Melinka Berridge

Regulatory Law

Melinka helps regulators and public bodies to take proportionate enforcement action against those who fall short of their standards or break the law.  She also supports regulators to defend against public law challenges to their decision-making. Her current client list includes: The General Dental Council, the Education Workforce Council, and the Teaching Regulation Agency, and the General Pharmaceutical Council.

She is ranked band 2 in Chambers 2024, and a ‘Leading Individual’ in Legal 500 2024 in the field of Professional Discipline.

Health & Safety

Melinka acts for directors and senior officers accused of committing health and safety offences. She also advises boards on what constitutes ‘good governance’ of their regulatory obligations within their organisations. She specialises in advising clients in the leisure and hospitality, and built environment sectors.

She is recognised in Legal 500 2024 as being in the ‘Hall of Fame’ in the field of Health & Safety.

Private Prosecutions

Melinka co-leads the team responsible for advising on and bringing private prosecutions. She helps individuals, corporates and charities to commence criminal proceedings when the state prosecuting agencies are unable or unwilling to act.

Public Inquiries

Melinka has considerable public inquiry experience of representing individuals, institutions, public figures and senior professionals in major public inquiries. Most recently she has represented individuals in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry.

Recent cases

• Advising a client on various matters arising out of the Grenfell Tower fire.
• Advising a corporate and its directors on a private prosecution against a number of competitor businesses regarding a conspiracy to defraud.
• Representing an individual who conducted a private prosecution against a former business partner for forgery in respect of a planning agreement.
• Advising a national charity on the merits of commencing a private prosecution in circumstances where the local authority had failed to prosecute.
• Advising two national industry regulators on the use of criminal investigation and enforcement powers in conjunction with their civil enforcement regime.
• Representing witnesses in state run criminal proceedings to ensure that their interests and reputation were protected throughout the proceedings.
• Advising a Chief Executive of a Fitness Club of his personal liability in respect of regulatory and criminal offences committed within his business.
• Defending an individual who was facing allegations of illegal or unregistered practice by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
• Acting for a several London-based private members’ clubs in respect of their licensing matters.
• Representing an individual subject to a review of their personal management licence by the Gambling Commission.
• Appearing as a presenting officer in various high profile and complex cases on behalf the regulators responsible for regulating the teaching profession in both England and Wales.

What clients and directories say

“She knows her stuff and is very impressive.”
– Chambers and Partners, 2025

“Melinka is very good, sensible and collaborative.”
– Chambers UK 2025 – A Client’s Guide to the UK Legal Profession

“Melinka Berridge is absolutely first-rate in every aspect of work.”
– Legal 500 UK, 2025

“Melinka Berridge is absolutely first-rate in every aspect of work.”
– Legal 500 UK, 2025

“An extremely talented and accomplished lawyer. Her comprehensive sector knowledge and her knowledge of our needs means that we have great confidence in her ability to effectively manage and progress our cases efficiently.”
– Chambers UK, A Client’s Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2024

“She’s great; she’s practical and very impressive.”
– Chambers UK, A Client’s Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2024

“Melinka is very knowledgeable and experienced.”
– Chambers UK 2024 – A Client’s Guide to the UK Legal Profession

“She has phenomenal knowledge of private prosecutions.”
– Chambers UK 2023 – A Client’s Guide to the UK Legal Profession

“Melinka Berridge is in a league of her own. Not only does she have a first-class legal mind but she is a brilliant strategist and is hardworking and totally committed to the best outcome for her clients. She is also an absolute joy to work with – bringing a unique and positive energy to even the most taxing of situations.”
– Legal 500 UK, 2023

“Melinka Berridge is extremely knowledgeable on all aspects of regulatory law, and this extends to a remarkable knowledge of even the minutiae of the many cases on which we instruct the team to take forward. She is always approachable and available to offer advice when we need it and always prepared to go the extra mile.”
– Legal 500 UK, 2022

“She is absolutely excellent, approachable and a team player. She has a sharp intellect, is commercial and is a very personable colleague.”
– Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession,  2021

“She has excellent knowledge and is flexible in her approach to issues.”
– Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession,  2021

“She is bright, knowledgeable, solution-driven and empathetic.”
– Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession,  2021

“She is extremely impressive, has extensive knowledge and achieves great results for clients.”
– Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2020

“Melinka Berridge is extremely experienced – there are not many issues which she has not come across and tackled before. The breadth of her knowledge on regulatory issues and processes is staggering; she is a real heavyweight, and definitely someone clients want in their corner.”
– Legal 500 UK, 2020

“Her knowledge of the regulatory process and issues is excellent and her attention to detail is second to none.”
– Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2018

“In command, utterly organised and entirely efficient.”
– Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession,  2017

“Astute, inventive and clever.”
– Legal 500 UK, 2017

“Talented, very intelligent and very well thought of in the space.”
– Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2016

“Outstanding in terms of preparation and presentation.”
– Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2015

“Is considered ‘exceptionally well-prepared, concise, articulate, responsive and unfailingly courteous’.”
– Legal 500 UK, 2014

“Known for the high calibre of her work. Sources describe her as ‘an unsung hero’ and ‘a heavyweight’.”
– Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession,  2014

“The ‘truly outstanding’ Melinka Berridge, who leads the team that acts for the National College for Teaching and Leadership, is considered ‘exceptionally well-prepared, concise, articulate, responsive and unfailingly courteous’.”
– Legal 500 UK 2014

“Has total command, meticulous preparation and I think she’s outstanding in all respects…”
– Chambers UK,  A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2013

Professional Societies & Memberships