Stephen Climie
| Call date: 1982 | |||
| Email: Stephen Climie | Clerk: Stephen Somerville | ||
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Practice summary
Stephen Climie (1982 call) Experienced counsel specialising in regulatory work - health & safety and environmental law, and complex fraud including MTIC 'carousel' frauds. Financial Services related regulatory crime, and also an expanding practice in defending cases before the VAT Tribunal. Although he remains predominantly a defence advocate he has been instructed to prosecute high profile Health and Safety disasters including the Southall and Hatfield rail crashes and R v Costains & Kvaerner (multiple fatality gantry collapse on M5 Avonmouth Bridge), and other significant cases of merit R v Avery & Others -conspiracy to blackmail suppliers of Huntingdon Life Sciences, R v Peter Young & Others (Morgan Grenfell fraud with losses in excess of £300m).
Those who turn regularly to him for advice and representation include professionals brought before their disciplinary bodies including the General Medical Council, the General Dental Council, PCT, 1st Tier Tribunals and the Hearing Aid Council.
Following the tragic death of a teenager, who fell from a fairground attraction in Cornwall, Stephen successfully defended the owner who was charged with manslaughter R v DeVey. Similar success was achieved in the course of defending the health and safety trial of a scrap metal company director in Dorset R v Reliance Scrap Metal. On this occasion the death of a workman followed the cutting up of redundant gas cylinders using a high pressure cutting shear.
Stephen is one of a number of members of chambers whose initial instruction in a health and safety prosecution (or other regulatory process) often leads to continued representation in the personal injury proceedings that follow the accident. This applies in both the health and safety and clinical negligence arenas and provides lay and professional clients with the reassurance of continuity throughout the legal process.
As a number of instructions emanate from NHS Trust failures - both in clinical negligence and regulatory fields - Stephen recently defended Guys and St Thomas' NHS Trust which was charged under the Medicines Act following the accidental administration of a glucose overdose to a premature baby Re MHRA -V- Guys and St Thomas's NHS Trust. The baby's death resulted in considerable adverse press coverage. At the Crown Court the sentencing judge imposed a fine of £75,000. On Stephen's advice the Trust appealed against the sentence which was reduced by the Court of Appeal to £15,000.
His environmental cases have involved a wide range of corporate failures, notably oil spillages at sea (including Torbay) and within harbours (including Whitstable in Kent). He represented the Polish skipper of the container vessel ("the Cita") when it ran aground on the Scilly Isles.
He has advised directors facing disqualification whether in criminal proceedings or following civil proceedings under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.
His ability to manage complex issues, and to provide sound strategic and tactical advice from the outset have formed the foundation for his ever increasing practice base. Such advice is frequently employed at inquests and in conferences with experts in clinical negligence claims. Many of those who instruct him comment on Stephen's approachability and sensitivity with clients when his advice is required.
Stephen's reputation is endorsed by his appearance and comments in the professional directories including Chambers & Partners and Legal 500.
- R v Reliance Scrap Metal
- (successful defence of director charged with manslaughter)
- R v DeVey
- (successful defence of fairground owner charged with manslaughter)
- R v Peter Young
- (Morgan Grenfell fraud with losses in excess of £300m)
- TLR 14/06/03
- Serious fraud case involving supplementary issues of Fitness to be tried and Trial of the acts
- R v Avery & Others
- (conspiracy to blackmail suppliers of Huntingdon Life Sciences)
- R v Costains & Kvaerner
- (multiple fatality gantry collapse on M5 Avonmouth Bridge)
- R v Great Western Trains
- (Southall Rail Crash)
- Hatfield train crash
- Manslaughter by gross negligence
"He's first-rate," say sources, who equally note his “very personable and down-to-earth nature.” Health & Safety, Chambers and Partners 2012
‘a very good advocate, who gets results’ Health and safety, Legal 500, 2011
"down-to-earth and reassuring client manner," he is always well briefed. Health & Safety, Chambers and Partners 2011