Dale Collins
Partner
Exeter
dale.collins@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)330 045 2787
Dale is a partner in our Criminal Compliance and Regulatory Team based in the South-West. Recognised in both The Legal 500 and Chambers Directory as a leading expert in health and safety law and his 36 years in regulatory crime from both a prosecution and defence perspective, means he is one of the first people clients call when they need immediate, clear advice following a critical incident.
Whilst the majority of Dale’s work revolves around criminal regulatory defence actions on behalf of those in all business sectors (including manufacturing, education, private care and retail and their compliance with health and safety, environmental and food legislation) due to his lengthy experience as a prosecutor for both the HSE (10 years) and a major local authority (9 years), he is currently retained by a number of public bodies to undertake prosecutions on their behalf.
In addition to the contentious side of his practice, Dale also provides training and regulatory legal updates to clients and third-parties to assist them in ensuring their critical incident policies and systems are suitable and that they are well-prepared should an incident befall them.
Expertise
Featured experience
Natural England
Successfully representing Natural England in its prosecution of a tenant farmer who undertook work on archeologically significant fields. This matter was determined in the Court of Appeal where the validity of statutory Notices was considered.
Trading Standards
Advising a national hub in relation to its policies and procedures relating to its undertaking of major, nation-wide trading standards investigations and prosecutions.
National provider of risk assessments
Representing a company prosecuted by a Fire Service where there were allegations of a failure to provide a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. Matter currently proceeding to the Court of Appeal on matters which will have national importance as to the extent of an assessor’s duty and the definition of “current risk”.
Testimonials
“I would really like to thank you, the whole Browne Jacobson team, especially Dale who helped me and the company throughout the case with such expertise and support.”