Ayesha Smart

Call 2014

smart@exchangechambers.co.uk

‘A well-respected junior. She is meticulous and a cogent advocate, with an analytical approach.’

The Legal 500 - Leading Junior, Crime 2024
Photo of Ayesha Smart

  • Recommendations

    ‘A well-respected junior. She is meticulous and a cogent advocate, with an analytical approach.’
    The Legal 500 – Leading Junior, Crime 2024

    “Ayesha is confident and has a steadfast approach to court advocacy, with fierce determination and tenacity exhibited in equal measure. She remains unflappable in even the most difficult cases.”
    The Legal 500 – Leading Junior, Crime 2023

  • Beyond the Bar

    Ayesha is an avid skier and snowboarder. She has two Northern Inuits that she enjoys walking across the Dales.

    Ayesha also has a keen interest in music and plays the piano, trumpet, saxophone and bass guitar.

  • Education

    LLM in Medical Law and Ethics – University of Edinburgh
    LLB (hons) – BPP University
    BSc (hons) in Medical Science – University of Leeds

  • Appointments

    Recorder on the North East Circuit in Crime

    Screening Committee Chair of the British Psychoanalytical Council

    CPS General Crime Panel – Grade 3
    CPS Serious Crime Panel – Grade 3
    CPS RASSO Panel

  • Memberships

    North Eastern Circuit
    Gray’s Inn
    Criminal Bar Association
    UK Centre for Animal Law

  • Publications

    Barrister Magazine – “Have we really reformed animal welfare post-Brexit?” [2023]
    Animal Equality UK – “The Enforcement Solution” Report [2023]
    BBC Panorama – “The true cost of milk” [2022]

  • News

Healthcare Regulatory

Ayesha has considerable experience advising and representing a wide range of medical and healthcare practitioners including doctors, dentists, nurses and opticians in respect of disciplinary proceedings. She has experience in appearing before fitness to practice committees dealing with final fitness to practice hearings, sanctions and interim suspensions.

Ayesha also has expertise in criminal defence cases, where she has represented professionals charged with criminal offences, ranging from teachers to clinical practitioners. Ayesha is particularly well placed to deal with professional discipline matters involving quasi-criminal allegations and has represented Registrants in conviction cases and those involving serious dishonesty charges.

Ayesha has also been involved in training investigators at the Health and Safety Executive and training expert witnesses, including drug experts, road traffic collision experts and forensic experts.