Lisa Roberts KC

Ranked in Tier 1 – Health & Safety – Northern/North Eastern Bar – Chambers & Partners 2024

Lisa Roberts KC has a varied practice which includes a strong focus on crime and health and safety work. She often appears in inquests.

Leader of the Northern Circuit 2020-2022

Lisa Roberts KC specialises in regulatory law, inquiries and advisory work for utility companies and large public bodies. She took silk in 2015 and is consistently ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leading silk.

Inquiries: Lisa acts on behalf of police officers, large companies and public bodies in inquests and inquiries and has earned a strong reputation for guarding the interests of her clients.

Notable Inquiries: Lisa has led large legal teams for the North West Ambulance Service in the Manchester Arena Inquiry (2020-2023); for the Health and Safety Executive in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry (2021-2023); for the former ACC of West Midlands Police in the Hillsborough Inquests.

Energy Sector: Lisa has represented most of England’s Water Companies and is regularly instructed to advise them on regulatory compliance, engagement with the regulators and throughout court proceedings when prosecuted by the regulators. She is instructed by Thames Water in the largest ever investigation brought by the Environment Agency and by United Utilities in the largest ever prosecution for over abstraction. As well as regularly representing utility companies who are facing prosecution by the regulators, she also carries out private prosecutions on behalf of the utility companies. Lisa was instructed by United Utilities to represent them throughout a prosecution brought by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, which followed the cryptosporidium event of the summer of 2015 (the largest of its kind) and has represented water companies in 4 of the last 6 prosecutions brought by the DWI.

Regarded as a first-class, specialist silk in Health and Safety and Environmental Law, Lisa is instructed in some of the country’s leading cases.

Lisa is regularly instructed to act on behalf of Federated and senior ranking police officers in criminal matters and Police Misconduct (disciplinary) hearings.

Lisa also accepts privately-funded instructions on behalf of individuals facing criminal offences. Recently she has dealt with a number of high-profile footballing legends.

Lisa regularly presents seminars and webinars on crime, regulatory and trading standards’ law to defence solicitors, corporate clients and industry regulators.

In the Legal Guides over the past 5 years alone Lisa is described as:

“An Excellent and Impressive Barrister.” – Chambers & Partners, 2023 – Health & Safety

“A formidable advocate.” – Chambers & Partners, 2022 – Professional Discipline

“She is a very classy operator – very authoritative and a really persuasive advocate.” “One of the most prominent leading silks in the North. She’s easy to work with, a team player and she stands out thanks to her strategic thinking.” – Chambers & Partners, 2022 – Health and Safety

“Absolutely first rate. First class in her approach and manner and she goes the extra mile in supporting instructing solicitors and representing her clients.” “excellent attention to detail and is very thorough.” “brilliant in court and clients love her.” – Chambers & Partners, 2021 – Health and Safety

“Very well prepared and a very good advocate who is very easy to work with.” “An excellent barrister.” – Chambers & Partners, 2021 – Professional Discipline

“A fantastic silk – she’s really bright, really switched-on, utterly charming and captivating.”

“Very thorough and has a great manner with her clients.” – Chambers & Partners, 2020

“A class act”, “She is very bright and makes very persuasive arguments.” – Chambers & Partners, 2019

“A very capable, outstanding young silk.” – Legal 500, 2018

“Great at presenting and great with clients”, “Very well respected.” – Chambers & Partners, 2018

“An excellent advocate. Clear, concise and persuasive.” “Very bright.” – Chambers & Partners, 2018

Having built a formidable reputation over many years in the criminal courts, Lisa’s primary focus now is on Inquiry work, Regulatory work & Professional Discipline.

Regulatory Law

• Health and Safety
• Environmental
• Water Industry
• Police Federation – criminal and disciplinary
• Trading Standards
• Medical Profession – criminal and GMC (defence)

Inquests & Inquiries

Private client criminal defence

Utility Companies

2017 – 2023

Thames Water – Representing the company in largest national Environment Agency (EA) investigation into the water

industry

Thames Water – Defending company in prosecution regarding sewage discharge near Gatwick Airport

United Utilities – Defending company in prosecution for UK’s largest case of over-abstraction

United Utilities – Defending company in EA’s investigations into sewage discharges

Environment Agency v Thames Water – 2021, Defending sewage treatment works spill.

Environment Agency v Thames Water – 2021, Defending CSO breaches

Wessex Water – Advising re DWI investigation

EA v Thames – Defending

DWI v Thames Water – Defending.

United Utilities – Private Prosecution

EA v United Utilities – Defending – Sewage pollution.

EA v United Utilities – Defending – Sewage pollution.

DWI v United Utilities – Defending – Cryptosporidium contamination.

DWI v United Utilities – Defending – Drinking water contamination (pump and alarm failure).

DWI v Northumbrian Water – Defending – Drinking water contamination (Reg 31contamination).

Inquiries and Inquests

UK Covid-19 Inquiry – Representing the Health and Safety Executive

Manchester Arena Inquiry – Representing the Northwest Ambulance Service

Hillsborough – Representing former ACC of West Midlands Police

Dunkerley Steels – Representing company at Inquest into death of employee.

AB – Representing HSE in suicide case where serious allegations made against conduct of HSE, all of which rejected by Coronor.

WM – Representing company as one of number of IPs.

AM – Representing shop manager at large retail outlet where child died.

DJ – Representing G4S employee following death in custody.

AB – Representing HSE following death at work and subsequent suicide of owner of company.

Acted for Merseyside police officers in death in custody case.

HSE v Recresco Ltd – Representing the HSE in fatality at work involving crushing by fork lift truck.

HSE v Forgemasters – Representing the HSE in fatality at work involving collapse of steel casting (crushing).

Regulatory

Wrexham CBC v Bryn Melyn Care Limited – Defending (death of a child in care)

West Suffolk Council v Persimmon Homes (Anglia Limited) – Advising defendant

Oldham BC v Shop Direct – Defending

HSE v Accrol Paper Ltd – Defending – https://www.lancashiretelegraph.15890125.Toilet_ roll_firm_fined_after_worker_lost_part_of_finger_in__avoidable__incident/

Didcot power station collapse – Representing one of those interviewed by police.

HSE v Karro Foods Limited – Defending.

Oldham Borough Council v Shop Direct Home Shopping Ltd – Defending.

Cardiff City Council v Persimmon Homes Ltd – Defending. 2016 – 2017

HSE v Sheffield Forgemasters Engineering Limited – Defending – explosion on oxygen pipeline – HSWA, DSEAR.

HSE v Spectral Colours Limited – Prosecuting – Machine collapse, crush injuries – PUWER.

Asset International – Defending – Power tools HAVS.

Dunkerley Steels – Defending – Fataliity.

Valmet – Defending – Non-fatal, fall from height

Maxi Haulage – Defending – Non-fatal, fall from height.

Aspin and others – Defending – Fatality, fall from height.

Redrow Homes and WPI – Prosecuting – Fatality, traffic management.

Severfield – Prosecuting – Fatality, FLT overturn.

Freight First – Prosecuting – Fatality, runaway truck.

2015

NHS and Interserve – Prosecution of two defendants for asphyxiation of disabled child in hospital bed – widespread publicity.

Nigel Parker – Defending – Gross negligence manslaughter. Collapse of chimney on building site. Prosecution by CPS of builder. High Court Judge. Leeds.

Joseph Harrison – Crushed by hydraulic crane. Instructed directly by HSE and advised for last 12-months.

Advising on pre charge stage regarding prosecution for fatality.

Recresco 2 – Amputation at glass recycling factory

Adrian Barker – Advised throughout and representing HSE at Inquest at which they are being ‘blamed’ by defence for suicide of MD at company where Joseph Harrison died.

North Yorkshire County Council – Amputation of child’s finger at school.

ACB Hydraulics – Pre-charge advice re S2 offence and resulting death.

West Pennine Carpets – Near fatal injuries at carpet warehouse.

Pre-2015

HSE v Gary Edwards and Aramex – Prosecution of individual and company. Fall from height.

HSE v Galt Engineering and ‘the company director’ – Prosecution of individual and company. Fall down mine shaft.

HSE v WPC Ltd – Defending – Serious crush injury at work.

Environmental

EA v CS and others – Defending – Waste permits at renewable energy company.

EA v Grogan – Prosecution – Waste/scrap metal.

Natural Resources Wales v Euticals Ltd – Chemical/environmental pollution at top-tier COMAH site.

Police Federation

Metropolitan PS v Chief Superintendent RA – All allegations of gross misconduct and honesty and integrity dismissed

R v LK – Undercover officer, indecent images – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englandmanchester-46864974

R v DCI EB – Defending – Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

DC JC – Gross misconduct hearing – counter terrorism officer https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/counter-terror-detectives-sacked-skiving-11799836

R v Police Constable D.B. – Defending – Misconduct (Crown offered no evidence on all sexual offences).

R v Superintendent M.C. – Misconduct hearing (acquitted).

R v WPC T.D– Crown Court trial for misconduct (acquitted).

.R v Police Constable G.W. – Three Crown Court trials for misconduct and theft (acquitted in all three trials).

R v Police Constable S.J. – Crown Court trial for rape (acquitted).

R v Police Constable C.L. – Crown Court trial for rape and multiple counts of misconduct (acquitted).

R v Police Constable J.B. – Magistrates’ Court trial for assault (acquitted).

R v Police Constable P.B. – Gross Misconduct hearing for assault (officer kept his job).

R v Police Constable A.K. – Misconduct hearing – Sexual allegations.

– Misconduct hearing – Violent allegations.

Pre 2015 R v Police Constable R.T. – Crown Court trial – Sexual assault (acquitted).

R v Police Constable J.B.M. – Crown Court trial – Theft (acquitted).

R v Police Constable A.B. – Crown Court trial – Sexual assaults (acquitted).

Private Client Work

Ryan Giggs – assault x 2, controlling and coercive behaviour – defending

R v Nicky Butt – Assault – successfully defended

R v Arron Scholes – Defending, assault.

IK – Pre-charge advice re alleged sexual offences

RART v BC – Successfully defending civil forfeiture proceedings brought against Yorkshire businessman.

RART v JO – Civil forfeiture proceedings against local businessman.

R v SJ – Pharmacist accused of sexual offences.

R v AB – Restauranteur accused of assault.

R v CD – Marketing executive accused of assault.

R v KA – Successfully defended taxi driver accused of sexual assault.

R v CB – Successfully appealed sentence in Court of Appeal.

Trading Standards

Prosecution

Lisa gives pre-charge advice to local authorities, for example to Cheshire West and Chester Council in Conspiracy to defraud. She presents seminars to local authorities on prosecuting Trading Standards’ cases.

Defence

Cardiff CC v Persimmon Homes Ltd – Defending, leasehold/freehold.

Defending national energy supplier in ongoing investigation.

AP – Defending – Pre-charge advice to energy supplier.

R v Vance Miller and others – Defending in the largest ever prosecution brought by Trading Standards. After 4 months of evidence and legal arguments all defendants were acquitted. Burton Copeland solicitors instructed Lisa and have instructed her in many other Trading Standards’ cases, some of which feature below.

R v MS and others (ongoing) – Defending MD of large kitchen business (said to be associated with Vance Miller) in multi-handed Conspiracy to defraud.

R v DT – Successfully defended man facing Conspiracy to defraud and Consumer Protection offences resulting in Crown offering no evidence.

R v SS – Successfully defended IT businessman facing Conspiracy to defraud resulting in Crown offering no evidence.

R v M Ltd – Successfully defended multi-million pound car dealership – Fraud and Consumer  Protection Regulations – defence costs’ order made (2011)

R v JJ – Successfully defended landscape gardener.

R v Joan Higgins – Successfully appealed sentence which had attracted nationwide interest – Grandmother ‘tagged for selling goldfish to underage boy’

R v Dean Nixon – Successfully defended all Fraud allegations made against builder.

R v John Smith – Successfully defended all Fraud allegations made against roofer.

R v DT – Allegations of Fraud and Consumer Protection Regulations – Nationwide replacement window company (ongoing).

Fraud

R v BC and others – Successfully defended this Yorkshire boxer in a nine-handed drugs and money-laundering conspiracy. One of only two defendants to be acquitted by the jury.

R v HR and others – Successfully defended local businessman in multi-million pound fraud and money laundering case which collapsed at beginning of 4 month trial. (VHCC case) Defence costs’ order made.

R v TA and others – Defending – Crown offered no evidence against this teacher at beginning of two-month money laundering trial.

R v GA and others – Defending – Crown offered no evidence against this lady of good character after hearing submissions of abuse of process.

R v SB and another – Defending – Crown offered no evidence at trial against this businesswoman facing allegations of money laundering.

R v Chaudhry and others – Prosecuting multi-handed drugs, counterfeit goods, mortgage fraud and money laundering case. Defendants pleaded guilty at outset of trial. (Complex Case Unit).

R v Fawad Ahmed and Saliah Ahmed – Successfully prosecuted police officer and bank clerk in two month banking fraud. (Complex Case Unit).

R v Davies, Porter and Allison – Junior counsel for the Prosecution in four month multi-million pound fraud.

Homicide

2016

R v Bennett – Prosecuting – Murder.

R v Child Defendant – Defending – Gross negligence manslaughter. R offered no evidence

R v FP and others – Defending – Multi-handed murder. R offered no evidence.

Pre-2016

R v JS – Defending – Acquitted of murder and other violent offences.

R v Wayne McDonald – Prosecuting – Attempted murder of WPC.

R v Wayne McDonald – Prosecuting – Double attempted murder.

R v Rahan Arshad – Prosecuting – Quadruple murder of Defendant’s wife and 3 children. Full life term given.

R v Fatima Ali – Defending – Woman who concealed birth of her child. (Berry and Berry).

R v Connor & others – Defending – Double murder and attempt murder after an arson attack on a house in a Manchester suburb (Tranters).

R v Ward & others – Defending – Conspiracy to murder that arose out of a family dispute (Draycott Brown).

R v Faqir Mohammed – Prosecuting – First murder conviction in this country for “honour killing”.

R v Newport Crim.L.R. 518 – Defending – Murder. “Res gestae” conviction appeal.

R v Jacques Ainsworth – Prosecuting – Death by dangerous driving.

R v Liam Bertenshaw – Prosecuting – Death by careless driving.

R v Warren Archer – Prosecuting – Death by dangerous driving.

Medical Profession

Dr SR – Defending – Health Education England appeal tribunal.

Dr SR – Defending – Interim Orders Panel.

Dr MP – Defending – IOP.

Dr OM – Psychoanalyst.

Dr SK – Defending – IOP.

CQC v Adesanya – Successfully representing CQC in appeal to First Tier Tribunal.

BB and civil aviation medical appeal tribunal.

Robbery and Drugs

R v Shortman and Others and R v Joy and others – Defending 2 cash in transit armed robberies (Berry and Berry)

R v Corkowic and others – Prosecuting – Cash in transit robberies.

R v Marley & others – Defending – Fake ecstasy tablets – Sentencing authority. (Stephensons)

Sexual Offences

R x IB – Defending – Rape – Not guilty.

R x WH – Defending – Indecent images.

R v SA – Successfully defended two month multi-victim grooming case (Abbeys).

R v Patnaik – Prosecution of serial rapist who received 9 life sentences for rape and serious sexual assaults.

R v Waring & McGuire – Junior counsel for the prosecution – 2 Police Officers charged with rape.

R v Wright – Defending prison officer charged with sexual assaults (Russell Jones and Walker).

R v AB – Successfully defended police officer charged with sexual assaults (Russell Jones and Walker).

R v Molloy – Defending serial child rapist.