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Gary is a director in our Environmental, Safety & Health practice based in our Manchester office. His particular expertise covers health, safety and environmental prosecutions, corporate manslaughter, food safety and trading standards, including attendance at PACE interviews and advocacy in the Magistrates’ and Coroners’ Courts. Gary has experience across a number of industries, with a primary focus on construction and manufacturing. He is also an active member of the Health and Safety Lawyers’ Association (HSLA).
- Representing European chipboard manufacturer in relation to a prosecution by the HSE following an explosion at its production plant causing £8 million damage, as a result of which, one employee was very seriously injured. Represented the same client following an accident where two contractors were killed while performing maintenance work on a conveyor that was not isolated.
- Advising Greater Manchester Fire Service in relation to a health and safety prosecution brought by the HSE following the death of a firefighter whilst attempting to rescue of a member of the public from a pool at a nature reserve.
- Regularly advising major construction client in relation to health and safety issues, including attendance at PACE interviews and representation at the Magistrates’ court. The last case involved a cherry picker, being operated in almost fully extended position, just within envelope of construction site, when it toppled over into a densely populated main street in Nottingham. The cherry picker operator sustained multiple serious injuries.
- Working knowledge of the printing industry as a result of advising and representing printing companies referred by the British Printing Industries Federation.
- Representing mine owner charged with offences under the Water Resources Act 1991 when a tailings dam liquefied overwhelming the bund causing flooding in the village of Stoney Middleton and causing polluting matter to enter the River Derwent.
- Represented Baldwins Crane Hire Limited, which was charged and convicted of corporate manslaughter following trial.
- Represented Home Base and successfully appealed a prohibition notice served by the HSE alleging inadequate control of specialist roofing contractors working on the roof of its Cardiff store.
- Consistently acted on a panel with a Lloyds syndicate insurer in regards to various employer’s liability and public liability matters.
Education
- College of Law, Chester, Law Society Finals, 1992
- Staffordshire University, LL.B., 1990
Admissions
- England and Wales, 1994
Languages
- English
- Chambers 2020 UK client feedback – “exceptional in his knowledge and methodical in his approach”. His practice includes advising on prosecutions, sentencing hearings and large-scale HSE investigations. Market sources hold him in high regard, stating, “He gets involved with clients on a practical level and knows how to give you real advice”.
- The Legal 500 2020 UK client feedback – “Gary Lewis is highly knowledgeable and involves himself fully with his clients in a way that is not typical of other lawyers. He is highly practical and pragmatic, forward looking and able to adjust his approach to clients taking account of their culture. I have seen in several cases how senior executives of his clients adopt immediate and full confidence in this advice, often across areas beyond just straight legal advice. He is always available and will put ‘on the ground’ work in with his clients, thus providing a level of support that is far more wide ranging than a typical lawyer.”
- Recommended in Chambers UK 2018 for Health & Safety, UK-wide; Clients say he is “extremely effective in court” and praise him for his “hands-on approach” and “exceptional technical knowledge”
- Recommended in The Legal 500 UK for Health and Safety, where he is described as “top notch.” Further feedback included “From Gary Lewis we got ‘tough love’ – nothing was sugar-coated in regard to what we had got wrong and where the risk lay, balanced with no panic; this immediately commanded our respect, developed confidence and trust.”