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Oliver Bristow
Associate
Oliver Bristow is an associate in our Manchester office and a key member of the Environmental, Safety & Health Practice. He advises multinational clients on a broad range of environmental, health and safety laws across various jurisdictions, with a particular specialism in fire and building safety law. Oliver supports clients across a variety of industries, including real estate, manufacturing, energy, live entertainment and design and construction.
Oliver has an extensive and diverse background in regulatory law, defending companies and individuals facing criminal, health and safety, and other regulatory investigations, prosecutions, inquiries and inquests. He has acted in both defence and prosecution capacities, providing his clients comprehensive strategies with a unique perspective.
In addition to his regulatory defence practice, Oliver advises on large energy and real estate transactions, focusing on environmental and health and safety considerations. He is also experienced in corporate transactions, with a particular emphasis on anti-bribery, anti-corruption and anti-modern-slavery compliance.
As a reflection of his expertise, Oliver is recommended by The Legal 500 UK for both environmental law, and health and safety law. He is also accredited by the Institute of Industrial Accident Investigators as a qualified Lead Accident Investigator.
Deeply invested in environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters, Oliver serves as one of two Sustainability Champions for our Manchester office, where he leads internal sustainability initiatives and advocates for environmental responsibility within the firm.
An active member of the legal community, Oliver is a member of the UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA) where he sits on its northern committee, and is also a member of the Health and Safety Lawyers Association (HSLA).
- Representing an owner-operator of music venues in a large and complex corporate manslaughter investigation.
- Successfully defending a large-scale manufacturer, and key supplier to the NHS, in an investigation by the Fire & Rescue Service into alleged breaches of seven separate Articles of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
- Assisting in the defence of a criminal health and safety prosecution and a coroner’s inquest, on behalf of a well-known multinational plastics manufacturer following a fatality at one of their sites.
- Conducting a comprehensive review for a major asset manager of over 100 multi-storey residential properties across England. Advising on duty holders and duties under the Building Safety Act 2022 and Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, as well as guiding stakeholders in implementing suitable compliance arrangements.
- Advising an architecture and design firm on the Building Regulations 2010 following amendments by the Building Safety Act 2022, regarding new organisational capability and individual competence requirements for principal designers; appointment as the Principal Designer; interaction with other duty holders; and compliance with the new duties.
- Advising a well-known hotel chain on several properties with combustible cladding/insulation and other fire engineering issues, successfully mitigating risk of enforcement actions by the Fire & Rescue Service.
- Advising a prominent multinational travel search engine and travel agency on compliance with the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme Regulations 2014 (ESOS), in connection with their internal ESG initiative.
- Advising a multinational engineering technology manufacturer and supplier on a real estate transaction with numerous complex environmental considerations, including contaminated land, waste and environmental permitting issues, as well as drafting a bespoke environmental schedule dealing with environmental matters, including ongoing remediation obligations, remediation validation, consultant and contractor warranties, and the apportionment of liability between the parties.
- Advising various multinational manufacturers on all aspects of the plastic packaging tax, including how to apply the relevant technical definitions regarding recycled plastic.
Education
- BPP University Law School, Manchester, L.P.C., 2014
- University of Leeds, LL.B. (Hons.), 2013
Admissions
- England and Wales, 2021
Memberships & Affiliations
- Member, UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA)
- Member, Health and Safety Lawyers Association (HSLA)
- Lead Accident Investigator, Institute of Industrial Accident Investigators, 2024
- Recommended in The Legal 500 UK for Environmental Law
- Recommended in The Legal 500 UK for Health and Safety Law