Craig Ferguson

Criminal Regulatory

Criminal Regulatory & Inquests

Craig is a leader of the 2 Hare Court Criminal Regulatory Team and he regularly represents corporate bodies, their officers and other individuals before the criminal courts in relation to the full range of criminal offences arising out of fatal and non-fatal accidents. He is currently instructed to act on behalf of companies large and small from a wide variety of industry sectors in relation to proceedings following fatalities at work, including construction, energy, steel fabrication, printing, security, mobile telecommunications, transport, healthcare and hydraulic lifting.

He is frequently instructed to represent interested persons in relation to the inquests associated with these cases.

Craig is currently instructed to represent:

•  A playground designer, following the death of a young child who was crushed by a falling rotten tree trunk, which formed part of a natural play area in a London park. Instructed by BLM (London).
• A flight-training academy in the forthcoming inquests into the deaths of two pilots who died in an air crash. Squire Patton Boggs
• A Community Interest Company that ran the school health service contract for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in relation to a prosecution following the death of a child at school. DWF Manchester
• A national supermarket chain following the death of an employee. DWF London
• Several construction and manufacturing companies following accidents resulting in fatal and/or catastrophic injuries.

Craig has recently represented:

• JGTSI Ltd – A sprinkler installation company, acquitted of a charge pursuant to section 2 HSWA following a 5 week trial. DWF London
• A 72 year old mechanic and his company following the collapse of a bus which killed the trainee who was repairing it. Keoghs London
• Hart International – a private security company delivering the contract to protect the EUPOL Mission in Kabul, Afghanistan, into the death of a close protection officer who died together with other non-UK nationals when the Taliban launched a suicide bomb attack against the mission. Clyde and Co
• A Birmingham based printing company facing allegations pursuant to sections 2 and 3 of HSWA following a fatal accident resulting from a fall from a rooftop. DWF Manchester
• A care home in the inquest into the death of an elderly resident who was one of many residents suspected of being victims of neglect or abuse. Keoghs London
• Monovan Construction Limited and one of its directors, accused of corporate manslaughter and offences pursuant to section 3 and 37 of HSWA following a double fatality in which two men fell through a site hoarding into an open light well to their death. Instructed by DWF.
• A highways maintenance company contracted by a County Council to maintain its highways, following a double fatality whereby two vehicles crashed on a stretch of road where water had pooled and frozen. Instructed by BLM (Leeds).
•  A textiles manufacturing company that supplies fillings for mattresses, following the death of an employee who was crushed in a textile compression and packing machine. Instructed by BLM (Leeds)
• Topcon Construction Ltd faced alternative counts under section 2 and 3 of HSWA following the collapse of a 12 metre lighting column during installation, which caused significant head injuries to a labourer. Instructed by DWF.
• Natural Insulation Limited in relation to a series of alleged contraventions of the Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations arising from an inspection of its factory premises in North Wales where it manufactured home insulation from wool and hemp. Instructed by Pinsent Masons.
• Aspect Maintenance Services Limited in relation to a breach of the Work at Height Regulations which came to light when a roofing contractor fell from the unprotected roof of a two storey building, sustaining serious injuries. Instructed by BLM (London).
• CWT Commodities Limited (instructed by BLM) in relation to a section 2 HSWA charge arising from an accident at its logistics unit based at Tilbury Docks when a forklift truck dropped its load on a delivery driver, crushing his skull and causing life threatening injuries. Instructed by BLM (London).
• Bayer CropScience Limited in relation to a prosecution following a serious accident whereby a subcontractor’s employee sustained burn injuries resulting from an electrical flashover on a top tier COMAH site. Instructed by Squire Patton Boggs.
• Daver Steels limited in relation to both inquest and prosecution following the death of a delivery driver who was crushed during the unloading of steel from his trailer. Instructed by DWF.
• HTC in relation to an inquest in which it was initially suspected that a fire, which caused the death of five members of a family was caused by an HTC charger connected to a Blackberry mobile phone. (The Coroner found no evidence to support such a finding). Instructed by Hogan Lovells.
• Statoil in the Inquests into the deaths caused by Al Qaeda terrorists during a brutal attack which resulted in the loss of forty innocent people at a gas installation in Algeria. Instructed by Hogan Lovells.
• Hillsborough Inquests – he acted as independent counsel to the individual officers of the FA who were called to give evidence.

“A formidable advocate who commands the attention of the court and knows how to present a case in the best possible way.” – Legal 500 2020 (Inquests & Inquiries) 

“Robust and meticulous; a talented advocate.” – Legal 500 2020 (Health & Safety)

“His client care and overall approach is unparalleled. He is committed to working as a team, much to the benefit of his instructing solicitors and the client. His advocacy and court presence is deeply impressive. I recommend Craig across the board in this practice area: he is definitely at the top of his game.” Chambers UK 2020 (Health & Safety)

“Clients love him for his ability to humanise himself. He talks to them very casually and gets his message across clearly.” – Chambers UK 2018 (Health & Safety)

“A top-rate junior and a persuasive negotiator, who gets his point across in a concise manner.” – Legal 500 2017 (Health & Safety)

“He is a very strong and passionate advocate.” – Chambers UK 2017 (Health and Safety)

“He’s very calm, authoritative and knowledgeable.” – Chambers UK 2017 (Health and Safety)

“A considered, steady and confident advocate.” – Legal 500 2016 (Health and Safety)