Alasdair Gillies

Alasdair is a Criminal Solicitor Advocate, who is top ranked in Chambers UK for Crime and has been personally conducting criminal trials for over 20 years.

He has experience in defending allegations of:

• Corporate crime – bribery & corruption (including embezzlement, fraud and procurement); Money laundering allegations, proceeds of crime and cryptocurrency.
• Common law crimes of Murder, Rape, Assault, Road Traffic, Data Protection, s38, & DASA, Health and Safety, Wildlife crime, Environmental offences, Maritime offences and Corporate Manslaughter.

His clients include politicians, doctors, solicitors, accountants, prominent businesspersons, police and prison officers (on and off duty) and sports persons.

Alasdair has extensive experience in complex Fatal Accident (deaths in custody) and Public Inquiries, including the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry and Glasgow Hospital Inquiries. He was also part of the successful defence team for the prosecution which followed the Rosepark Nursing Home fire and resulted in a change in the law.

Aviation experience includes Clutha Helicopter Crash FAI, Glasgow Air crash and successful acquittal of Flt Ltn Williams in the longest court martial in RAF history.

Alasdair has a significant civil practice dealing with high value personal injury claims, contractual claims, civil cases arising from allegations of fraud and gratuitous alienation and director disqualification claims.

Clients have been kind enough to describe Alasdair as someone who is meticulous, insightful and confident. Always committed to supporting his clients, he is viewed by them as delivering a first-class service, providing excellent advice and results.

Accreditations

• Certified by National Institute for Trial Advocacy in 2013
• Certified in Trauma Informed Practice in 2023 – The Law Society of Scotland
• Certified in Legal Technology in 2024 – The Law Society of Scotland
• Criminal Solicitor Advocate since 2007

Legal directory rankings

• Band 1: Crime (Scotland) – Chambers UK
• Leading Partner: Crime: General – Legal 500 UK 2025

Experience

Recent highlights include:

• The successful defence in the first prosecution in Scotland under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007.
• Acting for an MSP in a high-profile matter.
• Acquittal of a police sergeant on Assault charges.
• Defence of a doctor from multiple charges of assault.