No5 Barristers' Chambers - Excellence is at the heart of everything we do.
Background

Regulatory

"Very thorough in the advice given and nothing has been too much trouble."

Chambers UK 2020

"One of the main sets for regulatory law in the Midlands."

Legal 500 2020

"Excellent strength in depth."

Legal 500 2019

The Regulatory Group at No5 Barristers Chambers is a National leader in many of the various specialisms its experience encompasses. From offices in Birmingham, London and Bristol, our Barristers provide coverage of specialised cases in every Court centre nationwide.

We pride ourselves on not only providing the highest standard of advocacy but also the depth of support that lies behind that.

Members are well equipped to provide advice and assistance in any form needed, from detailed formal advice, to conferences with expert witnesses, to urgent Court assistance and long running multi-handed Trials.

We recognise that Regulatory work covers a broad spectrum and we can offer real expertise in the following areas, whether defending, prosecuting, or advising short of enforcement action.

Why Instruct Regulatory Barristers

The Regulatory Group is well known for its expertise in the many specialisms this area of law covers. With well over 20 members including a number of silks the Group contains a number of smaller dedicated teams offering clients specific expertise in any aspect of Regulatory law they require assistance with and at any level. Solicitors and clients choose No5 Barristers Chambers Regulatory Group because we:

  • Provide responsive, efficient turnaround on instructions, supported by dedicated clerks skilled in identifying the right Barrister for each case.
  • Proactively coordinate the listing of case hearings such as Trials, Misconduct Hearings, Inquests and Appeals.
  • Offer Barristers who form a collaborative approach with Instructing Solicitors and Bodies to ensure the best possible result for clients through exceptional advocacy and legal advice.
  • The team receives recognition in the leading directories, including Chambers UK Bar and Legal 500, for our strength in this practice area; “No.5 Chambers are a solid set of chambers. Somehow, the personal touch from the clerks is not lost with their size and they provide an excellent service” (Legal 500 2025)

Our Regulatory Law Expertise

  • Health & Safety

The Regulatory Group provide a top-level service to all clients nationwide, both Defending and Prosecuting in this area. This includes companies, directors, individual employees and public bodies, including National Regulators and Local Authorities across the country.

Members of the Group have been involved in high-profile cases across the health and safety sector and bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and expertise to their practice, ensuring that their clients receive the highest level of legal representation in matters pertaining to health and safety compliance and enforcement.

They provide advice and representation at every stage of proceedings on all aspects of health & safety enforcement, including:

    • Initial advice at the onset of any potential investigation;
    • Representing clients at Inquests arising from fatalities where they will be an IP;
    • All breaches and compliance advice relating to enforcement, including improvement notices, prohibition notices and potential prosecutions;
    • Investigations into Breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act involving workplace accidents, injuries or fatalities;
    • Full coverage of Health and Safety, Fire Safety, Food Safety and Environmental matters;
    • Representation of clients across the spectrum of Court hearings, from first appearance at Magistrates Courts to Trials and mitigation in the Crown Court to Appeals.
  • Motor Crime

The Regulatory Group have built a specialised team to represent clients across the full spectrum of Motoring Offences. Acting for individuals, companies (including fleet operators) and insurers nationwide.

From initial advice after the event to representation at Trial covering the most serious and sensitive cases involving life changing injuries and multiple fatalities.

The Group’s experience and large quantity of cases covered in this area has led to them being instructed by dedicated specialist Solicitors at all levels and the understanding of the technical aspects and experts involved has given them a national presence.

The Group covers all aspects of Motoring Offences including:

    • Death by dangerous driving
    • Death by careless driving
    • Serious Injury by careless /dangerous driving
    • Dangerous /careless driving
    • Drink and drug offences

Tachograph and licensing offences

Cases involving driver health

Inquests arising from fatalities on the road

  • Environmental Crime

The Regulatory Group have significant expertise in relation to the wide range of legal issues that relate to pollution, nuisance, waste and water. Barristers frequently act and advise on the regulatory scheme applying to water and sewerage undertakers; new water and waste projects; pollution disputes; permitting and licensing; water rights; flood risk and prevention; and compliance and enforcement.

Our team represents central government, local authorities, public bodies and private companies.

  • Professional Misconduct

The Regulatory Group brings together an extensive team of practitioners in this area.

We believe that all professionals should demand the highest level of representation. The Group has some of the most experienced Counsel at representing police officers in the country and enjoys a good working relationship with Federations in every region. Although members have regularly worked in cases involving the Metropolitan Police, it is with the Forces up and down the country that our reputation for strong but sensible representation has been grown with care.

We also have substantial experience in assisting members of all professions, including solicitors, medical professionals (doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists etc), teachers and accountants.

This assistance includes advice on potential problems and how best to avoid them, help with dismissing or diminishing allegations at an early stage, tactical and evidential advice, and advocacy and representation at hearing if needed.

We have experience not only at first instance hearings but also on appeal. We have a determination never to give up on a case and share experience in pursuing cases to the highest level of appeal, if needs be, to achieve the correct result. Due to this, team members are instructed in the highest profile cases nationwide. All team members have a strong and accomplished background in advocacy as a prerequisite.

We also have a very strong team who can deal with matters that become an issue for the criminal courts. We understand that no case is too small if professional reputation is at risk. We represent professionals in the magistrates’ court as a matter of course and provide elite representation up to the highest level when allegations such as fraud, manslaughter, and misconduct in public office are made.

  • Local Authority work covering health and safety, food safety, licensing, fly-tipping, benefits, tax, housing, and anti-social behaviour

The Regulatory Group have a long history of working with Local Authorities up and down the country. From senior KC’s to juniors and pupils the team is able to offer full-service support on any area Council’s Prosecute in. Indeed they also have substantial experience Defending Council’s in Prosecutions they are on the other side of and representing them in Inquests.

  • Healthcare, covering Trusts, Care Environments, individual practitioners, and all CQC related matters

The Regulatory Group covers the full remit of cases involving all Healthcare providers facing regulatory proceedings. The Group has particular experience representing Care Homes and national providers. Members are also often instructed on behalf of individual employees or practitioners. The Group is able to offer initial advice ahead of any potential proceedings through to Inquests and Crown Court prosecutions.

  • Licensing, both personal and for premises

The Regulatory Group is instructed in cases involving premises licensing for large and small businesses through to venue licensing for large scale sporting and entertainment events.

They are also instructed on behalf of taxi companies and individual drivers in all aspects of taxi licensing as well as representing licensing authorities in this area.

Members of the Group also appear regularly before Traffic Commissioners across the country on behalf of Fleet operators and license holders providing initial advice and representation at Traffic Commissioner Public Inquiries.

Who We Act For

No5 Barristers Chambers Regulatory Group receives instructions from a wide range of clients, including:

  • National, regional and international law firms
  • Local Authorities
  • Professional Regulatory bodies
  • Private companies, from SMEs to multinational corporations
  • In-house legal teams
  • Members of the public and professionals under direct access and licensed access arrangements

      This range ensures our Barristers bring a solid understanding of all parties’ perspectives and methods of operation to every case.

       

      Read more

      Recent Experience

      No5 Barristers’ Chambers Regulatory Group has been involved in many high profile and precedent-setting cases over recent years, including:

      • Acting in Inquiries such as the Hillsborough and COVID Inquiries.
      • Representing National employers in defending high profile fatal cases.
      • Prosecuting high profile fatal cases on behalf of Regulatory bodies and Local Authorities
      • Advising national bodies on the drafting of new legislation and regulations in misconduct law.

      These examples reflect the depth of the Group’s specialist experience and their ongoing status as ‘go to’ Counsel for many clients on the most serious of cases.

      For details of recent cases, please see our articles section and the Notable Cases section in each Barrister’s CV.

      Recognised Excellence

      The quality of No5 Barristers Chambers Regulatory Group is consistently recognised in leading legal directories including Chambers UK Bar and Legal 500. Members of the team are ranked as leaders in their field for Regulatory law and the Group is described as: ‘Offering a wide range of business and regulatory crime expertise, No5 Barristers’ Chambers is ‘a very strong set’ with members who are well-versed in prosecuting and defending clients in corporate and gross negligence manslaughter, environmental offences, health and safety fatalities, trading standards and food safety cases’ and ‘The ‘professional and well-run set’ at No5 Barristers’ Chambers provides counsel at all stages of the disciplinary and criminal process, with particular skill and expertise in police law’

      law they require assistance with and at any level. Solicitors and clients choose No5 Barristers Chambers Regulatory Group because we:

      • Provide responsive, efficient turnaround on instructions, supported by dedicated clerks skilled in identifying the right Barrister for each case.
      • Proactively coordinate the listing of case hearings such as Trials, Misconduct Hearings, Inquests and Appeals.
      • Offer Barristers who form a collaborative approach with Instructing Solicitors and Bodies to ensure the best possible result for clients through exceptional advocacy and legal advice.
      • The team receives recognition in the leading directories, including Chambers UK Bar and Legal 500, for our strength in this practice area; “No.5 Chambers are a solid set of chambers. Somehow, the personal touch from the clerks is not lost with their size and they provide an excellent service” (Legal 500 2025)

      Get in touch

      For more information:


      Expertise

      Regulatory Barristers

      Michelle Heeley KC - No5 Barristers' Chambers

      Michelle Heeley KC

      Call 2001 | Silk 2017

      Talbir Singh KC

      Call 1997 | Silk 2023

      Rex Tedd KC

      Call 1970 | Silk 1993

      Michael Duck KC

      Call 1988 | Silk 2011

      Adrian Keeling KC

      Call 1990 | Silk 2011

      Mark Heywood KC

      Call 1986 | Silk 2012

      Mark Kelly KC

      Call 1985 | Silk 2021

      Harpreet Sandhu KC

      Call 2005 | Silk 2022

      Philip Rule KC

      Call 2001 | Silk 2023

      Tim Pole

      Call 2001

      Head of Group

      Ian Bridge

      Call 1988

      Adam Farrer

      Call 1992

      Tony Watkin

      Call 1998

      Colin Banham

      Call 1999

      Sharon Bahia

      Call 2000

      Christopher Hopkins

      Christopher Hopkins

      Call 2003

      Deputy Head of Group

      Sarah Allen

      Call 2005

      Simon Hunka

      Call 2007

      Rebecca Chalkley KC

      Call 1999 | Silk 2024

      Regulatory Clerks

      Chris Norman

      Director of Clerking (Bristol)

      Emily Haughton

      Regulatory & Family Junior Clerk

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      Clerk Team

      Emily Haughton

      Regulatory & Family Junior Clerk

      emilyh@no5.com

      Chris Norman

      Director of Clerking (Bristol)

      christophern@no5.com

      07951 148746

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