Christopher Gillespie

After twenty years of experience defending and prosecuting serious crime, Chris now practises exclusively in the regulatory sphere.

In professional discipline, Chris works primarily for the defence and is instructed by all the major medical and dental insurers to represent doctors and dentists before the MPTS and GDC. He is regularly instructed to represent the interests of doctors at inquests. However, he is also instructed to present cases for the GOsC and has in the past been instructed by GOC, GPhC and RCVS. He has appeared for the NMC in the Divisional Court.

Chris also represents corporate and individual defendants in criminal regulatory cases brought by the HSE, EA and local authorities and at inquests. He was instructed with Jonathan Laidlaw KC to represent the crowd management and security company at the Manchester Arena Inquiry.

Chris also has a substantial advisory practice with a focus on gambling and licensing matters. He is frequently asked to advise at the early stages of criminal regulatory proceedings and on issues such as professional privilege.

Chris accepts Direct Access instructions.

What others say:

“Very knowledgeable in professional discipline. He picks up and advises on complex matters very quickly and is a very clear and persuasive advocate.” “Adept handling of very nervous clients and achieves excellent results. What more could you want?” and “A great barrister, who is thoughtful, excellent with clients, and has good strategic awareness. A safe pair hands.” – Chambers UK 2024

“A first-rate advocate, who is diligent and thorough in his preparation.” – Legal 500 UK 2024

“Christopher is very user-friendly and approachable.” – Chambers UK 2023

“Chris is a highly effective barrister. He is elegant, confident and straight-talking.” – Legal 500 UK 2023

“Extremely able, well-prepared, affable and very able. Chris is a very polished performer. He is thorough, careful and right.” – Legal 500 UK 2022

“He’s delightful, very experienced and unruffled, and thoroughly prepared.” “He is very well prepared, robust and has a lovely manner in his advocacy that is very persuasive.” “Extremely professional and excellent with clients. He’s a really polished and very professional barrister.” – Chambers UK 2022

“An extremely effective cross-examiner, but it is done is a respectful manner. He is firm but not aggressive, and also pragmatic – he never takes any bad points.” – Legal 500 2021

“A very able advocate with gravitas, who will go the extra mile.” – Legal 500 2020

“Fantastic…..” – Chambers UK 2018

“A name to note in the criminal/regulatory sphere.” – Legal 500 2017

“An impressive advocate and a scrupulously fair prosecutor.” – Legal 500 2017

“Fantastic in cross-examination and very good at reassuring the client.” – Chambers UK 2018

“He’s hard working, fearless and he gets results.” – Chambers UK 2017

“He was the best advocate in the trial we had. He had to negotiate a tricky cut-throat issue, and whilst others went off-piste or didn’t put the work in, he shone. He knew the case well and had fully thought through the line he was going to take.” – Chambers UK 2017

“Able to put even the most vulnerable witnesses at ease.” – Legal 500 2016

“Able to digest a large volume of documentation quickly and thoroughly.” – Legal 500 2016