Emma's principal areas of practice are regulatory crime and Fatal Accident Inquiries.
She has extensive experience of cases brought under the Road Traffic Act 1988, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. She is regularly instructed in the High Court of Justiciary and Sheriff Courts across Scotland, both as sole Counsel and as Junior Counsel to Senior. She has conducted a wide range of trials, under both statute and common law, including cases involving financial crime. She is ranked as a Leading Junior in the Legal 500 UK 2020 in the field of Regulatory and Health and Safety.
She has been instucted in numerous Fatal Accident Inquiries, involving a broad spectrum of issues. She has been instructed in Inquiries on behalf of companies, public bodies, professionals and private individuals. In 2018- 2019, she acted on behalf of the aircraft manufacturer in the Inquiry into the deaths at the Clutha Bar, Glasgow. She is currently instructed on behalf of the aircraft manufacturer in the Inquiry into the deaths following the Superpuma ditching at Sumburgh in 2013. She has an in-depth knowledge of the Fatal Accident Inquiry legislation and has delivered numerous seminars on the topic. She is adept at dealing with technical and procedural issues in both the preparation and presentation of all cases in which she is instructed.
Emma has been regularly instructed in reparation cases, including fatal claims. She is instructed as Junior counsel on behalf of multiple pursuers in the group litigation pending before the Court of Session in relation to the transvaginal mesh litigation.
Emma has delivered legal training to specialist inspectors within the Health and Safety Executive, both in Scotland and in England, and is involved as an examiner for the Health and Safety Executive legal assessment program. Emma provides legal advice to a group of newspapers in relation to media law issues including contempt of court and defamation. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Emma is the Editor of Session Cases law reports.