extremely

client-

focused,

dynamic

and

professional"

Legal 500

Murdo MacLeod QC (Scot.)

Murdo MacLeod QC (Scot.)

Profile

Murdo has extensive experience in various areas of litigation. Between 2005 and 2010 he served as Counsel to the Billy Wright Inquiry, a major public inquiry into alleged Government collusion in the assassination of a prominent Northern Irish prisoner. The Inquiry was the first to be held under the Inquiries Act 2005. He was security cleared to the highest level (DV).

Between 2001 and 2005 he served as Crown Counsel and Senior Crown Counsel in Scotland, leading the prosecution in a variety of high profile cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal, including money-laundering, health and safety, and terrorist cases as well as approximately twenty murder trials. As Crown Counsel he also had responsibility for deciding which cases should be the subject of Fatal Accident Inquiries.

Between 1999 and 2001 he acted as junior counsel for the second accused in the Pan-Am / Lockerbie bombing trial in the Netherlands.

Call: 1994 (Scotland)    2011 (England and Wales)

Notable Cases

  • HMA v Hutchison, 2010-2011: Breach of EU fishing regulations
  • SCCRC petitioners, 2011 JC 18: Scope of Contempt of Court Act
  • HMA v Leask, 2011: Proceeds of crime
  • Billy Wright Inquiry, 2005-2010: Counsel to the Inquiry
  • HMA v Shell (UK) Ltd, 2003: Health and Safety
  • HMA v Malcolm 2002: Breach of money laundering regulations
  • HMA v Wight, 2001: Manslaughter by gross negligence
  • HMA v Megrahi and Fhimah, 1999-2001: Lockerbie/Pan-Am bombing trial

Appointments

  • 2011 - Part-time Sheriff [Recorder]
  • 2008 - Queen's Counsel
  • 2005 -  2010 Counsel to the Billy Wright Inquiry
  • 2004 - 2005 Senior Crown Counsel
  • 2001 - 2003 Crown Counsel
  • 1998 - Crown Counsel (ad hoc)