Andrew Crosbie

Year of Call
Devil Masters
Duncan Hamilton KC
David Nicolson
Alan Caskie
@AndrewJCrosbie on Twitter

Contact

andrewcrosbie@amadvocates.co.uk 0131 260 5824

Practice Profile

CALLED 29/05/2020

Andrew has developed a wide practice at the bar, in both criminal and civil fields.

Andrew qualified as a solicitor in 2013, having trained in criminal defence. He has extensive experience of criminal court advocacy, including jury trials and confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Since calling at the bar, he has regularly been instructed to defend clients in proceedings in the High Court of Justiciary and in Sheriff Courts, both at first instance and on appeal. He has appeared as junior counsel for both Crown and defence in numerous cases involving complex allegations of sexual offending. He was appointed as an ad-hoc Advocate Depute in 2022. He tutors postgraduates in Criminal Court Practice at the University of Edinburgh.

Andrew has significant experience of professional regulatory and disciplinary law, having worked in the Fitness to Practise Department of the Scottish Social Services Council for three years. Since calling he has successfully defended those accused of professional misconduct in Fitness to Practise proceedings.

He is instructed by two local authorities in respect of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry; a major ongoing public inquiry.

Andrew also has a strong interest in family law, and has represented both adult and child clients before Children’s Hearings and in Sheriff Court proofs as a solicitor. He has been instructed as counsel in various cases, including matters concerning financial provision on divorce, child contact and child welfare. He has also been instructed in appeals under the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011.

Following significant exposure to personal injury work during his devilling period, Andrew has gone on to establish a personal injury practice since calling. He is instructed by both pursuers and defenders in cases primarily involving employer liability and road traffic accidents.

Andrew has also been instructed as counsel in defamation, public law and immigration matters. He regularly appears in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber of the First-Tier Tribunal for Scotland.

In 2022 he was appointed as Standing Junior Counsel to the Office of the Advocate General for Scotland.

Education & Professional Career to Date

Education
LLB (Hons, First Class), University of Edinburgh, 2006-2010
Diploma in Legal Practice, University of Edinburgh, 2011

Career
Trainee Solicitor: Capital Defence Lawyers, 2011-2013
Legal Adviser: Scottish Court Service, 2013-2014
Solicitor, Keegan Smith SSC, 2014
Solicitor, Dunne Defence Lawyers, 2014-2016, 2019
Solicitor, Scottish Social Services Council, 2016-2019

Appointments

  • Ad-hoc Advocate Depute (2022–present)
  • Standing Junior Counsel to the Office of the Advocate General for Scotland (2022–present)
  • Tutor in Criminal Court Practice, Diploma in Legal Practice, University of Edinburgh (2021–present)
  • Standing “junior junior” counsel to the Office of the Advocate General for Scotland (2021–present)
  • Ad Hoc Reporter for the Law Society of Scotland (2019–2020)

Selected Cases

  • CRIME
  • HMA v DM [2022]

    High Court acquittal of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving

  • PF Edinburgh v WH [2022]

    Acquittal of Data Protection Act 2018 offence and sexual assault.

  • HMA v L [2022]

    High Court acquittal after trial of historic sexual offences.

  • HMA v Alex Salmond [2020]

    Seconded to the former First Minister’s defence team during devilling.

  • Bills of Advocation by Harun Akhtar & Others: [2014] HCJAC 80

    Appeared at first instance for the first accused.

  • FAMILY
  • H v K [2021]

    Instructed by the defender in resisting a s11 action for contact.

  • NB v SCRA [2021]

    Successful s154 appeal against decision of Children’s Hearing.

  • B v C [2022]

    Preliminary proof on establishing date of cessation of cohabitation for the purposes of s28(8) timebar.

  • PERSONAL INJURY
  • A & B v NHS Greater Glasgow Health Board [2021]

    Industrial Accident: instructed by the defender.

  • P v City of Edinburgh Council [2022]

    Cyclist collision: instructed by the pursuer.

  • INQUIRIES
  • Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry

    Instructed to represent two Scottish local authorities.

Publications & Seminars

Better the Devil You Know Seminar - The SLC’s review of Cohabitation: Friends with more benefits? - 17th June 2020

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