Barry Smith KC

Year of Call 2005 Year of Silk 2020

"A true specialist in health & safety, with a formidable intellect. Superbly focussed on his feet in court. An excellent communicator." - Legal 500 2022

"An exceptional advocate who has an excellent court manner. There's a very calm authority about him in court... [H]e's a highly persuasive advocate." - Chambers UK Bar 2021

Barry is a recognised specialist in Regulatory and Health & Safety work, and in Fatal Accident Inquiries.

His regulatory practice includes financial crime, computer crime and environmental offences. He regularly advises and represents those charged with offences arising from fatal road traffic accidents, and in relation to deaths in aviation and at sea. He is experienced in the conduct of complex and high profile Fatal Accident Inquiries, notably those arising from investigations by the AAIB and MAIB having acted for the Civil Aviation Authority and frequently for the owners and operators of commercial vessels.

His principal specialism is in the defence of charges under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and related Regulations. He is described as having "in-depth knowledge of health and safety law" (Legal 500), having been instructed in many of the significant health and safety cases in Scotland in the past decade including Scottish Power Generation Ltd (in the Court of Appeal on sentencing guidelines) and Chevron North Sea Ltd (in the UK Supreme Court on the scope of Enforcement Notice Appeals) . He acts for major clients in the engineering, oil & gas, rail, aviation, maritime, construction, road transport and retail industries.

Contact Us

  • Compass Chambers
    Parliament House
    Edinburgh
    EH1 1RF