Biography

Murdo MacLeod QC specialises in corporate financial, health and safety, and environmental prosecutions, where he is instructed for trials and in an advisory capacity. He regularly acts for major clients in the aviation, oil & gas, construction, engineering, distilling and marine industries. He is also instructed by numerous organisations, including: COPFS, the Scottish Prison Service and various police forces and local authorities. In the legal directories he is listed as a Band 1 leading individual in the fields of criminal law and Health and Safety.

Alongside his regulatory practice, he has appeared in numerous significant Inquiries, such as: the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry (for Siemens), the Superpuma Inquiry (for Eurocopter) the Queensferry Crossing Inquiry (for Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors), and the ‘Billy Wright' Inquiry (as Counsel to the Inquiry). He also accepts instruction in civil matters.

Notable acquittals in criminal trials include Andy Coulson in his trial for perjury and Yousif Badri, a doctor charged with terrorism offences. He has served as Crown Counsel and Senior Crown Counsel and, as junior counsel, represented Lamin Fhimah (the second accused) in the Lockerbie trial in the Netherlands. He is the UK delegate to the CCBE’s criminal law committee, sits as a part-time Sheriff and is also a practising barrister (Temple Garden Chambers).