Compass Chambers

Compass Chambers Annual Conference 2024! We are delighted to advise that registration is now open for our Annual Conference on Friday 22nd November from 12:30pm until 5:30pm at the Balmoral Hotel. Under the Law Society of Scotland's Guidelines, delegates may claim 3 hours of CPD time. The conference is open to all solicitors, in-house lawyers, trainees and paralegals. As with previous events, there will be an admission fee of £100 per delegate. We believe this to be a reasonable charge that will not only help continue the improvements to the Conference in the years ahead, but will also ensure a healthy donation to our annual charity. £35 from each admission fee will be donated to our nominated charity for this year SAMH. To reserve your place at the Conference please click here - https://eur.cvent.me/2dOaZ   Breakout Session 1   Criminal Appeals - Practicalities and Procedure - David Adams QOCS - Recent Developments - Donald Mackay Reivers, Rome and Renegades: Cross-border PI litigation update - Craig Murray KC & Cameron N. Smith Life following Spinal Cord Injury - Secondary complications and the role of Assistive Technology - Norma Jane Findlay, Clinical Director / Care Expert   Breakout Session 2   Health & Safety Update - Barry Smith KC Expert Evidence - An Introduction - Andrew Smith KC Secondary Victims: pre and post Paul - Ross Crawford Factors informing opinion in pain presentations: an integration of symptom report, illness behaviour, pattern recognition, and clinical experience presented as a series of case reviews - Dr Caroline Whymark, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Management   Breakout Session 3   Fatal Accident Inquiries - Preparation, Presentation and Pitfalls - Gavin Anderson KC & Kate Bennett The Practicalities of Expert Evidence - Andrew Smith KC Abuse Cases Update - Amber Galbraith KC & Adam Black Everything you always wanted to know about the Neurology Expert Report - Dr Ed Newman, Consultant Neurologist   Breakout Session 4 The Right to Die - where are we now and what does the future hold? - Richard Pugh KC Expert Evidence - Some Examples - Andrew Smith KC The Return of The Thornley/Laing Podcast – This Time Its Personal (Injuries) - Steve Laing & Gavin Thornley The Medical Expert: what makes me an expert, how do I form an opinion and what are the points of controversy - Robert Clayton, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Whilst there are a large choice of talks available, more popular sessions may sell out quickly so book your place now to avoid disappointment! The Conference will conclude with a drinks reception from 5:30pm to which all attendees are invited. If you have any questions or need any more information about the Conference, please don't hesitate to contact us. Gavin Herd - 0131 260 5648 - gavin.herd@compasschambers.com Leona Crosby - 0131 260 5610 - leona.crosby@compasschambers.com Jamie Black - 0131 260 5697 - jamie.black@compasschambers.com

Compass Chambers is delighted to have once again been recognised as a leading set by Chambers UK in the latest edition of the directory which was published today. Compass has received 52 individual rankings in 6 practice area categories. Compass is also ranked Band 1 as a set in 5 categories – Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Health & Safety, Public and Fatal Inquiries and Product Liability. In Personal Injury, Compass has 24 members ranked individually and as a stable is ranked Band 1. Robert Milligan KC is ranked as a Star Individual in this area and Bruce Langlands is recognised as Up and Coming. The Silks also receiving a ranking are Andrew Smith KC, Angela Grahame KC, FCIArb, Lesley Shand KC, Richard Pugh KC, Steve Love KC, Astrid Smart KC, Calum Wilson KC, Ian Mackay KC, Kay Springham KC, Amber Galbraith KC, David McNaughtan KC, Graeme Middleton KC, Craig Murray KC and Malcolm McGregor KC.  In addition, Gordon Balfour, Barney Ross, David Swanney, Gavin Thornley, Robin Cleland, Kate Bennett, Preston Lloyd and Steve Laing are all ranked as Juniors. In Clinical Negligence, Compass has 13 members ranked and is ranked Band 1 as a set. We have Andrew Smith KC, Astrid Smart KC, Amber Galbraith KC, Kay Springham KC, Richard Pugh KC, Robert Milligan KC and Malcolm McGregor KC ranked as Silks. We also have Kate Bennett, Yvonne Waugh, Barney Ross, David Swanney, Robin Cleland ranked as Juniors. Bruce Langlands is once again ranked as up and coming in this area. In Health & Safety, all 6 of the Advocates ranked by Chambers UK in Scotland come from Compass and the stable is again ranked Band 1 as a set.  Peter Gray KC and Murdo Macleod KC are highlighted as Star Individuals and Barry Smith KC, Mark Stewart KC, Barney Ross and Emma Toner all received a ranking in this area. In Public and Fatal Accident Inquiries Compass has 5 members ranked. It also notes how Advocates from Compass Chambers have appeared in nearly all the major public inquiries in recent years. We have Angela Grahame KC, FCIArb, Murdo Macleod KC, Carla Fraser, Clare Connelly and Emma Toner all ranked in this area. In Product Liability, Compass has 3 members ranked and is ranked Band 1 as a set in this area. Andrew Smith KC, Robert Milligan KC and Clare Connelly all received rankings in this area. Richard Pugh KC has also received a ranking for Media Law. There is also praise for the Clerking team with the directory saying, " The clerking team, led by Gavin Herd, is adaptive, responsive and commercially minded." "Compass Chambers' clerking team are phenomenally helpful. I'd give a special mention to Lesley Hogg, Leona Crosby and Gavin Herd." A full list of the Compass rankings can be found here: https://lnkd.in/g2vtsZxV

Compass Chambers and our members have once again received top rankings from the Legal 500 in the 2025 edition of the directory which has just been published. Compass has received 27 individual rankings across 3 practice areas. Compass is also once again, recognised as a top tier stable in the categories of Personal Injury & Medical Negligence and Crime & Regulatory. In Personal Injury and Medical Negligence, Compass has 15 members ranked and the directory says that Compass is “the premier stable in Scotland for personal injury disputes”. We have an impressive number of silks recognised in this area with  Angela Grahame KC, FCIArb, Robert Milligan KC, Lesley Shand KC, Astrid Smart KC, Amber Galbraith KC, Steve Love KC, Graeme Middleton KC, Kay Springham KC and Calum Wilson KC all ranked as Leading Silks. In addition Kate Bennett, Robin Cleland, Barney Ross, Clare Connelly, Bruce Langlands and Gavin Thornley are all ranked as Leading Juniors. In Crime and Regulatory, Compass has 10 members ranked and the directory says that Compass is “the go-to stable for health and safety in Scotland’. It also reports “Compass Chambers attracts praise as ‘one of the first-choice stables for inquiry and reparation work”. We have Peter Gray KC, Murdo Macleod KC, Barry Smith KC, Gavin Anderson KC, Angela Grahame KC, FCIArb and Mark Stewart KC ranked as Leading Silks. We also have Barney Ross, Emma Toner, Clare Connelly and Carla Fraser ranked as Leading Juniors.   We also have 2 members ranked in the Administrative and Public Law category with Kay Springham KC ranked as a Leading Silk and Dominic Scullion ranked as a Leading Junior. There is also praise for the Clerking team with the directory reporting “Gavin Herd is extremely efficient, organised and will also go the extra mile to help. He is also lovely to deal with. Lesley Hogg is also excellent and very helpful” It also states, “Gavin and the team are very professional and prompt in dealing with matters.' A full list of the rankings for the Scottish Bar can be found here. https://lnkd.in/eXi2AMq3

Annual Conference 2024 – SAVE THE DATE We will be hosting our Annual Conference on Friday 22 November 2024 at The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh. Further details to follow shortly…

We are delighted to announce the appointments of new silks Craig Murray KC and David Nicolson KC. Craig and David were among 23 new King's Counsel appointed by His Majesty The King on the recommendation of First Minister John Swinney. The rank of King’s Counsel is generally reserved for those who have distinguished themselves in practice in the Supreme Courts. Advocates and Solicitors with Rights of Audience in the Supreme Courts are eligible to apply to the Lord Justice General, Scotland’s senior judge. Before making nominations to the First Minister, the Lord Justice General consults other judges, the Lord Advocate, the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates and the President of the Law Society of Scotland. Craig has busy Personal Injury Practices in both Scotland and England. He is also regularly instructed in medical negligence actions and commercial disputes and he recently returned to practice following a 3 year term as Crown Counsel. David has a well established Regulatory Crime practice and has particular experience of cases involving fatal road traffic accidents. He was a full time Advocate Depute from 2011-2015 including spending two years in the National Sex Crimes Unit in Crown Office. Compass Practice Manager Gavin Herd said "We are very pleased for Craig and David on their appointments. Both have busy and successful practices as Junior Counsel and we are sure that will continue now they have taken silk. We wish them all the very best in their careers as Senior Counsel". Full details of all of the appointments can be found here -

Compass are delighted to welcome Gavin Anderson KC back to practice after serving as a full time Advocate Depute in Crown Office since 2021. As a member of the Principal Crown Counsel Team, Gavin was Lead Crown Counsel for the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit and the Health and Safety Investigation Unit. In addition to conducting criminal trials and appeals, he oversaw the investigation of many complex health and safety incidents, especially fatal fires and construction site incidents. He also had extensive involvement in the work of the Road Traffic Fatalities Investigation Unit. Gavin appeared as Senior Counsel for the Procurator Fiscal in the M9 Fatal Accident Inquiry into the deaths of John Yuill and Lamara Bell. Gavin remains an ad hoc Advocate Depute. Compass Practice Manager Gavin Herd said “We are delighted to welcome Gavin back to practice. Having taken silk whilst in Crown Office, Gavin will provide a real boost to the Senior Counsel offering in our Regulatory Crime and Inquiries teams.” More information about Gavin can be found on his webpage here - https://lnkd.in/esf7ebJX

We are delighted to welcome Ross Crawford, Donald Mackay and Rebecca Osborne to Compass after all three called to the Bar today. Prior to calling to the Bar, Ross worked with the international law firm, Clyde & Co, and typically handled an interesting and complex range of matters involving fatalities and complex injuries. He handled Court of Session medical negligence cases and was instructed on numerous COVID-19 fatal cases. Ross brings with him specialist expertise in handling medicolegal matters ranging from catastrophic injury to medical negligence. He also has experience of public and fatal accident inquiries. Donald previously practiced at a large personal injury firm for 7 years. He has experience of a wide variety of personal injury cases including road traffic accidents, employer’s liability, and industrial disease claims. He has been instructed in cases involving fatal accidents and complex future loss claims. He has a particular interest in cases arising from accidents abroad, with extensive experience of aviation and offshore claims and jurisdictional disputes. With 12 years in practice as a solicitor working in both the private and public sector, Rebecca has a broad range of criminal experience including conducting both summary and sheriff and jury trials, as well as representing clients at tribunal and in proceeds of crime cases. She received accreditation from the Law Society of Scotland as a trauma informed solicitor in 2023. During devilling Rebecca has been involved in reparation (for both pursuers and defenders) in ASPIC and the Court of Session. She has experience of both personal injury and clinical negligence cases including claims for catastrophic injury and industrial disease. Compass Practice Manager Gavin Herd said “We are very pleased that Ross, Donald and Rebecca chose to join Compass. They will provide additional strength across our core areas of practice and we wish them all the very best in their careers at the Bar.” Further details about Ross, Donald and Rebecca can be found on their pages on our website - https://lnkd.in/e74-RSgF 

We look forward to welcoming you all today to our Glasgow Reparation Conference which is being held at 200 Conference & Events Ltd, St Vincent Street. Registration opens from 1pm.

We look forward to welcoming you all today to our Glasgow Reparation Conference which is being held at 200 Conference & Events Ltd, St Vincent Street. Registration opens from 1pm.

We look forward to welcoming you all today to our Glasgow Reparation Conference which is being held at 200 Conference & Events Ltd, St Vincent Street. Registration opens from 1pm.