SILK PROFILE
Murdo Macleod KC

Murdo Macleod KC

UK Bar 2026

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Chambers ranking badge

Ranked in 2 practice areas

About

Provided by Compass Chambers

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).

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Health & Safety - Scotland (Bar)

Star Individual
Star Individuals

Individual Editorial

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.

Public & Fatal Accident Inquiries - Scotland (Bar)

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial

Murdo Macleod KC is a distinguished silk in the health and safety field and a go-to choice of counsel for Scottish public authorities and private companies. Recently, he has represented core participants in several high-stakes inquiries. Macleod is also licensed to practise as a barrister in England and Wales.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • 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 & SafetyUK Bar
  • He dealt with the case well and very sensitively.

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

    Health & SafetyUK Bar
  • He is extremely experienced, highly intelligent and strategically adept. He has diplomacy, discretion and tact. His advocacy is exceptionally persuasive.

    Public & Fatal Accident InquiriesUK Bar
  • Murdo is pragmatic and collaborative in his approach.

    Public & Fatal Accident InquiriesUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Compass Chambers (53)

Scotland (Bar)

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