Toby Roche

Toby is a Managing Associate in the White Collar Crime and Investigations Group, with expertise in corporate criminal defence, particularly in the fields of health, safety and environmental law. He has significant experience advising clients across a range of sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, construction, sport and recreation, waste and recycling, utilities, and retail.

He is frequently called upon to advise clients following fatal and serious workplace accidents, where urgent assistance is required in the face of police and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigations.

In addition, Toby advises clients on all aspects of coronial proceedings, representing organisations and individuals at inquests following fatal incidents and providing strategic guidance on regulatory risk, evidence preparation, stakeholder management, and related criminal or enforcement investigations.

Toby also provides non-contentious advice to high-profile corporate and commercial clients on the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation, including, but not limited to, the Building Safety Act 2022 and the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 ("Martyn's Law").

Toby is a member of the Health and Safety Lawyers Association and has been recognised in The Legal 500 since 2022.

Key Experience

• Advised a multinational chemicals manufacturer following two losses of containment at one of its production sites. A joint prosecution was brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency (EA)
• Represented a private hospital at a two-week inquest following the death of a patient diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, who had a history of self-harm and suicidal ideation. The instructions included advising on the police investigation, Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulatory intervention, and the inquest, which engaged Article 2
• Represented a charity following the deaths of two children who drowned at a beach in May 2023. Assisted the client with the police investigation and the inquest, which concluded with findings of accidental death
• Acted for an NHS Trust in relation to an alleged breach of the Medicines Act 1968 following an overdose during the course of a clinical trial
• Acted for a national care home organisation following a fire at one of its care homes and the subsequent prosecution brought by the local fire authority
• Acted for a nationally recognised private medical provider following the deaths of two teenage girls in mental health facilities. The cases involved lengthy police investigations and multi week inquests. Criminal charges were brought by the HSE in respect of the built environment and observation regimes in place at the time of the deaths. Both cases required numerous experts, including psychiatry, nursing, and the built environment. 
• Acted for an international chemical producer in relation to a prosecution arising from an incident at an affiliated company's site
• Advised a national broadcaster following a serious incident during the course of filming which resulted in substantial injuries and significant media interest
• Advised a kickboxing promoter in relation to an inquest following the death of a fighter who suffered a subdural haematoma following the bout
• Acted for a national sports/leisure and health club in relation to a swimming pool death
• Represented a national cement manufacturer following an alleged fall from height at their premises. Following submissions the HSE accepted that the incident was unforeseeable
• Represented a multinational construction company in relation to an HSE investigation and a two week inquest following the death of a sub-contractor in the loading bay of a construction site

Career History

Managing Associate, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Associate, DAC Beachcroft LLP
Solicitor, DAC Beachcroft LLP
Trainee, Morris Orman Hearle LLP