training on various aspects of workplace health and safety law.
Our areas of advice include:
- Abuse and neglect litigation
- Catastrophic injury
- Employers’ liability and public liability
- Industrial disease
- Inquests
- Motor liability
- Policy advice
Approachability, investment and understanding your business needs are our core strengths.
Work highlights
- Acting for a local authority in test litigation which will determine whether employers’ liability for mesothelioma claims is triggered at the date of exposure or injury - Municipal Mutual Insurance v Zurich Insurance & Ors (The EL Policy Triggers Test Litigation) [2010].
- Advising Transport for London on a fatal motorbike accident where it was alleged that there was an unsafe accumulation of surface grit on the highway. The Court of Appeal found entirely in our client’s favour - Valentine v Transport for London & London Borough of Hounslow [2010].
- Representing Norfolk County Council in the defence of a claim brought by a teaching assistant who fell during a dance class. The Judge held that there was nothing wrong with the hall floor and the accident was caused by the claimant’s over-exuberance.
- Successfully defending a claim for negligence and breach of statutory duty brought against the defendant council. Our client was found not liable for injuries sustained on the basis that it had adequate maintenance inspections in place - Owen v Westminster City Council.
- Advising on a case where a seven figure claim for brain injury was disproved and damages were awarded at a fraction of the sum sought. This case provided judicial guidance on the appropriate brain imaging techniques to apply - Ball v London Borough of Southwark [2003].