Alex Stein
- Recorder 2023 (SSO ticket)
- Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Court) 2021
- List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law (List A)
- CPS Grade 4 (RASSO)
- Criminal Bar Association
- Fraud Lawyers Association
- Health & Safety Lawyers Association (Management Committee Member)
- Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
- “Alex is an authoritative advocate who immediately commands respect so people listen to him. He gets to grips extremely quickly with the facts and demonstrates great judgement as well as an ability to work efficiently.” Legal 500 2025 (Crime)
- “Alex is an impressive advocate, who clearly knows his tribunal well and is measured yet determined in his submissions.” Legal 500 2025 (Health and Safety)
- “Alexander is a very safe pair of hands.” Chambers and Partners 2025 (Health and Safety)
- “He is so down to earth, very good at recognising the stresses and strains of a matter, and is very collaborative in his working style.” Chambers & Partners 2024 (Health & Safety)
- “Alex is excellent, providing thorough and extremely helpful advice not only in a calm and measured way but also in terms readily understandable by the client.” Legal 500 2024
- “Alex is one of the leading juniors in the field. He is known for his eye for detail and his ability to consider the long-term strategy of any case.” Legal 500 2023 (Health and Safety)
- “He is always responsive and approachable.” “A real details man and an effective cross-examiner.” “He has real gravitas in court and has a thorough command of his cases.” Chambers & Partners 2022
- “Alex is a fantastic health and safety lawyer. He is able to discuss at length the intricacies of any case based on his knowledge of the relevant legislation and case law” Legal 500 2022
- “A very bright and a great regulatory crime lawyer.” Legal 500 2021
- “A force to be reckoned with who displays excellent attention to detail.” Legal 500 2017 (Regulatory Law)
- “Specialist in Criminal Fraud and Financial Cases.” Legal 500 2017 (Crime)
- “Recommended for inquest and regulatory work.” Legal 500 2016
- “He is quite simply a wonder to behold, with a fantastic feel for contested litigation.” Legal 500 2015
Instructing Alex Stein
To instruct Alex or for any further information please contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7440 8888 or clerks@2br.co.uk.
Alex Stein is a leading regulatory law barrister with a nationwide practice, ranked on the List A of Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health & Safety and Environmental Law. A CPS Grade 4 prosecutor, Deputy District Judge (Crime) and Recorder (Crime & Serious Sexual Offences), Alex brings his authoritative expertise to both complex and high-profile cases.
Regulatory Prosecution & Defence
Alex prosecutes workplace fatalities and linked manslaughter cases (corporate and gross negligence) for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Local Authorities, and the CPS. He has deep experience in mechanical and transport-related deaths, often acting in cases involving complex regulatory breaches.
He regularly prosecutes for the Environment Agency and The Pensions Regulator, including in high-profile matters such as the collapse of British Home Stores.
On the defence side, Alex represents individuals and corporates in health & safety, environmental, and food safety prosecutions, often funded by insurers. He is on the approved panel for all major insurers and has a strong track record defending drivers charged with fatal road traffic offences.
Notable Cases & Advocacy
- Landmark POCA Appeal: Successfully represented the appellant in R v Pace [2014] 1 Cr.App.R 34, a key ruling on the Proceeds of Crime Act.
- Acts for both the HSE and corporates at inquests into work-related deaths.
- Sole counsel for the Fire Service during the Hillsborough Inquests (2014–2015).
- Represented ex-paratroopers in the Ballymurphy Massacre Inquests (2019–2020).
Alex combines courtroom authority with in-depth knowledge of regulatory frameworks, making him a go-to barrister for high-stakes regulatory, criminal, and inquest work.
Practice Areas
Alex Stein is a nationally recognised Health and Safety barrister, ranked in both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. He has been on the List A of approved advocates to prosecute for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Environment Agency since 2012, and brings over a decade of experience in complex regulatory law.
Specialist in Workplace Fatality Cases
Alex regularly prosecutes workplace deaths for the HSE and Local Authorities, and is equally experienced in defending individuals and corporates—often with insurer-backed representation—facing health and safety prosecutions.
Pre-Charge & Inquest Advisory
He provides strategic pre-charge advice, including both post-inquest and pre-enforcement stages. Recent instructions include:
- A local authority investigating a fatal fall at a climbing centre
Vehicle-Related Health & Safety Expertise
With a strong background in road traffic law, Alex has a deep understanding of:
- Collision investigation evidence
- Workplace vehicle / pedestrian segregation
He is frequently instructed in regulatory investigations involving workplace vehicle collisions, where HSE or local authorities—not police—lead enforcement.
Leadership & Education
Alex chairs the 2BR Health and Safety Group and is a sought-after speaker on Health and Safety, Environmental, and Coronial Law. He delivers training and lectures nationwide to legal and regulatory professionals.
Notable health & safety cases
HSE v E Ltd [2025]
Defending a subcontractor prosecuted following an electrocution on site. Prosecution offered no evidence following service of the defence statement.
HSE v B Ltd [2024]
Prosecution following a fatality during a lifting operation. £1.6m fine.
HSE v AHL [2024]
Prosecution of a building company following a fatal fall from height. Defendant pleaded guilty on day 3 of the trial.
HSE v DMG [2024]
Prosecution of company for failings in a design review and inspections for a fair ground ride following a serious head injury to a passenger.
HSE v CA Ltd [2023]
Defending corporate charged with guarding failings at a facility in South Wales. Prosecution offered no evidence following service of the Defence Statement.
HSE V M & Z [2023]
Prosecution of F1 team and insurer inspection company following fatal fall from height. Leading Chris Saad.
HSE v FF9 Ltd [2023]
Prosecution of the production company for the film Fast and Furious 9 following a serious brain injury accident to a stunt actor during production. £800,000 fine.
R v Alutrade Ltd [2022]
Prosecution of a waste processing company for corporate manslaughter. Company and directors convicted and High Court Judge accepted prosecution submissions of level A culpability for CM. (Led by Christine Agnew KC).
HSE v PGMS, EES and LS [2021]
Prosecution of 3 corporates following a life changing brain injury at a building site. Successful application to exclude a defence expert as inadmissible at trial. All 3 defendants convicted.
WBC v FRC [2021]
Leading Junior in defence of corporate charged with HSWA offences involving a workplace death after the DP chased after a runaway RCV. Successful legal argument on the jurisdictional limit of local authority enforcement.
Alex Stein is a trusted regulatory law specialist with extensive experience across Fire Safety, Food Safety, Environmental Law (List A for the Environment Agency), and Care Quality Commission (CQC) prosecutions. Known for his sharp advocacy and strategic insight, Alex is regularly instructed in high-stakes regulatory enforcement and compliance matters.
Specialist in Professional Discipline & Tribunals
Alex sits as a legal advisor on disciplinary panels and represents professionals in medical and financial regulatory tribunals. He is frequently instructed by the Police Federation in police misconduct hearings and disciplinary proceedings.
Landmark Case: ADIPS Disciplinary Panel
In 2025, Alex acted for the Amusement Devices Inspection Procedures Scheme (ADIPS) before the Amusement Devices Safety Council, securing the first-ever successful revocation of a registered inspection body—a landmark decision in safety regulation.
Public Inquiries & Transport Regulation
Alex appears before the Traffic Commissioner at Public Inquiries on behalf of corporates, operator licence holders, and transport managers, and has trained VOSA prosecutors on enforcement strategy and case handling.
Direct Access & Advisory Work
He is available for pre-charge regulatory advice and often accepts direct access instructions, providing early, strategic input in often complex enforcement matters.
Alex undertakes a wide range of Regulatory Work. He is often instructed in Fire Safety, Food Safety, Environment Agency [List A] and Care Quality Commission (CQC) cases.
He sits as a legal advisor on disciplinary tribunals and represents professionals at medical and financial tribunals. He is regularly instructed by the Police Federation in Police disciplinary proceedings.
He is instructed to appear at Public Inquiries before the Traffic Commissioner on behalf of Corporates, Operator Licence holders and Transport Managers and has provided training to VOSA prosecutors.
He is available for pre-charge advice and often accepts instructions on a direct basis for such work.
Notable regulatory cases
Successful disciplinary proceedings in front of the Amusement Devices Safety Council Disciplinary Panel revoking the registration of an inspection body for fairground rides. The case featured in BBC Panorama documentary.
EA v M [2025]
Prosecution of 3 individuals for regulation 12 EPR 2016 breaches. Guilty pleas and ongoing proceeds of crime.
RE- PC KB [2025]
Police Disciplinary for Essex PC originally accused of rape and then sexual gross misconduct. Finding of misconduct only.
RE- PC B [2024]
Police Disciplinary for Norfolk PC accused of sexual misconduct. Final written warning despite finding of gross misconduct.
RE- PC S [2023]
Police disciplinary for Essex PC accused of gross misconduct following operational duty failings.
HMRC v PM Ltd (2022)
Advice and first tier representation in Border Force bullion seizure. BF withdrew the forfeiture application.
CPFSI v S Ltd [2021]
Successful appeal of an enforcement notice served by the Crown Premises Fire Safety Inspectorate in relation to automatic fire detection in a privately run HM prison.
LBWF v Stonegate Group [2020]
Plea and mitigation on behalf of major pub chain following rodent infestation in Waltham Forest. Successfully limited the fine to a local failing on the basis of primary authority control.
VOSA v CT Ltd [2020]
Successful public inquiry where the TC allowed an operator to maintain their OL after numerous construction and use breaches.
LCC v Stonegate Group [2019]
Pub chain prosecuted following a rodent infestation at the Liverpool branch. The sentencing court accepted that the breaches were limited and that the Company had responded in a responsible fashion. Limited fine imposed.
EA v BKP Waste & Recycling Limited [2018]
Company prosecuted by the Environment Agency following a large oil spill in Christchurch. BKP were prosecuted for a breach of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010. Limited fine of £10,200.
Alex Stein is a leading barrister for Coroner’s Inquests, with extensive experience representing insurers, employers, individuals, and medical professionals in workplace death and road traffic fatality inquests.
Early Instruction & Strategic Pre-Inquest Advice
Alex is frequently instructed at the pre-inquest stage, providing early legal advice and representation to help clients navigate complex coronial investigations and protect their interests.
Expert in Coronial Law & Procedure
Alex has in-depth knowledge of Coroner reforms and the Coroners (Inquests) Rules 2013. His expertise ensures clients are guided through the inquest process with precision and strategic foresight.
Specialist Instructions include:
- Motoring fatalities involving insurer-backed representation
- Workplace deaths involving health and safety investigations
Thought Leader in Coronial Practice.
A respected speaker, Alex regularly delivers lectures and training on Coronial Law, Health and Safety, and inquest procedure to legal and regulatory professionals.
Notable coroner's inquests cases
Re WF [2023]
Instructed on behalf of a locum doctor following a mesothelioma death.
Re JB [2022]
Instructed on behalf of a local authority and their employees after a cyclist was killed by a rubbish truck.
Re JLB (2022)
Instructed on behalf of a probation employee following a drugs death at a probation hostel immediately following licence release from prison.
Re JL [2022]
Instructed on behalf of a security company following the restraint of an individual suffering an episode at the Excel Centre.
Re SA [2021]
Representing a fight promoter following fatal injuries to a fighter at a kick boxing event.
Re MTS [2020]
Instructed by an American corporate in relation to a workplace fatality in Birmingham.
Re KF [2020]
Instructed in behalf of a driver previously acquitted of causing death by careless driving.
Ballymurphy [2019-2021]
Representation on behalf of a number of ex-military witnesses at the Ballymurphy Massacre Inquests in Belfast.
Re ALJ [2018]
Instructed on behalf of the HSE following an explosion at a titanium processing plant. The case involved complex expert evidence in relation to the mechanics of the failure.
Hillsborough Inquests
Alex was the sole advocate instructed on behalf of the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service throughout the 2014-2016 inquest. The FS required specific advice and representation in relation to the role of SYFRS in approving the stadium safety in the years preceding the disaster.
Alex Stein is a leading financial crime barrister, with deep expertise in fraud, money laundering, proceeds of crime (POCA), and corruption cases. He acts as both junior and leading junior counsel, prosecuting and defending in complex, high-value financial investigations.
Serious Fraud & White-Collar Crime
- Instructed in multiple Serious Fraud Office (SFO) prosecutions
- Regularly advises pre-charge on criminal and regulatory liability
- Experienced in complex corporate and individual fraud investigations
Alex prosecutes on behalf of The Pensions Regulator (TPR) and is recognised for his specialist knowledge of pensions law and related compliance breaches.
Cybercrime & Intellectual Property Offences
Alex has acted in cases involving:
- Internet fraud
- Hacking and cybercrime
- Copyright infringement and illegal file sharing
He defended the owner of oink.cd in the UK’s first criminal trial involving a BitTorrent website, resulting in a high-profile acquittal at Teesside Crown Court.
Proceeds of Crime & Forfeiture
Alex has in-depth experience with the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), including:
- Confiscation proceedings
- Asset recovery
- Civil forfeiture
Notable fraud cases
Operation Cardinal [2022]
Leading Junior in TPR prosecution of a £13.7m pensions liberation fraud. Both defendants extradited from Spain under European Arrest Warrants and sentenced to substantial prison terms in April 22. Successful POCA application concluded in 2024.
R v MH [2021]
Prosecution of RBS employee charged with theft of £790,000 in cash by manipulating the internal bank computer systems. 5 year prison sentence and ongoing POCA.
Operation Avocet [2019]
Successful TPR fraud prosecution against the Trustees of a scheme where funds were liberated and used for personal gain. 5 year prison sentence and successful POCA application.
TPR v DC [2018]
Well publicised TPR prosecution of the British Homes Stores owner arising from events following the collapse into administration.
Operation Angle [2017]
5-month education fraud trial prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office with over 250,000 pages of used evidence.
TPR v Ashley Wilson LLP [2016-2017]
First prosecution brought by the Pensions Regulator in relation to a failure to respond to section 72 Pensions Act 2004 notices.
R v Pace [2014] 1 Cr.App.R 34
The leading case in relation to the required mens rea in criminal attempts. Alex successfully appealed a conviction for an attempted offence under section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Alex Stein is a highly experienced criminal barrister with a standout reputation in death by dangerous driving and serious motoring offences. He has acted in over 100 fatal driving cases, regularly instructed by leading insurers and civil litigators where criminal and civil proceedings overlap. Alex is on the approved panel for all major insurers and is widely known among collision investigation experts.
Motoring & Driving Offences
- Fatal and serious injury driving cases
- Private representation in all motoring offences
- Direct access and solicitor referrals accepted
Serious Crime – Defence & Prosecution
Alex is a CPS Grade 4 prosecutor and member of the CPS Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) panel, prosecuting and defending in serious criminal cases including:
- Murder and attempted murder
- Kidnapping
- Serious violence and drug conspiracies
He is regularly instructed privately in sexual offence and violent crime cases, offering discreet, expert representation.
Mental Health & Youth Justice Expertise
Alex has significant experience representing defendants with mental health conditions, including dementia, schizophrenia, and psychosis. He is fully conversant with:
- Fitness to plead
- Intermediary assessments
- Insanity defences
He also has a strong track record in defending youth defendants in the Crown Court and Youth Court.
Notable crime cases
R v JM [2025]
Representing a Police Constable charged with sexual assault in a nightclub. Trial 2025.
R v K [2025]
Prosecution of a young mother for gross negligence manslaughter following the death of an infant in a road traffic collision when the baby seat had not been properly secured. Trial 2025.
R v RR [2025]
Successful defence in death by careless driving prosecution where a motorcyclist was killed when RR undertook a u-turn manoeuvre on the A2.
R v KWC [2025]
Prosecution of s16 Firearms Act 1968 and drug supply offences based on circumstantial evidence with complex DNA defence evidence. KWC convicted on all counts.
R v AK [2024]
Representing a farmer charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving when his load of bails fell during transportation. The case involved expert HSE and collision investigation evidence. Following a hung jury the prosecution accepted a plea to the alternative causing serious injury by careless driving.
R v CM [2024]
Defending a bus driver charged with causing death by dangerous driving. Successfully dismissed the charge following cross examination of the prosecution expert at a dismissal hearing. HHJ found the prosecution expert unreliable.
R v CN [2024]
Prosecution for s18 OAPA where victim left in a coma. Circumstantial case. Since the defendant’s conviction the victim has died. Ongoing murder prosecution.
R v D’Wit [2024]
Prosecution of the double murderer. LDW stood trial for poisoning a married couple with fentanyl. The case involved complex analysis of numerous electronic devices and complex toxicology evidence. Led by Tracy Ayling KC.
R v EB [2024]
Defending an HGV driver charged with 4 death by dangerous and 4 serious injury by dangerous charges following a collision on the M25. Following a review of the CCTV the prosecution expert changed opinion on day 2 of the trial. Prosecution accepted pleas to lesser offences.
R v SS [2023]
Causing death by careless driving. Uber driver charged after being t-boned by a speeding driver in Fulham causing a death and a serious injury. Prosecution offered no evidence after a joint conference with the prosecution expert collision investigator.
R v VB [2023]
Prosecution of defendant with severe psychosis for attempted murder of Police Officer. Insanity defence rejected.
R v JW [2023]
Causing death by careless driving- Defendant, 17yo, driving too fast for conditions rolled and killed a passenger 1 month after passing his test. Community order.
R v GB [2023]
Defending in high profile murder trial. Defendant hid body of deceased in Wat Tyler park Basildon. Led by Christine Agnew KC.
R v SW [2023]
Appeal following conviction with different representation in relation to offences under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. CAO accepted the crown court direction was wrong in law. Leading Rhys Rosser. Judgment- [2023] 3 WLUK 516
R v CP [2022]
Prosecution of 15 year old defendant for attempted murder. Self-defence rejected.
