Sophie Cottam

Full Profile

Sophie is experienced in advising and representing businesses facing investigation and prosecution by the Police, Health and Safety Executive, Local Authority and Environment Agency.

Sophie regularly assists and guides companies and individuals in respect of a variety of health and safety incidents, including corporate and gross negligence manslaughter investigations, and health and safety offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Sophie has experience in guiding clients through every stage of such investigations and prosecutions including representation in the police station.

Sophie is also regularly instructed to represent clients at Coroner’s Inquests, undertakes her own advocacy at hearings and has experience in navigating judicial review claims on behalf of her clients.

Her areas of expertise include:

• Health and Safety
• Corporate and Gross Negligence Manslaughter
• Environmental prosecutions
• Road traffic offences
• Coroner’s Inquests.

Experience

• Representation of a large chemical manufacturer in respect of a workplace fatality involving COSHH offences
• Acting on behalf of a care home manager in respect of a complex gross negligence manslaughter investigation following the death of several residents. Secured a decision of no further action and thereafter represented the client at the Coroner's Inquest dealing with complex issues on causation.
• Acting on behalf of large international supermarket in respect of workplace fatality at site in the UK. Sophie advised the client throughout the Local Authority investigation and thereafter represented the client at the Coroner's Inquest.
• Representation of international chemical company in a prosecution by the Environment Agency.
• Representation of facilities management company in a multi-handed food safety investigation following several deaths from listeria in a Manchester hospital.
• Successful representation of director charged with a breach of section 37 following a fall from height at a UK race track.
• Advising and representing very large organisation ("VLO") in respect of hand arm vibration cases across a number of body shops in the UK.
• Successful appeal of Improvement Notice for large energy supplier relating to a large pipeline in south of England.
• Representation of mental health charity following the death of a prisoner in custody.
• Presently acting on behalf of director of packaging manufacturing business subject to investigation by the police following a fatal fall from height at a factory. Represented and advised the client in advance of police interview under caution.