An independent disciplinary tribunal has ordered that barrister Hamish Hickey be suspended following a finding of professional misconduct arising from charges brought by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
The charge related to the behaviour of Mr Hickey which led to a conviction for causing death by dangerous driving. On 1 November 2024, Mr Hickey was sentenced to 23 months' imprisonment and was released on licence on 7 August 2025 with 14 months of the sentence remaining to run.
The tribunal found that where a sentence of 23 months imprisonment was imposed, public confidence would be damaged if Mr Hickey were permitted to return to practice before the completion of his sentence, including any period on license. The panel concluded that the appropriate sanction was to order a suspension until 30 September 2026.
A spokesperson for the Bar Standards Board said:
“The public must have confidence that barristers will act responsibly and uphold the law. The tribunal's decision to suspend Mr Hickey until the completion of the sentence imposed by the Crown Court demonstrates the importance of maintaining public confidence in the profession and that serious criminal convictions are incompatible with practice at the Bar.”
The tribunal’s findings remain subject to appeal.
About Barrister Hamish Hickey
Hamish Hickey was called to the Bar of England and Wales by Lincoln’s Inn in 2008.