The Legal 500

Within Civil liberties, human rights, public inquiries, and public and administrative law (including local government),

Axiom Advocates provides an ‘approachable, accessible and responsive’ service to clients in this area. David Johnston QC is regarded as ‘the best public law silk at the Scottish Bar’, with ‘a formidable intellect and faultless attention to detail’. Richard Keen QC acted in the AXA case alongside James Mure QC, who ‘quickly inspires the trust and respect of clients’. Anna Poole is praised as ‘one of the outstanding public lawyers at the junior Bar’, and Morag Ross ‘provides solutions which are practical and legally sound’. James Wolffe QC has a significant judicial review practice, and Ruth Crawford QC ‘displays excellent judgement’.

Within Commercial litigation,

Axiom Advocates’ Roddy Dunlop QC provides ‘excellent and commercial advice in a responsive and user-friendly manner’. James Mure QC ‘delivers his advice and presents in court in a very methodical and comprehensive manner’, Kenneth McBrearty ‘has a strong reputation’ and Paul O’Brien is ‘an exceptionally bright junior’ who is ‘a rising star of the Scottish Bar’. Alastair Duncan is an ‘excellent all-rounder, with particular strengths in complex commercial and professional negligence cases’. Almira Delibegovic-Broome is ‘very intelligent and wonderful to work with’, and ‘very strong in commercial petitions’. Richard Keen QC and Heriot Currie QC are also recommended.

Within Company and insolvency,

At Axiom Advocates, Sarah Wolffe QC - has ‘an admirable ability to deal with complex issues and cases’ and combines ‘a formidable intellect with a very approachable and client-friendly manner’. Richard Keen QC has a significant company law practice, and Almira Delibegovic-Broome is a ‘very good junior who is committed and creative in her thinking’. Heriot Currie QC is also recommended.

Within Intellectual property and information technology,

Axiom Advocates’ Heriot Currie QC and Jonathan Lake QC undertake intellectual property work, including patent, trade mark and copyright matters. Roisin Higgins is ‘very knowledgeable and tenacious’, and Paul O’Brien is recommended for trade mark and patent litigation.

Within Lists of government-appointed counsel Scottish Government Legal Directorate (SGLD) – First Standing Junior

Within Scottish Stables, Axiom Advocates is a first tier stables,

Advocates in Scotland practise out of Stables, which are regulated by the Faculty of Advocates. Stables can opt to be serviced by the Faculty Services Limited, which provides clerking, fee operations and credit control services, or via internal servicing structures. The total number of advocates currently stands at just over 460, approximately one fifth of which are Queen’s Counsel. Richard Keen QC remains Dean of the Faculty. Advocates at the Scottish Bar practise in many different areas of law, although there are dedicated criminal Stables, namely Black Stable, Connarty Stable and Mackinnon Stable. Murray Stable ‘boasts an impressive range of advocates’ and Compass Chambers, which has ‘an enviable stable top to bottom’, is noted for the strength of its personal injury team. Axiom Advocates has noted expertise in public law and human rights litigation; and Westwater Advocates, Terra Firma Chambers and Ampersand are strong in civil matters.

Within Personal injury, medical negligence and professional negligence,

Axiom Advocates’ Alastair Duncan is ‘excellent with clients and definitely one to watch’, and Roddy Dunlop QC has a notable professional negligence practice. Iain Ferguson QC is also recommended.

Within Planning, environmental and licensing,

At Axiom Advocates, the ‘impeccably prepared’ Ruth Crawford QC has notable planning experience.

Within Property, construction and agriculture,

At Axiom Advocates, recommended construction practitioners include Garry Borland, Martin Richardson and Gavin Walker. Richard Keen QC is experienced in high-value construction disputes, including the high-profile Edinburgh Tram dispute. Morag Ross has a significant property-based practice.

Within Tax, trusts and pensions,

Axiom Advocates’ James McNeill QC has a significant trusts and pensions practice.