Bio
Michelle is a Regulatory Senior Associate.
With a background as a background as a former Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecutor, Michelle advises and defends businesses, directors, senior managers, professionals and individuals across a range statutory investigations and prosecutions including alleged breaches of environmental regulations, health and safety, food hygiene, trading standards, fire safety, and nuisance and data protection offences, alongside supporting clients at inquests.
Alongside particular expertise in the health and safety, logistics, transport, waste and environmental sectors, Michelle has successfully represented clients in the logistics, waste management, quarrying, haulage, construction, food, hospitality equine, manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors.
She is also frequently instructed by high-net-worth profile and senior executive clients facing serious criminal or regulatory investigations, including allegations of fraud and other sensitive matters.
Examples of Michelle’s work include:
- Defending a company following a workplace fatality in the horseracing industry.
- Securing the withdrawal of a prosecution against a sole trader operating a horse-riding business following a workplace accident.
- Successfully representing a senior manager facing personal liability under Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 following a fatality in the logistics sector.
- Defending a waste industry business following a workplace fatality, securing no further action from the HSE and a favourable inquest conclusion.
- Guiding a pharmaceutical manufacturer through a complex HSE investigation concerning potential carcinogen exposure, resulting in no further action.
- Representing a construction company in relation to a prosecution arising from a quarry shot-firing incident, successfully reducing the regulator’s proposed sentencing position from a fine of up to £3.25 million to approximately £300,000.
- Defending numerous haulage operators facing waste crime allegations under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
- Reducing proposed confiscation proceedings against a waste management business from approximately £400,000 to £37,000.