Called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn and appointed Silk in 2010 in both the Civil and Criminal law sections, Gerard Forlin KC’s broad practice covers civil, criminal and commercial litigation; environment; fire; corporate governance (including bribery and corruption); major event planning & crowd safety; State, ceremonial and historical events; crisis management; health and safety; aviation; inquests and inquiries; local authority governance and services; and regulatory law. Gerard was called to the Bar of Ireland in 2020, after passing the Irish Bar Examination. He is also called to the Bar of Australia (2006) and the Bar of the British Virgin Islands (2012).
He is currently is instructed in relation to Grenfell Tower, the Shoreham air crash, an F1 case, two crane fatalities, a major international shipping matter, and numerous other cases both in the UK and all over the world.
Gerard is known globally in his various fields of practice and has worked from Vancouver in Canada to Queenstown in New Zealand. Also, from the Falkland Islands and South Georgia in the Antarctic Ocean to Seoul in Korea, Delhi in India, Mexico City and Beijing in China. He has worked in over 85 countries, one of only a tiny handful of London Barristers to have ever achieved this.
He has also appeared in court in several jurisdictions across the world and advised numerous other parties from all over the world including airlines, airports, manufacturers, mining companies, fishing companies, water companies, oil and gas companies, and tour companies. Gerard is a member of Cornerstone Climate, our centre of excellence for climate litigation and advice. He has years of experience in prosecuting and defending environmental cases, particularly water pollution cases in the UK and Hong Kong, as well as in the aviation and shipping industry. He is well known for his ecocide expertise.
Broad area of expertise
- Civil, criminal and commercial litigation and corporate governance and crisis management: Aviation, fire, professional discipline, product liability, consumer crime, commercial fishing, licensing, corruption and bribery, oil and gas, construction, transport including railways, fraud, crisis management and inquests.
- Environment: Oil and gas, environmental crime including water pollution and fishing quotas, and waste offences. He has also acted for the Environment Agency on policy issues.
- Health and safety inquests and inquiries: Public inquiries, fire, major event planning and crowd safety (including State/Ceremonial matters), human rights and inquests. He has been involved in over 300 fatality cases and has appeared in many of the major cases in this field in the last ten years, both in the UK and abroad.
- Local authority governance and services: Health and safety, fire, healthcare, environmental matters and inquests and inquires.
- Regulatory law: Corporate and gross negligence manslaughter, disaster litigation, aviation, railways, shipping, regulatory offences and diving.
Gerard acts for global companies and organisations, local authorities, public bodies and individuals through direct access. He was Special Adviser to the Bar Council on the Corporate Manslaughter Bill (2005), Consultant to a recent Global Aviation Concordat on Aviation Safety, as well as Standing Counsel to numerous organisations in the UK and abroad. Gerard also acts for Crown Departments on Crown Censure (occasional AG nomination) and is a Consultant to the Army and other Government bodies.
Gerard has acted for many of the major UK companies (retail, manufacturing, aviation, transport, tour companies, sporting including F1), regarding various regulatory matters. He has also acted for numerous local authorities and individuals. He is currently also acting for the majority of the families in the pending Inquest into the Shoreham Air Crash when eleven men died after a jet aircraft crashed on a road near Brighton in Sussex in the UK.
He was Special Adviser to the Bar Council on the Corporate Manslaughter Bill (2005), Consultant to a recent Global Aviation Concordat on Aviation Safety, as well as Standing Counsel to numerous PLCs, Unions and Government Departments in the UK and abroad. Gerard also acts for Crown Departments on Crown Censure (occasional AG nomination) and is a Consultant to the Army.
He has been appointed to an International Mediation and Arbitration panel of 14 worldwide members for the Royal Aeronautical Society. There are only two KCs on this global panel. He was also Vice-Chair of the Health and Safety Lawyers Association, from 2016 – 2024.
In the last few years, he has been ranked in no fewer than seven areas in the leading independent directories including Health and Safety, Product Liability, Crime, Public Inquiries and Inquests, Consumer Law, Aviation and Environmental Law. He was also awarded the title of Regulatory Barrister of the Year in 2015, 2016 and 2023.
Gerard was awarded President’s Commendation at the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management’s ‘2020 Excellence Awards’. He is the first lawyer to ever win this award.
Gerard has acted on some of the most high-profile regulatory and health and safety cases in the last 10 years, both in the UK and internationally, including:
- Currently instructed in two crane fatalities
- Grenfell Tower inquiry
- Watford Train Crash
- Southall Train Crash
- Ladbrook Grove/Paddington Train Crash
- Hillgrove School/James Porter: Leading Case on “Risk”
- The DVT Litigation
- Teebay Train Disaster
- Barrow Legionnaires Case in relation to a local authorities and civil servants (corporate manslaughter/gross negligence manslaughter)
- Hatfield Train Crash
- Purley Train Crash
- Faversham Coach Crash
- Britannia Air Crash
- Lift fatality in the City of London – acting for ThyssenKrupp
- Inquest in the Falklands (death in South Georgia) for an international tour company
- Recently involved in a high profile regulatory fishing case in the Falklands
- Alton Towers
- Acting in a global Helicopter regulatory matter
- Currently retained in the MH370 aviation disaster case in Asia
- IICSA Independent Inquiry into child sexual abuse
- The Shoreham Airshow Disaster
- Advising on the Notting Hill Carnival, official state ceremonial, and other major sporting and other historical events
- A large scale commercial case for a series of local authorities with regulatory implications
- Motorsports cases
- Test case on the CDM regulations 2015
- Numerous other inquests/inquiries for government and private clients
Gerard is called to the Bar in Australia and is an overseas member of State Chambers in Sydney. He was also a member of Maxwell Chambers in Singapore where he, until recently, had his own room. He was previously Senior Crown Counsel, Hong Kong. He is also called to the Bar of the British Virgin Islands and as of December 2020, was called to the Bar of Ireland after passing the Irish Bar exams.
Education
London School of Economics LLB (Hons) and LLM
Trinity Hall, Cambridge University M.Phil.
University College London Diploma in Air and Space Law
Expertise
- Commercial and Regulatory
Gerard has a very substantial global practice in commercial and regulatory law.
He has defended numerous local authorities on health and safety matters, as well as acting in numerous cases for doctors, nurses, companies and individuals charged with health and safety, manslaughter and other regulatory offences including Fishing quotas. He is also acting in several ongoing cases for construction, aviation, oil, chemical and transport companies.
Gerry is Standing Counsel to numerous global airports and other sectors on regulatory, health and safety, security and environmental matters.
Advisor and lectures to ASEAN, FCO and UN on compliance matters.
Transport
Gerard has a wide experience of transport, and in particular, aviation and railway law. He regularly lectures and moderates all over the world including for IATA in Europe, Flight Safety Foundation, Safeskies, the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health in the United States and Asia and Australia and for Air Traffic Control in the United States and Europe. See News for further details.Environment
Gerard acts in a number of environmental and product liability cases both in the UK and globally. See News for further details. In an earlier role, Gerry was Senior Crown Counsel in Hong Kong where he appeared in numerous high-profile reported cases (fraud, disasters, oil and gas, pollution, aviation, murder, health & safety, Vietnamese Riot Trials, environmental).- Divisional Court – new and important judgment regarding aviation and coronial law07 Feb 2022
- Gerard Forlin QC acts for Lockheed Martin01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC speaks at Global conference in Singapore01 Jan 2018
- R V Morgan [2007]01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC represents a company in a 8 meter roof fall01 Jan 2018
- Purley train crash convictions overturned01 Jan 2018
- Attorney General’s Reference (No 86 Of 2006) [2006] EWCA Crim 257001 Jan 2018
- Smith v Gatwick Airport Ltd. [2003] EWHC 233 (Admin)01 Jan 2018
- Luttrell & Ors, R v [2004] EWCA Crim 134401 Jan 2018
- Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure Services Ltd, R. v [2006] EWCA Crim 158601 Jan 2018
- R v Shaw [2006] EWCA Crim 257001 Jan 2018
- R v Transco plc [2006] EWCA Crim 83801 Jan 2018
- A Guide to Health and Safety Prosecutions01 Jan 2018
- R v Porter [2008] EWCA Crim 127101 Jan 2018
- WINS-RUSI-Serco Nuclear Security Roundtable01 Jan 2018
- Alton Towers, Smiler Ride Case01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC chairs 25th Annual Capita Health & Safety Lecture01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC acts in major Falklands miss-fishing quota case01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC speaks at ASEAN Regional Business Integrity Conference01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin KC: Time for Aviation Industry to Prioritise Mental Health02 Oct 2024
- Gerard Forlin KC to deliver lecture at Lloyd’s Market Association on Mental Health and Psychosocial Risks in Aviation06 Aug 2024
- Prominent legal expert Gerard Forlin KC champions mental health reforms in aviation24 Jul 2024
- Gerard Forlin KC Wins ACQFive Global Award for UK – Regulatory Barrister of the Year17 May 2024
- Gerard Forlin KC contributes to Royal Aeronautical Society report on mental health in the aviation industry22 Apr 2024
- Safer Crowds, Safer Venues: Gerard Forlin KC contributes to good practice report on crowd management04 Apr 2024
- Cornerstone Barristers at MIPIM 202412 Feb 2024
- Gerard Forlin KC speaks at Air India flight safety seminar29 Jan 2024
- Gerard Forlin KC joins State Chambers in Sydney, Australia25 Jul 2023
- Gerard Forlin KC named England’s Regulatory Barrister of the Year16 May 2023
- Gerard Forlin QC awarded President’s Commendation at the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management’s ‘2020 Excellence Awards’12 Oct 2020
- Gerard Forlin QC will speak at the AIFC Law Conference 202016 Jun 2020
- Gerard Forlin QC spoke at a global webinar about what boards can do to handle the coronavirus pandemic31 Mar 2020
- Gerard Forlin QC speaking at the Royal Aeronautical Society16 Mar 2020
- Gerard Forlin QC speaking at webinar Why some boards can sleep at night03 Mar 2020
- Gerard Forlin QC to speak at the IBA Annual Conference in Seoul17 Sep 2019
- Gerard Forlin QC considers ISO Standard 4500116 Jul 2019
- Gerard Forlin QC will speak at the Astana Finance Law Conference28 Jun 2019
- Gerard Forlin QC to speak at the Aerospace Mental Health and Wellbeing conference organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society08 Mar 2019
- Gerry Forlin QC’s interview on health and safety issues – Part 217 Dec 2018
- Gerry Forlin QC’s interview on health and safety issues – Part 130 Nov 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC re-elected as Vice Chair of HSLA27 Nov 2018
- Gerry spoke at two conferences on aviation in Dublin06 Sep 2018
- Gerard spoke at the ASEAN Responsible Business Forum25 Jul 2018
- Health + Safety at Work – Post-Brexit review could look at ‘six pack’ regs, lawyer predicts01 Jan 2018
- Archbold Review – Hubble, Bubble, Fines and Trouble01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC interviewed on World Day for Safety and Health at Work01 Jan 2018
- Archbold Review – Gerard Forlin QC comments on new sentencing guidelines01 Jan 2018
- Reckless bankers to face possible prosecution01 Jan 2018
- New Law Journal – Reckless bankers could go to jail01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC participating in Bar Council Mission to Seoul and Shanghai01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC comments on Health and Safety penalty guidelines01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC speaks at Environment and Strategy breakfast seminar01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC speaks at Intersec Occupational Health and Safety Forum in Dubai01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC elected for member of Lincoln’s Inn Bar Representation Comittee01 Jan 2018
- New Law Journal – Unlimited fines for corporate offences01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC speaks at series of Western Australian seminars01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC speaks at 4th European Aviation Safety Symposium01 Jan 2018
- Archbold Review: “Many Rivers to Cross” — Sentencing for environmental crimes01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC speaks at series of Australian conferences01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC speaks at the worlds leading Risk Management Conference01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC speaks at ASEAN Conference on Corporate Governance and Responsibility01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC appears live on CNN News regarding the German Wings Air Crash01 Jan 2018
- Safeskies Aviation Conference in Canberra Australia01 Jan 2018
- New Law Journal – No Limits on Fines a “Game Changer”01 Jan 2018
- Sweet and Maxwell Archbold Review – ‘Up, Up and Away!’01 Jan 2018
- Ten years of wrangling have failed to settle the corporate manslaughter debate01 Jan 2018
- Child’s play; ‘Risk’ after R v Porter01 Jan 2018
- Cases that changed our lives01 Jan 2018
- Too Hot to Handle, New Law Journal article by Gerard Forlin QC01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC speaks at the UN01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC speaks at Annual International Air Safety Summit01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC re-elected Vice Chair of Health and Safety Lawyers Association01 Jan 2018
- Health and Safety at Work – Safety takes an international standard01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC speaks at 7th EBASCON Conference in Munich01 Jan 2018
- Corporate Governance: Where are we now01 Jan 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC advises on Notting Hill Carnival01 Jan 2018
- Inquests and Inquiries
Gerard has been involved in a number of significant public inquiries and inquests (over 120) jury and non jury, including many health and safety, fire and transport cases. He has conducted inquests abroad including the Falkland Islands and Hong Kong. He has worked in over 80 countries.
He is currently instructed in MH370, the Grenfell Tower fire, the Shoreham air crash, two crane fatalities, a major shipping matter and an F1 case alongside many other matters in the UK and all over the world.
- Inquest into the Shoreham Airshow Disaster begins30 Nov 2022
- Shoreham air crash: 10th preliminary hearing15 Feb 2022
- Divisional Court – new and important judgment regarding aviation and coronial law07 Feb 2022
- Shoreham Air Crash disaster – Eighth Hearing27 Apr 2021
- Shoreham Air Crash Disaster – 7th PIRH hearing23 Dec 2020
- 5th anniversary of the Shoreham Disaster21 Aug 2020
- Gerard Forlin QC in Court hearing in relation to the Shoreham air crash disaster this week26 Jun 2020
- Shoreham Airshow Crash inquest starts with Gerard Forlin QC representing some of the families31 Jan 2020
- Gerard Forlin QC in court representing the Shoreham air crash families16 Jul 2019
- Gerard Forlin QC instructed again in the Falklands01 Jan 2018
- Lift Fatality Inquest01 Jan 2018
- Laura Morgan inquest: Coroner records narrative verdict01 Jan 2018
- Purley train crash convictions overturned01 Jan 2018
- Safer Crowds, Safer Venues: Gerard Forlin KC contributes to good practice report on crowd management04 Apr 2024
- Gerard Forlin KC speaks at Air India flight safety seminar29 Jan 2024
- Shoreham Air Crash: Gerard Forlin KC examines important lessons from inquest at HSLA event17 Jan 2024
- Gerard Forlin KC at the 23rd World Congress on Safety & Health at Work12 Dec 2023
- Leading health and safety lawyer Gerard Forlin KC to speak at the International Pilot Peer Assist Coalition (IPPAC) conference03 Nov 2023
- Gerard Forlin KC to speak at the International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference26 Oct 2023
- Shoreham air crash: No challenge to Inquest conclusions of 11 ‘unlawful killings’ after nearly eight years since the incident09 Jun 2023
- Gerard Forlin KC writes comment piece for The Times following the Shoreham air show disaster inquest20 Jan 2023
- Inquest into the Shoreham Airshow Disaster concludes21 Dec 2022
- Inquest into the Shoreham Airshow Disaster begins30 Nov 2022
- 9th preliminary hearing with Gerard Forlin QC acting for the Families of the Deceased30 Jul 2021
- Gerard Forlin QC awarded President’s Commendation at the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management’s ‘2020 Excellence Awards’12 Oct 2020
- Gerard Forlin QC appeared in the Shoreham pre-inquest review09 Apr 2019
- Gerard Forlin QC to speak at the Aerospace Mental Health and Wellbeing conference organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society08 Mar 2019
- Gerry Forlin QC’s interview on health and safety issues – Part 217 Dec 2018
- Gerry Forlin QC’s interview on health and safety issues – Part 130 Nov 2018
- Gerard Forlin QC re-elected as Vice Chair of HSLA27 Nov 2018
- Gerry spoke at two conferences on aviation in Dublin06 Sep 2018
- Inquest into Falklands Death01 Jan 2018
- Shoreham Airshow Disaster01 Jan 2018