Alistair Haggerty

Call 2012

‘He is charismatic, methodical and has an eye for detail. Professional and lay clients respect him a great deal.’

For enquiries please contact

Lucy Northeast
Practice Director - Crime & Sports
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

Grant Bidwell
Practice Manager - Crime
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

Shannon Cregg
Assistant Practice Manager - Crime
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

‘He is charismatic, methodical and has an eye for detail. Professional and lay clients respect him a great deal.’


Legal 500 UK 2023

"A clever lawyer with very good judgement. His advocacy is clear and concise. He is a very good member of any team."


Legal 500 2021

"Alistair's personality shines through when advising challenging and vulnerable clients. He is able to put a client at ease and make sure that they know they are being looked after and quell any fears and concerns relating to their case."


Legal 500 2022

  • Grade 4 Prosecutor
  • Appointed to the C List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law

  • PTC, Kaplan Law School
  • GDL, City University, London
  • BA (Hons) History, Merton College, University of Oxford

  • Amicus – Lawyers for Justice on Death Row
  • Health & Safety Lawyers Association

Alistair is a specialist crime and regulatory advocate.

He prosecutes and defends in serious criminal cases and has a nationwide health and safety and environmental practice.

Expertise

Alistair is a skilful and persuasive jury advocate. He is a Grade 4 prosecutor, who is briefed in the most serious cases. In addition, Alistair has a well-established and diverse defence practice. He has recently appeared in the Court of Appeal in appeals against conviction and sentence.

Alistair prosecutes and defends in the full range of criminal trials, including murder, manslaughter, serious violence, child abuse, fraud, drugs conspiracies, and firearms offences. He is often briefed at an early stage in complex, multi-handed cases in which his eye for detail and strategic insight are especially valued.

He combines a detailed knowledge of the law and a forensic approach to preparation with a natural empathy and ability to judge the emotional tone of a case. It is this skill which has seen him praised, by judges and instructing solicitors, for his ability with vulnerable complainants and defendants, young witnesses, and those suffering from serious mental health problems.

In addition, Alistair has been instructed by individuals and companies in a variety of driving matters. As well as prosecuting and defending in the most serious driving cases, including those arising from fatalities, Alistair is experienced in successfully advancing exceptional hardship arguments and special reasons for individuals at risk of disqualification. Alistair’s comprehensive knowledge of road traffic law has resulted in him being instructed by high-profile clients. He is the joint editor of A Practical Approach to Road Traffic Law, which was published in 2023.

Prior to commencing pupillage, Alistair worked in Mississippi for six months, where he assisted lawyers representing individuals on Death Row. His work included drafting a petition for clemency to the state governor and investigating pathology reports on shaken baby deaths.

Alistair is a dynamic, meticulous and committed advocate. Whether prosecuting or defending, he thrives on the opportunity to speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.

Featured Crime cases


R v G and G (2023)

Defending in a murder trial which followed a stabbing in Castle Park.


R v H and others (2023)

Leading junior prosecuting a multi-handed conspiracy to supply high-value stolen farm machinery and commercial vehicles throughout the UK and into continental Europe.


R v M and others (2023)

Prosecuting in this ongoing case of aggravated burglary in which four men are alleged to have ransacked supported accommodation and stabbed a man trying to escape.


R v D and others (2022)

Led by Ray Tully KC in a conspiracy to supply cocaine in Bristol.


R v B (2022)

Defended a man accused of sexually abusing a vulnerable woman with learning difficulties in a care home


R v D (2022)

Prosecuted a career fraudster who, over a four-year period, acquired over £600,000 after scamming a large number of victims who believed that they were being provided with IT services


R v D (2021)

Prosecution of a defendant who had stabbed his daughter’s step-father on the streets of Bristol inflicting life-threatening injuries.


R v M, M and M (2020)

Prosecution junior in this case concerning a conspiracy to murder the 16 year-old victim.


R v J and others (2019)

Successfully defended a woman in this case concerning allegations of conspiracy to kidnap, robbery, false imprisonment and blackmail arising out of a kerb-crawling honey trap.


R v E (2019)

Prosecution of a defendant who had posed online as a sixteen year-old boy and a twelve year-old girl in order to contact and groom vulnerable young children on the internet. He had then attempted to meet the children at train stations. An extended sentence of 16 years imprisonment was imposed.

Alistair has an established nationwide practice and is instructed by regulatory bodies across the country. His experience spans a number of disciplines, including health and safety, food standards, and environmental law. He has also represented individuals in cases concerning fraudulent trading, intellectual property and offences brought under the Companies Act.

He is on the panel of Specialist Regulatory Advocates and has delivered talks and seminars to the Health and Safety Lawyers Association on the financial implications for companies, including parent and group companies, arising out of prosecutions for health and safety offences.

In recent years, Alistair has acquired a particular specialism in health and safety cases arising out of construction and demolition incidents. In addition to prosecuting and defending in Crown Court trials, including those involving fatalities, his expertise in this field led to him being instructed by one of the Core Participants in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

Alistair is also instructed in proceeds of crime cases. These include proceedings following conviction, but also civil forfeiture and unexplained wealth orders under the recently amended provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. He has a detailed knowledge of the new legislative framework and case law in this developing area and is also alert to the tactical considerations which arise in such cases.

Featured Regulatory & Discipline cases


HSE v S and S (2023)

Instructed to prosecute in this ongoing case concerning the demolition of a hotel in Cornwall.


R v Forge Farm Meats Ltd (2023)

Ongoing prosecution of an abattoir in Kent for food standards offences.


HSE v H (2023)

Prosecuted a former High Sheriff of Wiltshire in a case which attracted significant national publicity. The health and safety breaches resulted from members of the public being trampled by cattle on the defendant’s land and sustaining life-changing injuries.


R v Y and others (2022)

Led by Andrew Langdon KC in this gross negligence manslaughter prosecution arising out of the collapse of scaffolding erected around a church in Cardiff which was in the process of being demolished.


Grenfell Tower Inquiry

Advised a Core Participant in relation to Module 2 of the Inquiry.


Avon Fire and Rescue Authority v B (2021)

Represented the leaseholder of a large house in multiple occupation in Bristol City Centre in this case concerning breaches of fire safety regulations.


North Somerset Council v Worle Village Butchers and B (2021)

Represented the company in this prosecution brought under the Health and Safety at Work Act after a 17 year-old employee lost two fingers in a mincer.


HSE v Valero Energy Ltd and B&A Contracts Ltd (2019)

Led by Andrew Langdon QC and James Bennett in this prosecution for health and safety offences arising out of an explosion at an oil refinery in which four people were killed. Alistair authored an article concerning the sentence imposed in this case.

Within the regulatory sphere, Alistair has particular knowledge and experience in environmental matters. His ability to assimilate large volumes of information, assured approach to paper-heavy cases, and a keen eye for detail has seen him instructed in serious and complex cases, including the recent high-value prosecution of three companies for alleged serious waste offences.

In addition to prosecuting and defending alleged environmental offences in the magistrates’ court and Crown Court, Alistair is instructed in civil environmental matters and appeals.

Alistair has a strong grasp of wildlife legislation and has been instructed in recent cases brought under the Hunting Act, Wildlife and Countryside Act and Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act.

Featured Environment & Planning cases


EA v BLH Ltd (2023)

Ongoing prosecution of the owners of a reservoir in Lancashire for allegedly allowing a continuing risk of overtopping and flooding.


R (Natural England) v H (2023)

Representing the owner of a campsite which straddles a Site of Special Scientific Interest in proceedings brought under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.


EA v H (2023)

Prosecuted a prominent farmer, and former local councillor, who had occupied a senior role at NFU Mutual, for serious waste offences and land contamination.


EA v Velcourt Ltd (2022)

Prosecution of a farm which had discharged effluent into a nearby river causing widespread fish deaths.


EA v F, M.E Foley Ltd, UK Environmental Ltd, and European Metal Recycling (2020)

Led by Andrew Langdon KC in this ongoing case in which the four defendants were involved in the illegal depositing of waste on a vast scale, causing extensive pollution and environmental damage. The remediation costs are in the region of £77 million.


EA v C (2021)

Instructed by the Environment Agency in this ongoing prosecution for illegal eel fishing.

Alistair often appears in Inquest hearings.

Recent instructions include representing Sainsbury’s after one of their employees died at a warehouse, and representing the insurance company at a hearing arising from a fatal road traffic collision.

He is familiar with the issues raised at such hearings and is sensitive to the needs and concerns of the parties involved.

For enquiries please contact

Lucy Northeast
Practice Director - Crime & Sports
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

Grant Bidwell
Practice Manager - Crime
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

Shannon Cregg
Assistant Practice Manager - Crime
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

‘He is charismatic, methodical and has an eye for detail. Professional and lay clients respect him a great deal.’


Legal 500 UK 2023

"A clever lawyer with very good judgement. His advocacy is clear and concise. He is a very good member of any team."


Legal 500 2021

"Alistair's personality shines through when advising challenging and vulnerable clients. He is able to put a client at ease and make sure that they know they are being looked after and quell any fears and concerns relating to their case."


Legal 500 2022

  • Grade 4 Prosecutor
  • Appointed to the C List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law

  • PTC, Kaplan Law School
  • GDL, City University, London
  • BA (Hons) History, Merton College, University of Oxford

  • Amicus – Lawyers for Justice on Death Row
  • Health & Safety Lawyers Association

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