The criminal law team at Levy & McRae provides specialist advice at all levels of the Scottish criminal court system. The team’s expertise covers a diverse range of criminal matters including regulatory, financial and domestic crime. David McKie assumes a leading role in dealing with PR and media for high-net-worth clients. Fellow co-head Callum Anderson is regularly called upon to defend police officers and public officials. Laurelle Johnstone brings a wealth of experience to the practice, joining from the COPFS in February 2025. Neil Hay departed in 2026.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Andrew Seggie was thorough in his communication, supportive and robust in his approach. Any legal jargon was explained in laymen terms to be easily understood. Advice was discussed where my voice and opinions were taken into account. I felt fully represented and supported throughout the process.’
  • ‘Neil Hay is outstanding, and my first port of call for family law clients who have either been accused of a domestic offence or who need support to assist them in making a complaint to the police regarding such an offence. He is very quick to respond, extremely helpful, and seems to provide an excellent service to clients. He is ably supported by a sound and knowledgeable team.'
  • ‘The team at Levy & McRae are second to none and in a league of their own. The firm are very capable and have some of the highest sought out solicitors and partners in Scotland. The team are very supportive and take a genuine interest in their clients, from the moment they walk through the door and beyond.'
  • ‘Levy & McRae have built a fantastic crime team and I consider them the go-to firm when I have a private client in need of criminal advice, especially for high-stakes matters.’
  • ‘Neil Hay is such a safe pair of hands. I have no hesitation in recommending him to clients in need. His key strength is his ability to put clients at ease and his reliability - Neil goes to great lengths to make himself available which makes him a great person to have in your network.'
  • ‘Levy & McRae are one of the few teams in Scotland specialising in domestic abuse and the intersection between family and criminal law. They are highly knowledgeable and provide a first-class service. They are also generous with their time and knowledge in terms of equipping family lawyers with an understanding of the criminal process for their clients.'

Work highlights

Successful defence of a professional client facing five charges of physically assaulting his two daughters.
Defended an international sportsman who had a contract in Scotland about 10 years ago, in a High Court trial for rape.
Acted in three cases at the same time for a client charged with a Section 1 under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act (DASA) in relation to coercive and controlling behaviour towards his ex-partner over a 3-year period.
Practice head

Callum Anderson; David McKie

Other key lawyers

Laurelle Johnstone; Paul Anderson