The Legal 500

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

Axiom Advocates is ‘without doubt one of the leading stables in public law at the Scottish Bar’. David Johnston QC, Richard Keen QC and James Mure QC were involved in the AXA case and Gerry Moynihan QC was involved in the SNP v BBC case and Greens judicial review matter. ‘There isn ’t a junior at the Scottish Bar with a more impressive practice in public law than Anna Poole.’ Morag Ross, who is ‘extremely diligent’, handles a wide range of judicial matters, and James Wolffe QC is an ‘extremely talented advocate’.

Within Commercial litigation,

Axiom Advocates is ‘the preeminent set for commercial litigation’. Richard Keen QC is ‘exceptionally talented’, and has ‘excellent judgement’. James Mure QC is ‘very bright, hardworking, and has a good eye for detail’. Kenneth McBrearty ‘inspires confidence’, and is ‘able to explain complicated concepts to clients without losing them’. Garry Borland has a ‘detailed knowledge of contractual issues but balances this with a commercial and pragmatic approach to resolving disputes’. Heriot Currie QC and James McNeill QC are recommended seniors; Sean Smith and Paul O’Brien are recommended senior juniors.

Within Company and insolvency,

At Axiom Advocates, the ‘brilliantly clever’ Richard Keen QC and leading senior Heriot Currie QC are recommended. Sarah Wolffe QC, who is an ‘extremely able and talented QC’ and a ‘lateral thinker’, handles a variety of company and insolvency matters. James McNeill QC has a notable insolvency practice. Almira Delibegovic-Broome is ‘clearly one to watch for the future’.

Within Intellectual property and information technology,

Members of Axiom Advocates do ‘a good and thorough job’. Heriot Currie QC and Jonathan Lake QC are ‘excellent IP seniors’, who ‘have in-depth experience in IP disputes and deal with complex cases very well with a practical, commercial approach’. The ‘exceptionally bright and talented’ Roisin Higgins is the leading junior for IP matters and has ‘created a strong and respected presence in this field’. Paul O’Brien provides a ‘swift, top-quality service’, and is ‘simply brilliant’ on IP matters.

Within Introduction,

Despite Oracle Chambers’ brave move to break away from the traditional system, it has recently disbanded. Devolution provided Stables with increased independent powers; each can select its own members, market itself to agents however it chooses, and set up specialist practice area groups. Such powers are expected to lead to increased competition, and it is hoped that agents and lay clients will continue to see a better service. Richard Keen QC, who remains the Dean of the Faculty, is ‘an excellent leader, who lived up to his reputation as one of the leading lights of the Scottish Bar’. Scottish Advocates generally have far broader practices than English and Welsh barristers; inclusion in one area should not be taken to mean that the advocate is confined to that one area. However, among many notable specialists, Murray Stable has a strong immigration team and certain members of Axiom Advocates focus on media and defamation matters.

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

Within Scottish Stables Stables – mainly civil law practitioners

Within Personal injury, medical negligence and professional negligence,

At Axiom Advocates, Alastair Duncan is the ‘most experienced junior counsel in professional negligence at the Scottish Bar’. Iain Ferguson QC is recommended for professional negligence matters in the healthcare context, and Roddy Dunlop QC handles a large volume of professional disciplinary matters.

Within Planning, environmental and licensing,

Ruth Crawford QC at Axiom Advocates has ‘extensive planning experience’, and takes a ‘no-nonsense approach, which consistently delivers results for clients across a range of commercial work’.

Within Property, construction and agriculture,

Axiom Advocates’ J Gordon Reid QC takes an ‘extremely detailed and meticulous approach’, and has the ‘ability to cut to the absolute essence of a dispute 
very quickly’. Martin Richardson is ‘one of the leading junior counsels at the Scottish Bar in the area of construction law’. Gavin Walker is an ‘extremely commercial and pragmatic advocate with a wealth of experience in the area of construction law’. Garry Borland is a key construction practitioner, and Sean Smith is developing a notable practice in the same area. Morag Ross is ‘excellent at grasping the complexities of property law at short notice, and is a safe pair of hands in urgent matters’.

Within Tax, trusts and pensions,

Axiom Advocates’ David Johnston QC, who is ‘formidably bright, quiet but effective, and an ideal senior counsel in a demanding technical case’, has made several Supreme Court appearances in tax-related cases. James McNeill QC specialises in trust work and has been particularly active with occupational pension work.