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Margaret Bickford-Smith KC

Call 1973 • KC 2003

"Highly experienced in clinical negligence as well as injury and disease work."
(Legal 500 )

Practice Overview

Margaret took silk in 2003 having developed a broad practice encompassing high-value and complex negligence cases as well as construction, commercial and environmental enforcement disputes.

She initially practised in the then leading North-Eastern Circuit set of Lord (Peter) Taylor of Gosford, from London where the set (as then customary) had its premises. From it she developed a specialist mining and industrial disease and injury practice, starting in the North East and spreading nationwide: she principally acted for British Coal, for whom she was the first woman to be a standing junior. She acquired substantial experience of group litigation.

She undertook a wide range of further work on circuit, including arbitration work. She was also instructed for specialist mining, minerals and rating work in the Lands Tribunal; and in work in the areas of professional negligence, commercial landlord/ tenant, property, trusts and planning. She also undertook a breadth of work in London originating from the North East, which saw her (among other things) appear in Chancery.

Margaret’s skills as advocate and cross-examiner led to a high and continuing level of professional recognition. She has appeared in courts at all levels, and at tribunals and public enquiries (planning, health).

She moved chambers in 1997 to continue her specialist work in London, with an emphasis (in clinical negligence work) on birth injury cases, and (in environmental work) on pollution issues in industrial enterprises, foundries and steelworks.

Fuller details of her past work and experience can be found in the pages below.

Professional Recognition, Offices and Service

Margaret took silk in 2003. She served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Professional Negligence Bar Association (2009-2011).

She sat as a Recorder in civil and criminal cases from 1997 until 2020.

She served 2012-14 as Chair of Inns of Court Conduct Committee (previously Vice-Chair 2009-2012) dealing with the administration of bar student disciplinary matters for all 4 Inns of Court.  She also chaired individual student disciplinary panels.

Governing Bencher of the Inner Temple 1993-

Formerly a General Commissioner of Income Tax (Temple, 1996 – 2009)

Private Dispute Resolution: Mediation and Arbitration

Since taking silk Margaret has been increasingly active in private dispute resolution. An accredited mediator since 2004, and appointed a member of the Mediation Panel of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in 2007, she has mediated a wide variety of claims. She has published and lectured on ADR.

She was Mediator/ Judge at the ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition, Paris 2009-2015. In 2013 she was lead Judge at the Final of the Competition.

She served as Chair of the London Branch of the CIArb from 2012 to 2015. She was Master of the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators 2019 – 2021.

Other roles and interests

From the outset of her career Margaret has at the same time pursued an interest in medical, mental health and social issues.

Outside the bar, she served for 8 years on a local authority, in particular on its social services, education and finance committees, and as a school and college governor.

She is a Freeman of the City of London, and she has been a Member of the Financial Services Group of the Modern Livery Companies of the City of London (2016-2019; 2023-).

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Qualifications


  • MA (Oxon)
  • Called to the Bar 1973
  • Recorder (Civil and Criminal cases) 1997-2020
  • Appointed Queens Counsel 2003
  • MCIArb 2006
  • Accredited Mediator 2004

Memberships


  • Member CIArb Commercial Mediation Panel 2007
  • Chair, CIArb London Branch 2012-2015
  • Chair, Inns of Court Conduct Committee 2012-14
  • Governing Bencher of the Inner Temple 1993-

Recommendations


“Highly experienced in clinical negligence as well as injury and disease work.”

Legal 500 2014

“Committed…utterly dependable…has a fantastic manner with clients.”

Legal 500 2010

“Recommended where complex care and social issues are involved.”

Legal 500 2009


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