Charles is a seasoned practitioner who has gained a first-class reputation during his 39 years at the Bar. He has a broad-based practice covering both civil and criminal law, with particular expertise in employment law, health and safety law and regulatory crime. He represents a wide range of businesses from major corporations to SMEs.
Charles is described in Chambers and Partners’ Health and Safety listings as having a "willingness to roll up his sleeves and forge ahead with cases" and is ‘highly recommended for cases involving technical issues… especially renowned for his esoteric understanding of complex scientific matters’. The directory also notes that, “he really gets stuck into each case that he deals with, and will rally a team of lawyers and clients well”.
Charles frequently appears before the employment tribunals in cases covering everything from discrimination and constructive dismissal to breach of confidentiality and redundancy. He has also appeared in numerous inquests and at disciplinary hearings before professional regulatory bodies. In addition, he is an Approved Counsel on the Attorney General’s list (Grade A) and is regularly instructed by a number of Government departments.
A complementary aspect of Charles’s work is conducting professional seminars and in-house training for industry, covering such topics as the Corporate Manslaughter Act, the Health and Safety at Work Act, and the Bribery Act. He is also an accredited mediator and is happy to advise at an early stage in any dispute to promote resolution and/or assist in case preparation.
In general commercial law, Charles routinely advises in matters such as employment contracts, share option agreements, intellectual property, terms and conditions of service, regulatory enforcement, employment of foreign nationals and breach of contract. “I’m a great fan of the carefully-crafted letter,” he says. “Getting it right at the outset can often prevent more costly problems further down the line.”
He has always managed his own business (farming) alongside his practice as a barrister and is also retained to advise the management of another small company: “It’s excellent real-world experience and gives me a good perspective on the day-to-day issues facing smaller commercial enterprises.”
Notable cases
R v Lemmon 12 C R App S 1991 - Drug trafficking Confiscation Order
R v Firetto 1991 Crim L R - Perverting the course of Justice
Health and Safety Executive v Nelsons Group Services (Maintenance) Ltd 1998, 4 AER 331 - Court of Appeal case concerning employer’s liability for the purposes of reasonable practicability when the fault is that of the employee
Regina v Crown Court at Swindon, ex parte Crown Prosecution Service (Squire joined) DC [2000] – Administrative Court- Review of legality of Crown Court judge’s sentence
The Verderers of the New Forest v Barnes and others, Administrative Court, December 2003 - Magistrates’ jurisdiction over the New Forest, and again Administrative Court December 2004, time for issuing a summons / consideration of a ‘continuing’ offence
Health and Safety Executive v Electric Gate Services Ltd [2009] EWCA Crim 1942 - Addresses the essential ingredients needed for the prosecution case and ‘material risk’
Attorney General v Dallas [2012] – Divisional Court- Contempt of court by juror; mode of trial
Memberships and appointments
Member of the Western Circuit
Criminal Bar Association
Health and Safety Lawyers Association
Qualified ADR Group Panel Mediator, 2008
Accredited Mediator, Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, 1994
Bar Council Remuneration Committee, 1992-2002