Kathryn Kligerman

Partner

Areas of Expertise

Kathryn leads the specialist health & safety team at Devonshires. Kathryn has a specialist focus on crisis management and supporting clients in the immediate aftermath of a health & safety incident, including managing stakeholders and media involvement. Clients benefit from Kathryn’s calm manner when dealing with what can be highly stressful and emotional circumstances.

Kathryn advises clients in relation to criminal investigations and prosecutions under the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Regulator Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and subordinate legislation. Kathryn has experience liaising with and responding to investigations by regulatory bodies (whether that is the Health & Safety Executive, the Police, the local fire & rescue service or the local authority).

As well as dealing with prosecutions, Kathryn has extensive experience acting for building owners and landlords in the coronial inquest process following an unexplained death, providing invaluable advice to clients trying to navigate other potentially inter-related prosecutions (criminal and civil).

As well as dealing with the contentious elements of health & safety law, Kathryn also offers clients support by helping them think about their health & safety risk profile, how to interpret the law and understand their legal obligations and duties, and how to apply their policies and procedures in a practical and meaningful way. Kathryn and her team provide extensive training sessions to operational teams, executive teams and Boards to ensure that everyone within a client business understands their duties and how to discharge them. As part of that role Kathryn very often reviews and drafts health & safety policies and procedures to ensure they are legally compliant.

Kathryn also has over 15 years’ experience advising on all aspects of contentious construction law. Kathryn advises on the merits of construction disputes and represents clients in adjudication, meditation, expert determination and litigation (in the Technology & Construction Court). She has a particular interest in advising on disputes relating to fire and structural safety.

Experience

Prior to working at Devonshires Kathryn trained and qualified at the international firm Squire Patton Boggs (which was previously Hammonds). Kathryn qualified into the Hammonds construction and engineering team in Birmingham where she gained invaluable experience acting for public bodies such as Regional Development Agency’s and Local Councils, private developers and contractors.

Publications

Kathryn regularly contributes to Devonshires’ Construction Brief.

Education

Kathryn graduated from the University of Leicester with an LLB (Hons) in Law, before completing her LPC at the College of Law in Birmingham.

Personal

Kathryn is a fan of all sport but particularly cricket and football. If they lived closer Kathryn and her husband would love to have season tickets at Anfield. Kathryn’s other passion is horses which keeps her out in the fresh air when she isn’t in the office.

Professional Memberships

Kathryn is a member of the Society of Construction Law (SCL) and the Institution of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH).

Notable Cases

Kathryn is currently advising a social housing provider in respect of multi-party criminal prosecution brought by the local fire & rescue service.

Kathryn has recently advised in respect of an inquest relating to the death of a resident in a fire which started in his flat.

Kathryn is advising in relation to a tall building 9olver 18meters in height) which needed to be decanted due to structural defects (both design and workmanship). A claim is being made against the original developer and contractor.

Kathryn is currently advising a large London based registered provider in relation to a defective housing scheme. The defects relate to the operation of the heating and hot water system and the common problem of overheating in the communal areas. Due to her commercial awareness Kathryn has been able to assist the client in managing the resident’s expectations and to mitigate their losses.