Profile

Olivia is a Senior Associate in Kennedys’ London office. She qualified in England and Wales in September 2011 before joining Kennedys in October 2013.

Olivia specialises in criminal regulatory defence work, particularly health and safety investigations and prosecutions. She has experience of advising corporate and public sector clients on health and safety compliance and risk issues, responses to regulatory inquiries, inquests and prosecutions.

Olivia manages regulatory cases across a wide range of industries. Although her caseload has a focus on construction, she has experience in sectors including demolition, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, utilities, local authorities and healthcare. Olivia also advises the governing body of one of the UK’s highest profile sports on regulatory matters.

Olivia is a member of the Health and Safety Lawyers’ Association and the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL). She regularly contributes towards Kennedys’ publications and client alerts concerning regulatory issues. Olivia is also an experienced public speaker, presenting at Kennedys’ regulatory defence annual conferences, delivering training to clients and speaking at industry events.

Qualifications and admissions

  • Qualified in England and Wales in 2011 

Work highlights

  • Currently advising a multi-national construction company in relation to a fatal accident that occurred on a London railway site. Olivia is advising on the prosecution of the company, and one of its employees, for health and safety breaches, which will culminate in a Crown Court trial later this year.
  • Represented the UK's largest water and wastewater services company when it was prosecuted for a fatal incident that occurred at one of its water processing facilities. This was a high-profile case that attracted a considerable amount of press coverage due to the interest shown by the deceased’s union.
  • Advised a global hospitality corporation, which operates over 650 hotels worldwide, in relation to a gas explosion that occurred at a central London hotel. Provided advice in relation to the local authority’s investigation following the incident.
  • Acted for a family-owned construction company that was being investigated for suspected corporate manslaughter following the death of a teenage employee. The company directors were both under investigation in relation to suspected gross negligence manslaughter offences. This involved supporting the directors during interviews under caution and in subsequent dealings with the Health and Safety Executive and the police.
  • Secured the successful acquittal of a company director who was prosecuted under s.37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 following a fatality on a construction site. A conviction in this case would have almost certainly have resulted in the client receiving a custodial sentence.