SILK PROFILE

James Leonard KC

UK Bar 2026

Outer Temple Chambers

Ranked in 2 practice areas

Health & Safety

London (Bar)

14 years ranked

Professional Discipline

London (Bar)

14 years ranked

About

Provided by Outer Temple Chambers

Practice Areas

James Leonard KC is an elite advocate specialising in health, safety, and environmental law. He is frequently instructed to defend household-name corporations and public bodies in the wake of unfortunate workplace incidents and corporate manslaughter charges.

His career spans diverse sectors including national electricity infrastructure, rail networks, and heavy industry. James is known for his exceptional "user-friendliness" and his ability to provide clear, strategic guidance at the board level during times of crisis.

James' practice also bridges the gap into business crime and POCA, where he represents high-net-worth individuals and corporate entities in complex financial investigations. He is particularly expert in advising corporate clients and offshore trusts on the impact of restraint orders and internal investigations into employee misconduct.

James also sits as a legal assessor for professional regulators and has a strong record of successfully defending healthcare professionals in disciplinary proceedings involving allegations of serious misconduct.

Career

Called: 1989

Silk: 2023

Professional Memberships

Association of Regulatory & Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL)

Criminal Bar Association (CBA)

Health & Safety Lawyers Association (HSLA)

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Health & Safety - London (Bar)

Band 2

Individual Editorial

James Leonard KC frequently leads in highly complex health and safety cases, acting on behalf of large multinational corporations and company directors. His areas of expertise also include workplace fatalities and corporate manslaughter cases. Leonard has represented household names including British Airways, Virgin Media Group and Sainsburys.

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Professional Discipline - London (Bar)

Band 4

Individual Editorial

James Leonard KC often defends healthcare professionals in regulatory proceedings brought by the GMC, GDC, GPhC and HCPC. He has been instructed to handle appeals in the High Court and has experience working on judicial reviews relating to interim orders.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

He's simply outstanding in every department, he's a joy to work with.
Health & SafetyUK Bar
He's a fantastic all-rounder and James is our go-to counsel. He is technically at the top of his game, has deep experience in regulatory work and has a fantastic manner with clients.
Health & SafetyUK Bar
He is really sensible, has a really good court presence and judges and clients like him.
Health & SafetyUK Bar
His advocacy is incredible. He is an extremely safe pair of hands and you always feel confident when James is on his feet. He has great attention to detail.
Health & SafetyUK Bar
Very good and very eloquent.
Professional DisciplineUK Bar
James Leonard KC is articulate and clever. He's a smooth advocate.
Professional DisciplineUK Bar