Regulatory

Overview

Regulatory Law barristers at Six Pump Court are widely recognised by the legal directories, which list them as leading experts in nine broad practice areas, including consumer law, environment, health & safety and planning.  For a full list of the more than twenty recognised individuals and links to their profiles, click here.

Six Pump Court also boasts seventeen members on the Regulatory List of Counsel used by the Health & Safety Executive, the Office of Rail Regulation and the Environment Agency – more than any other chambers.

At the 2021 Chambers UK Bar Awards Six Pump Court Chambers was shortlisted for Health & Safety Set of the Year and was awarded Health & Safety Set of the Year in 2018, having also won it previously in 2013. In 2015, Mark Watson was awarded Health & Safety Junior of the Year.

Regulatory Law barristers at Six Pump Court act for businesses, individuals, regulators, local authorities and other statutory bodies in the full range of regulatory and related work.  Between them they handle several hundred regulatory cases each year and they can offer expertise and experience in every field from the most serious cases to the more modest and at a range of fee levels.

Counsels’ understanding of regulatory issues often requires the application of both public and private law (criminal or civil). It may require concurrent proceedings in a variety of tribunals, including the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

Many of the cases undertaken by our regulatory law barristers involve prosecutions in the criminal courts.  Because they can handle any aspect of the work which regulatory cases generate, they are often brought in when particular difficulties are likely to arise on issues like forfeiture of the proceeds of crime and disclosure, data protection and freedom of information.

In addition, members of Six Pump Court act in relation to enforcement notices of all types.

We also pursue points of regulatory law in civil damages claims and by way of judicial review (click here for details of our Administrative and Public law work).

Six Pump Court offers strategic advice to enforcement authorities who wish to ensure that proposed enforcement action it is proportionate and, so far as possible, unsusceptible to technical challenge or who wish to ensure that their policies and procedures generally are compliant with the law.

Six Pump Court also offers strategic advice to those facing regulatory action who wish to handle it and any further similar action in an efficient and non-disruptive manner or who wish generally to ensure that their procedures are compliant with the law.

If you are a business or individual wanting to know more about public access direct to members of Six Pump Court, click here.

If you are a professional (other than a lawyer) wanting to know more about licensed access on behalf of your client direct by you to members of Six Pump Court, click here.

Click on the subspecialties on the left side of the page for further information in these areas.

Testimonials

"The ‘phenomenal set’ at Six Pump Court exudes ‘charm, discretion, and confidence’ whilst representing clients involved in health and safety matters, aiding with food and environmental issues. "

― Legal 500 [2022]

"Six Pump Court is a 'very helpful and efficient' set with a broad spectrum of cases across the consumer law field. The 'really smart barristers' are particularly sought after for their 'prominence in health and safety' and food law, and their 'in-depth knowledge' of the corresponding regulation. "

― Legal 500 [2022]

“The best regulatory set in the country, without a doubt!”

― Legal 500 [2022]

“Six Pump Court is ‘a very strong health and safety set doing a combination of both prosecution and defence work’. The chambers has ‘strength in depth’ and ‘a wide skill set across the regulatory field’ where individual members have specific expertise in matters such as health and safety, environment and inquiries”.

― Chambers UK Bar Guide [2019]

Latest news

13th December 2023

Major retailer fined in rat infestation case – Noémi Byrd and Doug Scott represented Somerset Council

CDS (Superstores International) Ltd, owners of The Range chain of home and garden stores, was fined £960,000 reduced to £640,000 for an early guilty...

25th May 2023

‘Back to the future’ The proposed approach to legal regulation of Artificial Intelligence in the UK

Gordon Menzies considers the recently published government white paper ‘A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation’ and its implications for regulation of AI in the UK.

24th May 2023

Appeal against closure of care home dismissed due to potential exposure of residents to ongoing risk of serious harm

James Harrison represented the Care Quality Commission before the First Tier Tribunal (Care Standards Chamber) in a ten-day appeal against the cancellation of the registration of a provider under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

19th May 2023

Directors jailed after five deaths and offenders ordered to pay more than £2 million

Pascal Bates led for the prosecution after a falling wall in a Birmingham scrapyard killed five workers, badly injured a sixth and could have killed another three.

24th April 2023

When is honey ‘raw’ honey?

Stuart Jessop has represented the London Borough of Waltham Forest before the First Tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber) in an appeal against the service of an improvement notice under the Food Information Regulations 2014.

20th April 2023

Stuart Jessop prosecutes in railway health and safety case

Amey Rail Limited (ARL) has been fined £533,000 after pleading guilty to an offence under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which followed an investigation and prosecution by industry regulator the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

31st March 2023

Festival licence appeal refused after police concerns raised

An application for a licence to cover a annually recurring four-day music festival at Great Lines Heritage Park, Kent has been refused after Kent Police raised concerns over traffic management plans and the effects on crime and disorder.

31st March 2023

Permission to appeal to Supreme Court in local authority illegal money lending prosecution refused

The Court of Appeal has refused to grant a a certificate of general public interest and leave to appeal to the Supreme Court in the authority to prosecute case City of York/ Birmingham City Council.

29th March 2023

Health and safety update – recent legal developments by Amy Taylor

In this Health and Safety Update, Amy Taylor discusses recent health and safety cases,  the most expensive health and safety fines of 2022 and the past and future strategy of the HSE.

29th March 2023

Tate Modern development and the law of nuisance – Gordon Wignall discusses an important case

Gordon Wignall discusses an important and controversial re-statement of the law of nuisance from the Supreme Court

10th March 2023

Three members of Six Pump Court appear in one of The Lawyer’s Top 10 Appeals of 2023

At this week’s ground-breaking sitting of the Supreme Court in Manchester, three members of Six Pump Court Chambers appeared in the first case to be listed. The case raises topical issues of fundamental importance in relation to the operation of the sewerage system in England and Wales and the liability of undertakers for polluting discharges.

23rd February 2023

Waste company sentenced for corporate manslaughter

Following convictions for corporate manslaughter and other breaches of health and safety legislation after a trial in December 2022, FDS Waste Services Limited was...

10th February 2023

Stephen Hockman KC instructed by Environmental Law Foundation in major environmental case

The Environmental Law Foundation has been granted permission to intervene in a major environmental case that will be heard in the Supreme Court in March 2023.

3rd February 2023

Developments in nuisance law – Gordon Wignall reviews significant cases from 2022

2023 will be an important year for the development of the law of nuisance with some landmark cases due to be heard by the...

23rd December 2022

Waste company convicted of corporate manslaughter after trial prosecuted by Mark Watson KC and Peter Alcock

At Winchester Crown Court on 22 December 2022, after a trial lasting 4 weeks before Garnham J, FDS Waste Services Ltd was convicted of...

20th December 2022

Chambers welcomes Doug Scott following successful completion of pupillage

We are very pleased to welcome Doug Scott who now joins Chambers following the successful completion of his pupillage.

30th November 2022

Trends in Litigation: Climate Change and Environmental Challenges

Stephen Hockman KC will be chairing this event on 6th December hosted by UKELA's Climate Change and Energy Working Party, together with their Environmental Litigation Working Party.

24th October 2022

Six Pump Court ranked Band 1 Set and barristers receive 43 rankings

Six Pump Court Chambers is delighted to be ranked as a Band 1 Set with Set rankings in Crime, Consumer Environment, Health & Safety...

3rd October 2022

Legal 500 UK Bar Awards – Mark Beard and Ian Thomas nominated

We are looking forward to the Legal 500 Bar Awards 2022 this week and wish Mark Beard and Ian Thomas the best of luck...

30th September 2022

Six Pump Court – Legal 500 2023 rankings

Six Pump Court has been recommended in 8 areas of law in the Legal 500 2023 with 59 individual recommendations. Six Pump Court is...

Events

13th July 2022

Environmental and Health & Safety Regulatory Issues in Arbitration Webinar

The webinar - entitled - Environmental and Health & Safety Regulatory Issues in Arbitration Webinar will take place on Wednesday 13th July 4-6pm

6th July 2022

Alcohol Licensing Law Update

Stuart Jessop will be speaking at this very practical half day live and recorded online conference.

3rd December 2021

Environmental Law Hybrid Conference – 3rd December 2021

Six Pump Court is pleased to announce our first full day Environmental Law Conference, bringing together specialist counsel with leading external speakers to cover a range of topical environmental issues.

14th September 2021

International Arbitration Webinar – Arbitrating under the ICC Rules

Members of Six Pump Court listed on the ICC UK Arbitrator Database will be joined by guest speaker Iain Quirk QC.

14th June 2021

UKELA Conference 14 -18 June

We are delighted to be one of the sponsors once again at this year's event. Members of Six Pump Court will be taking part and presenting some of the sessions.

28th May 2021

Solar Salt Projects in Africa – A discussion of the key environmental & legal issues

The next webinar in our international arbitration series will be held on Friday 28th May.

16th September 2020

Webinar: Covid-19 and the law relating to food – protecting the health and safety of consumers

On Wednesday 16th September at 4.30pm the Health & Safety Lawyers Association and Six Pump Court will host a webinar entitled "Covid-19 and the law relating to food – protecting the health and safety of consumers".

17th June 2020

Webinar: Piercing the Corporate Veil: the Principle of ‘Separate Legal Personality’

Six Pump Court Chambers is delighted to be able to host a re-run of our very popular ‘Piercing the Corporate Veil’ seminar as part of our series of 2020 webinars.

20th March 2019

Piercing the Corporate Veil: The Principle of ‘Separate Legal Personality’

Six Pump Court presents the third in our series of Environmental Law Seminars to be held this year.

28th February 2019

Company Directors and Environmental Responsibilities

Six Pump Court presents the second in our series of Environmental Law Seminars to be held this year.

31st January 2019

Private Nuisance: Key Contemporary Issues or “Bringing Home the Bacon”

Six Pump Court, together with UKELA Eastern Region presents an environmental seminar - Private Nuisance: Key Contemporary Issues.

13th July 2018

Friday 13th July – Regulatory Law Conference 2018 (Birmingham)

Six Pump Court will present a Regulatory and Planning Law Conference to be held on 13th July in Birmingham.

4th June 2018

Monday 4th June – CTSI Symposium

David Travers QC and Laura Phillips will present a mini-theatre session on 4th June entitled Consumer product information - Caveat venditor, caveat emptor and the role of the regulator.

20th November 2017

Regulatory and Planning Law Conference 2017 (Leeds)

Six Pump Court presents a Regulatory and Planning Law Conference to be held on 20th November in Leeds.

The event will cover a variety of topics providing essential updates on specialist areas, informative discussion on topical issues and practical tips for regulators and for those who represent the regulated.

12th July 2017

Piercing the Veil’ Incorporation and Liability for Environmental Damage: Widening the Net

Six Pump Court presents the third in our series of Environmental and Public Law Seminars to be held this year. Wednesday 12th July –...

11th July 2017

Private Nuisance Litigation Masterclass

Our series of Masterclass Environmental Law Seminars continues next month with a second seminar, Private Nuisance Litigation Masterclass to be held on 11th July.

Blog

24th April 2023

Environmental Law News Update

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Doug Scott and Amy Taylor consider plans for Ofwat to take action on water companies paying dividends whilst failing to meet performance standards and the potential impact of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill on environmental legislation.

13th December 2022

Environmental Law News Update

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, William Upton KC, Christopher Badger and Amy Taylor consider coal mines and climate change, reinvestment of water company fines into environmental improvements and the government’s new measures to tackle rising energy bills.

28th November 2022

Environmental Law News Update

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, William Upton KC, Christopher Badger and Doug Scott consider the Autumn Statement, the Environment Agency and Ofwat’s investigations into water companies and new DEFRA guidance on conservation covenants.

17th November 2022

Environmental Law News Update

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Christopher Badger and Doug Scott consider a Court of Appeal case clarifying the sentencing of Directors convicted of environmental offences, action from the advertising authorities on misleading green adverts and some optimism from the Head of the Environment Agency.

14th November 2022

October – November climate roundup : LURB Committee Stage highlights, a refusal, and a consent

Our latest climate law blog considers the proposed new climate clauses in the LURB, and recent local and national planning decisions involving emissions reduction targets. With COP27 in the news, the contrast between international aspirations and domestic realities is more than usually evident.

9th November 2022

Environmental Law News Update

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Gordon Wignall, Doug Scott and Amy Taylor consider moves by UK regulators on greenwashing claims, definitions of Gypsies and Travellers in planning policy and missed deadlines for providing legally binding environmental targets in the UK.

27th October 2022

Environmental Law News Update

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, William Upton KC, Mark Davies and Doug Scott consider the duties required of the Environment Agency under the Habitats Regulations, the results of a crackdown on waste crime in Lincolnshire and evidence that tuna stocks are recovering in marine protected areas.

11th October 2022

Environmental Law News Update

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, William Upton KC, Noémi Byrd, Natasha Hausdorff and James Harrison consider how the Government’s Net Zero Review, its revised Net Zero Strategy and response to the CCC Progress Report will interact, increases in civil penalties faced by polluting water companies, and the tough line being taken by the Environment Agency against illegal fishing.

7th September 2022

Environmental Law News Update

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Charles Morgan, Brendon Moorhouse and Natasha Hausdorff consider DEFRA's plan for storm overflows, water discharge permits in the Hinkley C Appeal, and how companies can improve their ESG data for effective decision-making.

23rd August 2022

Environmental Law News Update

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Charles Morgan, Gordon Wignall and Christopher Badger consider toxic algae in Lake Windermere, challenging an environmental regulatory notice by way of a judicial review rather than statutory appeal and, two recent Environment Agency enforcement cases.

16th August 2022

Environmental Law News Update

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Christopher Badger considers a review by DEFRA of the OEP, the publication of a Strategic Framework for a net zero energy system and an Interpol report on organised crime and links to pollution crime.

4th August 2022

Environmental Law News Update

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Charles Morgan, Gordon Wignall and Nicholas Ostrowski consider the measures being undertaken by the government and water companies to mitigate the effects of drought in the UK, a report into global trends in climate change litigation, and a successful challenge to the government’s net zero strategy.

16th February 2022

Environmental Law News Update: Feb 16, 2022

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, William Upton QC, Charles Morgan and Christopher Badger consider the UK's national reporting requirements for disclosure of climate change risks, a European study of the impact of Brexit on fisheries and aquaculture and an interesting decision on water rights in Mauritius.

7th February 2022

Environmental Law News Update: Feb 07, 2022

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Charles Morgan, Christopher Badger, Natasha Hausdorff and William McBarnet consider the dangers of overstating environmental virtues in advertising, more on the OEP’s strategy and enforcement policy and Environment Agency changes to attendance requirements for technically competent managers.

26th January 2022

Environmental Law News Update: Jan 26, 2022

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Gordon Wignall, Brendon Moorhouse, Christopher Badger and James Harrison consider a successful appeal by the Environment Agency in the Walleys Quarry litigation, draft documents issued by the new Office of Environmental Protection and the launch of a new consultation into the implementation of the biodiversity net gain (BNG) provisions for planning purposes.

19th January 2022

Environmental Law News Update: Jan 19, 2022

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, William Upton QC, Christopher Badger and Natasha Hausdorff consider a new government report on the climate risks facing the UK, the state of England's rivers and the extension of climate-related disclosure requirements by the FCA.

10th January 2022

Environmental Law News Update: Jan 10, 2022

In our first Environmental Law News Update of 2022, Christopher Badger, Mark Davies and James Harrison consider some environmental law predictions for the year ahead, climate compatibility checkpoint tests for oil and gas, and an agreement between the UK and Norway on fishing access and quotas.

23rd December 2021

Environmental Law News Update

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Charles Morgan, Christopher Badger and Mark Davies consider the post-Trump US environmental agenda, how we did with our predictions for 2021 and some festive musical musings on waste.

24th November 2021

Environmental Law News Update

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Christopher Badger, Nicholas Ostrowski and James Harrison consider progress made at COP26, a major investigation into sewage treatment works by Ofwat and the EA, and provide a short summary of the new Environment Act.

9th November 2021

Environmental Law News Update

In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Charles Morgan, Gordon Wignall and Brendon Moorhouse consider sewage discharges from overflows, the role of the Human Rights Act in the Silverdale Quarry case, and the need for climate policy to be built into the planning process.

Podcasts

18th April 2023

Environmental Law News Podcast – April 2023

In this podcast produced by Lexis PSL, Christopher Badger and Mark Davies look at progress made under the 25 Year Environment Plan, publication of the Green Finance Strategy and more Environment Act 2021 Commencement Regulations.

12th October 2022

Environmental Law News Podcast – October 2022

In this episode Christopher Badger and Mark Davies look at potential new fines of up to £250 million for polluting water companies; the government's designation of Defra as an economic growth department; and new guidance for the packaging waste industry.

13th July 2022

Environmental Law News Podcast – July 2022

In this podcast produced by Lexis PSL, Christopher Badger and Mark Davies look at recent planning decisions concerning exploratory digging for fracking; the Office for Environmental Protection’s (OEP) strategy and enforcement policy; and the Environment Agency’s (EA) Regulatory Statement.

19th April 2022

Environmental Law News Podcast – April 2022

In this podcast produced by Lexis PSL, Christopher Badger and Mark Davies discuss recent developments including the Office for Environmental Protection's (OEP) consultation on strategy and enforcement policy, the Spring Statement and green claims in advertising.

12th November 2021

Environmental Law News Podcast – November 2021

In this podcast produced by Lexis PSL, Christopher Badger and Mark Davies discuss some of the key developments over the previous month including COP26, the Silverdale Quarry case and climate issues for local councils.

13th August 2021

Environmental Law Podcast – August 2021

In this latest monthly environmental law news podcast produced by Lexis PSL, Christopher Badger and Mark Davies discuss Southern Water’s record £90 million fine, the judgment in Valero Logistics UK Ltd v Plymouth City Council, and the UK Innovation Strategy and the potential for the precautionary principle to be revisited.

5th July 2021

Environmental Law Podcast – July 2021

Following the pandemic induced hiatus to the podcast series, we are delighted to bring you a new edition of this podcast presented by Christopher Badger and Mark Davies in association with LexisPSL.

19th May 2020

Environmental Law Podcast – May 2020

This month the Podcast partners with the UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA), to bring you a COVID-19 special where we hear from environmental regulators on how the pandemic is affecting operations.

12th February 2020

Environmental Law Podcast – February 2020

In this latest monthly environmental law news podcast in association with LexisPSL, Christopher Badger and Mark Davies discuss in some depth certain key aspects of the Environment Bill, which was reintroduced to parliament on 30 January 2020.

28th January 2020

Environmental Law Podcast – January 2020

The first environmental law news podcast of 2020 presented by Christopher Badger and Mark Davies in association with LexisPSL covers predictions for hot topics in environmental law in 2020, Urgenda’s success in the Dutch Supreme Court, and the Upper Tribunal’s decision in the ongoing ‘fluff’ litigation.

11th December 2019

Environmental Law Podcast – December 2019

In our final environmental law news podcast of 2019 presented by Christopher Badger and Mark Davies discuss the relationship between requests for disclosure under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and legal professional privilege, the Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC) most recent call for evidence, and the latest EU developments on green finance.

22nd November 2019

Environmental Law Podcast – November 2019

n our latest monthly environmental law news podcast Christopher Badger and Mark Davies discuss the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) feedback statement, following discussion paper on ‘Climate Change and Green Finance’, the Environment Agency’s pollution statistics for 2018, and whether nuisance might play a role in contemporary environmental concerns.

29th October 2019

Environmental Law Podcast – October 2019

n our monthly environmental law news podcast Mark Davies discusses the publication of the Environment Bill, Environment Agency aims to become net carbon zero by 2030, and new requirements for applicants for certain bespoke permits to carry out risk assessments on adapting to climate change.

4th October 2019

Environmental Law Podcast – September 2019

The latest monthly environmental law news podcast presented by Christopher Badger in association with LexisPSL, is now available.

30th August 2019

Environmental Law Podcast – August 2019

The latest monthly environmental law news podcast presented by Christopher Badger and Mark Davies in association with LexisPSL, is now available.

19th July 2019

Environmental Law Podcast – June 2019

The latest monthly environmental law news podcast presented by Christopher Badger and Mark Davies in association with LexisPSL, is now available.

7th June 2019

Environmental Law Podcast – May 2019

The latest monthly environmental law news podcast presented by Charles Morgan and Christopher Badger in association with LexisPSL, is now available.

17th April 2019

Environmental Law Podcast – April 2019

The latest monthly environmental law news podcast presented by Christopher Badger and Mark Davies in association with LexisPSL, is now available.

15th March 2019

Environmental Law Podcast – March 2019

The latest monthly environmental law news podcast presented by Christopher Badger and Mark Davies in association with LexisPSL, is now available.

19th February 2019

Environmental Law Podcast – February 2019

The latest monthly environmental law news podcast presented by Christopher Badger and Mark Davies in association with LexisPSL, is now available.

Our regulatory team

Stephen Hockman QC

Stephen Hockman KC

Call: 1970, KC: 1990
Mark Watson QC

Mark Watson KC

Call: 1994, KC: 2018
W Robert Griffiths QC

W Robert Griffiths KC SC

Call: 1974, KC: 1993
Richard Barraclough

Richard Barraclough KC

Call: 1980, KC: 2003
William Upton QC

William Upton KC

Call: 1990, KC: 2019
Nina Ellin

Nina Ellin KC

Call: 1994, KC: 2023
Mark Harris

Mark Harris

Call: 1980
Mark Beard

Mark Beard

Call: 1996
Lee Bennett

Lee Bennett

Call: 1998
Tom Dunn

Tom Dunn

Call: 1998
Noémi Byrd

Noémi Byrd

Call: 2004
Thaiza Khan

Thaiza Khan

Call: 2006
Ben Irwin

Ben Irwin

Call: 2006
Craig Evans

Craig Evans

Call: 2010
Mark Davies

Mark Davies

Call: 2017
Amy Taylor

Amy Taylor

Call: 2021