Oliver has acted in many high-profile health and safety cases, across a wide range of different industries and sectors. His experience includes prosecutions and claims arising from accidents on construction sites, accidents at sea, in hospitals, from electrical and other fires, and from road and railway accidents. He has represented defendants in several corporate manslaughter prosecutions, including in the prosecution arising out of the Hatfield train crash. 

He has considerable experience of representing companies and individuals in long and complex inquests, including the inquests into the Avonmouth Bridge accident and the Potters Bar and Ufton Nervet rail disasters.

Oliver has acted in many environmental claims and prosecutions, including water contamination claims, fire claims, pollution and nuisance claims.  He has extensive experience of complex personal injury claims.

He is a founding member and on the executive committee of the Health and Safety Lawyers Association.

Oliver has been recommended in health & safety for many years by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, where he is ranked in the top band of junior barristers. 

In the field of health & safety, the Legal Directories comment:
“he has really immersed himself in the area” and “is very good at inspiring confidence in clients” (Chamber & Partners 2012);
“he is very knowledgeable and utterly dependable” (Legal 500 2011);
“he has a razor sharp mind” (Chambers & Partners 2011);
“he is an incredibly smooth and persuasive advocate” (Chambers & Partners 2010);
“Statesmanlike in his approach, he is a real class act” (Chambers & Partners 2009);
“An outstanding performer, he is extremely intelligent and clients warm to him because he is calm, has authority and exudes an air of decency in what can be very difficult and emotional cases” (Chambers & Partners 2008); and
“Extremely capable, he is technically very good and gives clear, sensible advice” (Chambers & Partners 2007).

Representative Cases

Berry v Star Autos (Court of Appeal) [2011] EWCA Civ 1304.  Application of the Electricity at Work Regulations.

Wandsworth v Covent Garden Market Authority (QBD) [2011] EWHC 1245. Appeals against improvement notices.

Collett v Middlesbrough Football Club (Court of Appeal) [2009] EWCA Civ 583

Corus v Cavendish UK (QBD) [2009] EWHC 2058. Liability in respect of asbestos removal work. 

R (Main) v Minsiter for Legal Aid (Admin) (2007) 96 BMLR 61. Availability of legal aid for inquests.

Cameron v Network Rail (QBD) [2007] 1 WLR 163. Whether the Fatal Accidents Acts complies with Article 2 and whether Network Rail is a public authority for the purpose of Human Rights Act. 

R v Railtrack & Others. Prosecution arising out of the Hatfield train crash.

Morris v Network Rail (Court of Appeal) [2004] EWCA Civ 172. Liability in nuisance for interference caused by electrical equipment.

Roshdi v Thames Trains (Court of Appeal) [2002] All ER (D) 284. Grants of an adjournment on refusal of public funding.

Winch v Mid Bedfordshire District Council (QBD)[2002] All ER (D) 380. Liability of local authorities in nuisance for acts of gypsies in an official gypsy site.   

Craig v Railtrack (QBD) [2002] All ER (D) 212.   Granting of indemnity costs under CPR 36. 

Worrall v British Railways Board (Court of Appeal)[1999] All ER (D) 455. Application of the ex turpi causa principle.

Basildon District Council -v- Railtrack Plc (Divisional Court) The Times 27.02.98.  Requirements as to notices in health and safety prosecutions

Oliver has considerable experience of product liability claims, including many large commercial contract disputes and group actions.  He acted in the Lariam and OCENSA pipeline group actions.  Oliver also acted for defendants in the litigation following the Para Red and Sudan Red product recalls (the largest food recall in UK history).

Oliver regularly advises in relation to claims under the Consumer Protection Act; property damage claims; product testing and product recall issues; cross border, jurisdiction and applicable law issues; contractual exemption clauses; and coverage and insurance issues associated with product liability claims.

He is an editor of the “International Product Law Manual” and a contributor to Halsbury’s Laws of England.

Oliver has been recommended in product liability for many years by Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500, where he is ranked in the top band of junior barristers. 

The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners have commented on his product liability expertise that:
“he is well regarded for his independence of thought and his performances in the line of fire” (Chambers & Partners 2012);
“he is absolutely tip-top and shows a deft touch in court that is as good as you would see anywhere at the Bar” (Chambers & Partners 2012);
“he is highly regarded for his commercial approach and ability to find the right solution for the client” (Chambers & Partners 2011);
“he is very level headed, thorough and reliable” (Legal 500 2010);
“he gets straight to the meat of the argument and isn’t one for waffling” (Chambers & Partners 2010);
“technically marvellous and someone who handles complex and sensitive cases extremely well” (Chambers & Partners 2009); and
“Oliver Campbell is more than capable of holding his own against silk in product liability” (Legal 500 2009).

Representative Cases

OCENSA pipeline group litigation

The Sudan Red Food Litigation 

Hobson v Morton Slack Solicitors (QBD) [2006] All ER (D) 298. Procedure for applications for group litigation orders.

Vinaver v Milton Ashbury Ltd (Court of Appeal) [2006] EWCA Civ 363. 

The Para Red Litigation

Trac Time Control v Moss Plastic Parts (QBD) [2005] All ER (D) 6. 

The Lariam Litigation

Oliver has extensive experience of acting for both claimants and defendants in group actions and other  multi-party claims.  He regularly advises in relation to applications for Group Litigation Orders and associated issues in relation to the management of group actions.

His experience in this area includes environmental and pollution claims (for example, the OCENSA pipeline group action); pharmaceutical and medicinal product claims (for example, the Lariam group litigation); claims arising from large accidents and disasters (for example, the claims following the Stafford rail crash); and claims arising form professional negligence and mis-selling of financial products (for example, the coal miners claims).

Health and  Safety and Regulatory

• Berry v Star Autos (Court of Appeal) [2011] EWCA Civ 1304.  Application of the Electricity at Work Regulations.
• Wandsworth v Covent Garden Market Authority (QBD) [2011] EWHC 1245.  Appeals against improvement notices.
• Collett v Middlesbrough Football Club (Court of Appeal) [2009] EWCA Civ 583
• Corus v Cavendish UK (QBD) [2009] EWHC 2058. Liability in respect of asbestos removal work. 
• R (Main) v Minsiter for Legal Aid (Admin) (2007) 96 BMLR 61. Availability of legal aid for inquests. 
• Cameron v Network Rail (QBD) [2007] 1 WLR 163. Whether the Fatal Accidents Acts complies with Article 2 and whether Network Rail is a public authority for the purpose of Human Rights Act. 
• R v Railtrack & Others. Prosecution arising out of the Hatfield train crash.
• Morris v Network Rail (Court of Appeal) [2004] EWCA Civ 172. Liability in nuisance for interference caused by electrical equipment.
• Roshdi v Thames Trains (Court of Appeal) [2002] All ER (D) 284. Grants of an adjournment on refusal of public funding.
• Winch v Mid Bedfordshire District Council (QBD)[2002] All ER (D) 380. Liability of local authorities in nuisance for acts of gypsies in an official gypsy site.   
• Craig v Railtrack (QBD) [2002] All ER (D) 212.   Granting of indemnity costs under CPR 36. 
• Worrall v British Railways Board (Court of Appeal)[1999] All ER (D) 455. Application of the ex turpi causa principle.
• Basildon District Council -v- Railtrack Plc (Divisional Court) The Times 27.02.98.  Requirements as to notices in health and safety prosecutions.

Product Liability and Commercial

• OCENSA pipeline group litigation [2010]
• Sudan Red Food Litigation 
• Hobson v Morton Slack Solicitors (QBD) [2006] All ER (D) 298. Procedure for applications for group litigation orders.
• Vinaver v Milton Ashbury Ltd (Court of Appeal)[2006] EWCA Civ 363. 
• Para Red Litigation
• Trac Time Control v Moss Plastic Parts (QBD) [2005] All ER (D) 6. 
• Lariam Litigation

Other Cases

• McNicol v Balfour Beatty Rail Maintenance Ltd (Court of Appeal) [2002] ICR 381.
• W v H (QBD) [2008] All ER (D) 47
• Besong v Connex Bus (EAT) [2005] All ER (D) 261. 
• McCrossen v Dilworth (EAT)[2005] All ER (D) 125. 
• Budgen Stores v Floyd (EAT) [2002] All ER (D) 237. 
• BFI Optilas Ltd v Blyth (QBD) [2002] All ER (D) 287. 
• Asamoah-Boakye v Walter Rodney Housing Association (Court of Appeal) [2001] All ER (D) 320. 
• Connex South Central v Lamb (EAT) [2000] All ER (D) 2556. 
• Newlon Housing Trust -v- Alsulaimen and Another (House of Lords) [1998] 3 WLR 451.