Peter Watson

Career

Since 2015 Professor Watson has led PBW Law, based in Glasgow, which has quickly become the most successful boutique operation in Scotland.

His university education began at the University of Strathclyde where he studied Economics and Psychology. He later studied Law at the University of Edinburgh, and undertook research at the Scandinavian Maritime Law Institute at Oslo University. He also studied Petroleum Law at the University of Dundee.

Professor Peter Watson was one of the first lawyers in Scotland to qualify as a Solicitor Advocate, where he also established the Society of Solicitor Advocates and was their first President.

Over the course of his career, Peter has built an internationally recognised reputation in areas such as media law, licensing, aviation, international claims, public inquiries, employment law and tax and revenue investigations. He has led teams involved in some of the biggest litigation claims in British legal history following major international disasters.

In September 2010 he was appointed as a Visiting Professor in the Law School at the University of Strathclyde and has held positions such as President of the Society of Media Lawyers, Chairman of the Association of Mediators and for 12 years he was Chairman of Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity.

Currently he is President of the British Academy of Forensic Sciences (BAFS).

Professional Memberships

- Legal Network International (LNI)

- British Academy of Forensic Sciences (BAFS)

Work Highlights

Among the many achievements in his career, Professor Watson has played a key role in the following high-profile cases:

- The Piper Alpha Disaster Group

- The Braer Tanker Disaster Group

- The Lockerbie Air Disaster Group

- The RAF Chinook Crash on the Mull of Kintyre

- The Dunblane Primary School Massacre, representing the families of both the bereaved and the survivors

- The Inquiry into the death of rally champion Colin McRae

- The Shirley McKie Fingerprint Inquiry

- The Sheku Bayoh Public Inquiry

- The Covid 19 Public Inquiry

- The Clutha Helicopter Crash

- The Giffnock Helicopter Crash

He has also worked with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. His focus has been on access to justice and the integrity of legal systems in former Soviet Union countries.

Professor Watson was Solicitor of the Year 2008 and has been involved in litigation in 12 countries other than the UK.

Clients

The Scottish Police Federation, The Association of Scottish Police Superintendents and many other public bodies and private individuals.

Practice Areas

Professor Peter Watson is a specialist in Police Law having represented the Scottish Police Federation for 35 years.

Has also has a breadth of expertise and experience in handling litigation complex claims in high-profile disaster cases.

Another one of Professor Watson’s niche areas is in the media and he has advised ITN, Mirror Group Newspapers (Daily Record and Sunday Mail), SMG, Newsquest (The Herald, Sunday Herald and Evening Times) Border television, Channel Four, Reuters, GMTV and Sky News.

Awards