Environmental Regulation
Stephen is experienced in the defence of Environmental Agency prosecutions including waste disposal, water pollution, cases involving the waste directive, waste management licence regulations and re-cycling and re-using materials.
Stephen is regularly instructed in large regulatory offending by both individuals and companies, notably defending multi-billion pound corporate clients in relation to Health and Safety, Environmental and Trading Standards prosecutions ranging in seriousness from technical weights and measures offences to breaches of Health and Safety regulations resulting in death.
His experience of regulatory proceedings ranges from inquest, through trial, to the High Court and Court of Appeal. Stephen is recommended for his crime work and as a Leading Junior in Fraud, experienced in paper heavy cases of complexity including sensitive issues of disclosure, legal professional privilege and public interest immunity often international in scope. Stephen is a Grade 4 Prosecutor.
Stephen is able to understand complex issues and communicate them in clear language to those he represents. He is widely recognised as having a level of skill and detail well beyond his year of call.
Environmental Regulation Cases
Regina -v- Tarmac Trading Limited, Liverpool Crown Court, 2016, Paul Verrico, Eversheds. Defence of the Company through trial, led by John Cooper QC, in relation to the tragic death of a pedestrian killed by a motorist as he travelled through roadworks.
Regina -v- UK Wood PLC, Teesside Crown Court, 2013, Tim Hill, Eversheds. Defence of the Company following the tragic death of a worker killed when he walked into the path of a large “front loading shovel” vehicle. Unintended breaches of Health and Safety Regulations were found to have contributed to this accidental death.
Regina -v- Eamon Murphy, ABC Granulation Ltd, Bradford Crown Court, 2013 Sean Sexton, MSB Solicitors Defence of a company and its operation’s manager in relation to a large criminal conspiracy to export waste without the relevant permits or permissions. Whilst other Defendants were imprisoned, the Crown offered no evidence against the Company and the individual manager pleaded guilty on a limited basis, conditionally discharged at sentence.
Regina -v- C T, 2012 Danielle Nugent, Osborn Abas Hunt Defence of the Director of a wood recycling plant company for failing to have obtained the necessary permits.
