Biography
Rhian is a solicitor in Ashfords LLP’s Business Risk & Regulation team. She works closely with Ian Manners, partner and head of department, with a primary focus on health and safety and environmental regulation. Rhian also advises on a range of regulatory matters, including data protection, product safety, food safety and hygiene, and healthcare compliance.
A significant part of Rhian’s practice involves advising clients involved in inquests, public inquiries, and regulatory investigations and prosecutions. She has supported a wide range of clients—including individuals, charities, and corporate entities—through complex and often high-profile proceedings. Rhian is particularly focused on developing her expertise in this area and is committed to providing clear, strategic, and compassionate support throughout these sensitive processes.
Rhian also regularly collaborates with the firm’s commercial and corporate teams, providing regulatory and litigation due diligence in large-scale mergers and acquisitions.
Prior to joining Ashfords, Rhian worked in-house as a Clinical Negligence Paralegal for the NHS, where she supported the progression and settlement of high-value, complex clinical negligence claims.
Relevant experience
Inquests and Inquiries
- Supporting a number of witnesses in the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry
- Assisting with advising a scout leader at an inquest concerning three scout leaders, following the death of a scout in August 2018 in the Great Orme, North Wales
- Supporting a leading homelessness charity in numerous inquests where the charity was appointed as an Interested Party, including both Jamieson and Middleton inquests
- Supporting families who are Interested Parties in inquests
Health and Safety
- Assisting with written submissions to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on behalf of a farm’s company director and employees, following a fatality investigation
- Assisting with successful written submissions to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on behalf of an NHS Trust, following a serious incident on Trust estate
Environmental
- Assisting the defence in a prosecution brought by the Environment Agency against a dairy farm for alleged offences under:
- Environmental Protection Act 1990
- Water Resources (Control of Pollution) (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (England) Regulations 2010
- Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
- Assisting the defence in a prosecution brought by a local authority against a housing developer for alleged offences under:
- The Clean Air Act 1993
- Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
Other Regulatory Work
- Providing written representations to YouTube to seek the removal of drone footage in breach of data protection and drone operation regulations.
- Assisting with regulatory advice to port and harbour operators on a range of compliance matters.
- Advising on internal policy drafting and implementation to clients across a range of sectors.
