Murdo Macleod KC

Practice Areas

Murdo is ranked as a “star individual” in the field of Health and Safety, and as a Band 1 Silk In Public & Fatal Accident Inquiries.

He has acted for major clients in the energy, construction, healthcare, and transport sectors, and for various public authorities (police forces, health boards, local authorities, the prison service and relevant regulators).

He regularly acts for high-net-worth individuals, and in “white collar” matters, both at the initial stages of investigation and in trials.

Murdo has appeared in many statutory public inquiries, including: the Billy Wright Inquiry (serving as Counsel to the Inquiry in Northern Ireland between 2005 and 2010), the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry, the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, the Scottish and UK Covid inquiries, the Undercover Policing Inquiry, and the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry.

He served as Crown Counsel and Senior Crown Counsel between 2001 and 2005.

Murdo represented the second accused, Lamin Fhimah, in the Pan-Am/Lockerbie bombing trial in the Netherlands. Other notable High Court acquittals include Andy Coulson in his perjury trial, and Yousif Badri, a Doctor charged with terrorism. He recently defended Police Scotland’s Chief Constable in a landmark prosecution following a missed '999' call.

Murdo is also a practising barrister (Temple Garden Chambers).