Kay’s main fields of practice are Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence, Public Law and Professional Discipline.
Kay accepts instructions for both sides in personal injury and clinical negligence matters. In the personal injury field, her recent practice has included claims for serious head injuries and for catastrophic injuries, fatal claims, historic abuse cases, stress at work claims and accidents at work, including industrial diseases. In clinical negligence, Kay has experience in various areas, but particularly in birth injuries.
In the area of public law, Kay had a wide public law practice as a Standing Junior then Second Standing Junior for the Scottish Ministers. Since taking silk, she has continued to act on behalf of government, but also on behalf of those challenging government and other public bodies. She has a particular interest in human rights and equality issues, having obtained a post-graduate qualification in human rights in Strasbourg prior to coming to the Bar.
In the regulatory and disciplinary context, Kay has advised on and represented solicitors in disciplinary matters, both before the Scottish Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal and the Inner House of the Court of Session. She was appointed as amicus curiae to the Supreme Court in an appeal by a pharmacist. Kay also has experience of determining complaints, having been a Board member of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission for 5 years (2016-2021) She is a legal chair of the Fitness to Practice Panels of the Scottish Social Services Council (which regulates social workers and social care workers). She is Chair of the Appeals Tribunal of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.
