Academic and Professional Qualifications:

Experience:

After completing his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in 2001 and 2005 respectively, Tom undertook postdoctoral research on synthetic organic chemistry, first at the University of Leeds and then at RWTH-Aachen, Germany. Tom joined Burgoynes in 2006 and became a Partner in 2021.

He has investigated over 400 cases involving fires, explosions and contamination. These incidents have ranged from small fires in domestic properties to large incidents in commercial and industrial buildings that have resulted in multi-million pound losses. Tom has investigated a wide range of fires including those involving electrical appliances, electrical supply and distribution equipment, vehicles, fixed and portable heating equipment, catering equipment, industrial plant and machinery, deliberate acts of ignition and other forms of human agency. In addition, Tom has investigated explosions involving mains gas, aerosol propellants, and the vapours of flammable liquids. Tom also has experience of assessing the extent of contamination of equipment and stock by smoke produced during fires and by the inadvertent release of chemicals. Notable cases include Limebright, Newport (2007), Chittening Trading Estate, Avonmouth (2008) and Afan Lido, Port Talbot (2009).