Department profile
Compass Chambers

Health & Safety

UK Bar Guide 2026 : Scotland (Bar)

Share profile

Compass Chambers

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Health & Safety - Scotland (Bar)

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Compass Chambers houses a strong bench of advocates who are highly regarded for their expert handling of complex health and safety cases arising across the engineering, oil and gas, rail and construction sectors, among others. The stable is regularly instructed in the most high-profile health and safety cases in the market, including acting on a Fatal Accident Inquiry relating to the death of a pedestrian who was struck by the extended crane outrigger leg of a passing lorry. Sources report that it offers "leading counsel at both junior and senior level," and another interviewee state that the stable's "advocates provide high quality legal advice with an understanding of the commercial impact the advice has".

Gavin Herd is the practice manager.

View ranking table

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Another one of the primary reasons why I use Compass is their client care and responsiveness to any query or issue is unrivalled.

    Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

  • Immediate attention is always given by the clerks.

    Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

  • The clerking team are always responsive, accommodating and proactive in finding suitable counsel, even at short notice.

    Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Barry Smith
    Barry Smith

    Barry Smith

    Barry Smith KC is a regulatory crime specialist with a particular focus on defending clients facing charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. His clientele includes large corporations and individuals from a wide range of industries including oil and gas, transportation and engineering. He has acted in numerous cases relating to fatalities at sea and road traffic accidents.

    • His work is consistently excellent, achieving great results for clients, and he is well respected by everyone who encounters him, including those on the bench.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • He is extremely knowledgeable, diligent and always has a clear understanding of both the case and the needs of the client. He is personable and adaptable and will go above and beyond to assist.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • He has phenomenal knowledge of health and safety law and combines that with being an extremely good advocate who is highly articulate.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • Barry is an exceptional talent. He is extremely bright and able to analyse and distil complex technical evidence with ease. His manner is delightful.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Murdo Macleod
    Murdo Macleod

    Murdo Macleod

    Murdo Macleod KC is an expert criminal silk with extensive experience of health and safety proceedings. He is regularly instructed to defend major corporate entities in high-profile health and safety prosecutions and fatal accident inquiries. He is also sought out for non-contentious health and safety matters.

    • He is great on his feet, I really like him; he is really friendly and he gives sensible advice. He is very good at building rapport with the jury and he is really down to earth.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • He dealt with the case well and very sensitively.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • He is affable and charming with clients but robust and deadly in court - an excellent all-rounder.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Peter Gray
    Peter Gray

    Peter Gray

    Peter Gray KC is an esteemed practitioner who demonstrates considerable expertise in regulatory crime and specifically in health and safety law. He represents prominent clients from various industries, including the construction and hospitality sectors. His capabilities include workplace accidents and fatal accident inquiries.

    • Peter is a true professional. He is skilled in negotiating matters and is a Health and Safety expert who can be relied upon to ensure the very best outcome for clients.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • The leading KC in the country with an enormous level of experience, knowledge and technical ability. Peter's client care skills are most impressive.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • He is excellent in court and strong with clients.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • He has unrivalled experience and boundless energy.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Barney Ross
    Barney Ross

    Barney Ross

    Barney Ross has considerable experience representing clients in cases arising from fatal incidents. He has notable strength acting on behalf of clients facing allegations of gross negligence manslaughter and violations of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

    • He is excellent for health and safety prosecutions and Fatal Accident Inquiries. He's a very safe pair of hands.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • I have been thoroughly impressed with his professionalism and expertise. His attention to detail and calm, confident advocacy has been important in achieving a positive outcome.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • Barney is the best Junior for Health & Safety and regulatory work. He is approachable and friendly and handles clients very well.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Gavin Anderson
    Gavin Anderson

    Gavin Anderson

    Gavin Anderson KC has an impressive portfolio of health and safety defence work. He is especially adept at proceedings arising out of serious injuries or fatalities in the workplace. Other notable mandates include deaths arising from carbon monoxide poisoning and accidents at sea.

    • Gavin is responsive and extremely thorough; I trust his legal analysis and his ability to provide commercial advice.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • He has excellent knowledge of the law and he is easy to work with. He is always impressive with clients.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • Gavin is very approachable and very bright; he has a great deal of experience and has an excellent manner with clients.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • He is a reliable and hard-working advocate.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • His attention to detail and ability to pre-empt the direction a matter is likely to take is unsurpassed.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Mark Stewart
    Mark Stewart

    Mark Stewart

    Mark Stewart KC is a well-regarded barrister with considerable experience in regulatory crime. He regularly defends prosecutions brought under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

    • Mark is brilliant with clients. He can distil complex ideas to lay individuals quickly and easily. He has the ear of the court and is extremely persuasive in representing our corporate clients.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • He is one the finest court practitioners in the land, an excellent KC.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar

    • Mark is extremely experienced and is excellent in court. He has a great manner with clients and is a pleasure to instruct.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Emma Toner
    Emma Toner

    Emma Toner

    Emma Toner KC is regularly instructed in health and safety matters. She is adept at handling cases brought under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Her clients include individuals, companies and public bodies.

    • Emma is hard-working, well prepared and has the client's wellbeing at the forefront of the case.

      Health & Safety respondentUK Bar
    View profile

Ranked Barristers at Compass Chambers (7)

Scotland (Bar)

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership