Claire Rawle

Claire is a Partner who leads our cross-office Business Regulatory team which is recognised as having one of the leading Health and Safety practices in Wales and South of England.

Main areas of practice

Claire has over 30 years’ experience advising and representing clients in the private, public and third sectors on a variety of regulatory and criminal enforcement issues. A considerable number of her cases have been high profile, attracting media interest at a local and national level.

Claire and her team provide a 24-7 Critical Incident Response Service for our clients and our work includes:

• Advising senior management teams throughout the course of a joint investigation by Police / Regulatory Authorities following a work-related fatality including disclosure, internal investigations, and interviews under caution.
• Defending criminal prosecutions brought by the CPS for corporate and/or gross negligence manslaughter following a work-related fatality.
• Representing clients throughout criminal investigations by Regulatory Authorities including the HSE, Care Quality Commission, Care Inspectorate Wales, Drinking Water Inspectorate, Environment Agency, and local authorities on a range of regulatory issues.
• Defending prosecutions brought by Regulatory Authorities in Magistrates’ and Crown Courts.
• Conducting Appeals against enforcement notices issued by Regulatory Authorities.
• Advising on product liability/recall issues.
• Representing ‘Interested Persons’ at Coroner’s inquests.
• Advising and representing Core Participants in relation to Public Inquiries.

Clients

Claire’s practice includes acting for Regulatory Authorities, health and social care providers including NHS bodies, local authorities, educational establishments including universities and schools, manufacturers, contractors, and marina operators.

Claire has, for many years, been recognised by Legal 500 as a leading expert in her field.

Expertise

• Regulatory, Disciplinary & Compliance
• Critical Incident
• Health and Safety

Career

Claire qualified as a solicitor in 1992 and has recently celebrated her 30 year anniversary with the firm. Claire heads the firm’s cross office Compliance, Inquest and Prosecutions team and was named in the 2021 Legal 500 Hall of Fame.