Fire Law

Our Team provides expert advice in this complex but important area of law.

We are recognised as a leader within the industry, and our team is unmatched in terms of the number of specialist barristers and the range of high-profile cases we conduct. We regularly contribute to industry and mainstream media and publish thought leadership content, including a series of video lectures on key aspects of fire law.

The Team represents corporations, company directors, UK fire and rescue authorities, as well as public and investigatory bodies. We prosecute and defend all aspects of fire law cases, giving a strategic advantage to our clients whether they’re facing investigation or pursuing a claim.

Our barristers provide:

Strategic early advice: critical guidance during the investigative phase when decisions can determine case outcomes.
Expert case assessment: rapid evaluation of complex technical and legal issues.
Robust advocacy: proven track record in high-profile and sensitive cases.
Technical expertise: deep understanding of fire investigation, building regulations and safety standards.
Regulatory knowledge: comprehensive grasp of enforcement procedures and prosecutorial approaches.

Our clients can expect:

Business-focused solutions: clear, timely and business-focused advice.
Fatality case expertise: experience in the most serious fire-related prosecutions.
Regulatory compliance: guidance on fire safety obligations and mitigation.
Crisis management: strategic support during investigations and public inquiries.
Risk mitigation: proactive advice to prevent regulatory breaches.

Lectures & webinars

The Fire Law webinar series is presented by the Red Lion Fire Law Team on aspects of fire prosecutions.

This series is aimed at investigating officers, fire officers who attend a fire, as well as lawyers for Fire and Rescue Services – anyone who would be involved in the prosecution of a fire case.

It is exclusively for those in the fire services or those associated with prosecution of fire cases.

Please see upcoming webinars and the recordings previous webinars in the Fire Law series of RLC Webinars below.

Past Fire Law events

Anatomy of a Fire Prosecution (Recording restricted)

December 11, 2020 10:00

Gathering evidence, presenting evidence, and giving evidence in a Fire Prosecution (Recording restricted)

March 17, 2021 10:30

Interviews under Caution in a Fire Prosecution (Recording restricted)

March 17, 2021 10:30

Further topics in Fire Prosecution – Part 4 (Recording restricted)

April 28, 2021 15:00

St. Michael’s Hospice Fire: A Case Study in Fire Fatalities (Recording restricted)

March 22, 2022 15:00

Resources

Fire Work

Chambers have acted in high-profile defence and prosecutions under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, including:

Cases involving fatalities in a multi-occupancy dwelling
Fatalities in a hospice
A case involving the prosecution of a large chain of nightclubs for over-crowding
Defending a company director prosecuted for a fire caused by a business tenant’s negligence
Defending and prosecuting in arson cases
The prosecution of a major oil company following a large oil leak in East London
Cases involving fires at businesses, including care homes and hotels

The Fire Law Team has written articles in relation to fire law in the legal and national press.

Our Team regularly represents clients in the Crown Court and Court of Appeal.

R v J (2019) – Defended Company and Director charged with serious breaches of FSO after fire at premises, successfully avoided criminal liability for the Company Director.
KFRS v M.M. (2019) – Croydon Crown Court Represented Kent Fire and Rescue Service in a prosecution involving six counts of failing to comply with a prohibition notice, contrary to Article 32(2)(h) of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
R v. St. H (2017) – Instructed to prosecute in relation to a fire in a hospice which resulted in the deaths of residents.
R v S (2016) – A prosecution following a fire at a care home in which a resident was trapped relating to a corporate failure to put in place fire safety precautions.
R v K (2015) – Successful prosecution of hotelier. Sentenced to a 9-month suspended prison sentence, £50,000 fine and ordered to pay £15,000 in costs. Press Link: Yorkshire Post.
R v F (2013) – Led a prosecution team in respect of breach of fire regulations which caused the deaths of 2 jockeys in a North Yorkshire fire. The sentence of the defendant is now an authority on sentencing in this area of law.

What is Fire Safety?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 introduced profound change to the way businesses must approach fire safety for their employees and those who visit their premises.

Companies, company directors and partners in businesses can be personally liable for fire safety breaches and face prosecution in the criminal courts. Breaches can result in significant fines as well as serious damage to a defendant’s reputation whether it is a company or a directing mind of the organisation.

Our barristers are able to offer expert guidance, advice and representation in respect of: