Richard Pugh KC

Year of Call 2008 Year of Silk 2022

"Richard Pugh is a high-quality advocate who is well liked."
"He is a very good negotiator."
"Richard is extremely knowledgeable, personable and approachable." - Chambers UK Bar 2023

 

Richard has a varied civil practice, with a focus on clinical negligence, personal injury and inquiries (both public and fatal accident). 

In addition, Richard has acted in a significant number of judicial reviews, having been appointed a Standing Junior Counsel to the Advocate General in 2015. He has also acted in a number of commercial causes, defamation actions and in regulatory appeals, both before disciplinary tribunals and concerning improvement notices. 

Richard sits as a chair of Conduct in Sport Panels for Scottish Gymnastics. 

Representative Cases

Warner v Scapa Flow Charters 2019 SC (UKSC) 1 - Acted for child of deceased father in appeal to the UKSC concerning limitation under the Athens Convention. 

MacBean v Scottish Water [2021] CSIH 36 - Acted for Scottish Water at proof and then on appeal to the Inner House. Claim concerned an allegation of nuisance from a wastewater treatment works. 

Adiukwu v The Home Secretary 2021 SC 38 - Acted for Home Secretary in a claim for damages. Issue was wheher the Home Secretary was under a (novel) duty to issue status documentation within a particular timeframe. 

Campbell v Peter Gordon Joiners 2014 SLT 178 (Outer House), 2015 SC 453 (Inner House) and 2017 SC (UKSC) 13 (Supreme Court) – Debate and subsequent appeals to Inner House and Supreme Court concerning whether company directors are liable in situations where employers' liability insurance is not in place. In particular, the case addressed an apparent divergence between the law in Scotland and in England and Wales about whether the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 imposes civil liability. Acted for ultimately successful defender.

Mather v EasyJet [2022] CSOH 40. Acted for airline in action for damages under the Montreal Convention. 

Glasgow City Council v First Glasgow [2022] CSOH 9. Acted for bus company in claim regarding allegedly negligent reference. Claim arising out of Glasgow bin lorry disaster. 

The Child Abuse Inquiry. Acting for Glasgow City Council in case study regarding Foster Care. 

Heriot Watt University v Schlamp 2021 SC (SAC) 39. Acted for university in claim regarding fees. Issue concerned jurisdiction in consumer contracts. 

D Geddes Contractors v Neil Johnson Health and Safety [2017] PNLR 21 – Professional negligence action. Debate concerning the recovery of a fine and the principle of ex turpi causa. Acted for successful pursuer. 

 

 

Contact Us

  • Compass Chambers
    Parliament House
    Edinburgh
    EH1 1RF