Merseyside & District Branch
BRANCH MEETING 9th September 2pm Village Hotel Bromborough
Welcome
Scott Ellis (Vice Chair) welcomed the members in the absence of David Collins
(Chair). He then gave a brief rundown of the forthcoming Branch events
including the planned mini soap.
Apologies for absence
David Collins, Derek McStea, Nick Wilson and Neil Lewis
New Attendees
Joe Clark, Paula Kelly, Semra Zeck-Williams, Gary Byrne and Daniel Johnston.
Secretaries Correspondence
Gary Lindsay informed the Branch that there had been a total of 38 new
members who had joined the Branch since the last meeting.
Notices
Peter Williams gave an update on the arrangements for the Tri Branch event
which is to take place on 3rd June 2015 at the Select Security stadium in Widnes
(home of Widnes Vikings). The topic of the event is Behavioural Safety.
Guest Speaker
The first guest speaker Rupert Nevin from Law firm DWF was introduced to the
Branch. Rupert is a Partner (2008-present) in the regulatory law team at DWF
LLP, a top 20 law firm. Previously a partner at global law firm, DLA Piper (19982002).
He has substantial technical knowledge and hands-on experience over 20 years
of inquest work and defending large, complex regulatory criminal and health
and safety cases. Trusted and retained by several national corporate clients to
advise and represent on regulatory criminal defence matters. Recently lead the
defence team which secured the first acquittal for the offence of corporate
manslaughter: R v PS & JE Ward Limited (Norwich Crown Court, 15 April 2014).
Also acted in the prosecution of York College (Leeds Crown Court, January
2014) and currently representing a nursery at a lengthy inquest at Royal Courts
of Justice in connection with the death of a child who swallowed a cube of
jelly. Recommended in Legal 500 for regulatory expertise, in particular with
reference to fatalities and corporate manslaughter investigations. Other
directories note his leadership of the extremely professional and very good
regulatory team at DWF. Chambers & Partners 2014 noted his stand-out
quality of commercial nous. "It was quite clear that he had a willingness to
understand our business, where we operate and where our strengths and
weaknesses lay. He spoke about a recent case he had been involved with, but he
stressed he spoke as a human being and not as a lawyer. His firm were
defending a company who were being prosecuted under Corporate
Manslaughter legislation.
Guest Speaker
The second guest speaker was introduced by Scott. He was John Gollaglee
from Law firm DLA. John gave a very good presentation on recent Legal
changes in Health and Safety Law this included Corporate Manslaughter,
Sentencing, Fee for intervention and some miscellaneous items. Slides
attached
IOSH
Merseyside Branch
Legal Update
John Gollaglee, Legal Director, Regulatory
DLA Piper UK LLP
9 September 2014
A.O.B
None
Meeting closed
There being no more business to be discussed the meeting closed.