Administrative And Public Law

Leading Silks

Kay Springham KC - Compass Chambers 'A silk with thorough knowledge of public and administrative law principles.'

Janys Scott KC - Westwater Advocates 'Janys is outstanding. She is a formidable litigator, who is widely respected across the Scottish courts. Her knowledge of the law is second to none.'

Roddy Dunlop KC – Axiom Advocates

Mark Lindsay KC - Axiom Advocates

James Mure KC - Axiom Advocates

Aidan O’Neill KC – Ampersand Advocates ‘Aidan is beyond talented. He thinks of novel and innovative approaches to arguments, as well as having an extraordinary base of legal and historical knowledge which can be brought to bear.’

Douglas Ross KC - Ampersand Advocates 'Douglas excels at seeing a clear route to a sound and practical solution through competing arguments. He has the confidence of clients in a tight situation and the total respect of the court; he wears his learning lightly and deploys it persuasively. He is an ideal public law silk.'

Susanne Tanner KC - Ampersand Advocates

Alasdair Burnet KC – Terra Firma Chambers ‘Alasdair is a very impressive and highly regarded advocate. He is very easy to work with and well liked by clients. He is always thoroughly prepared, has exceptional advocacy skills and provides valuable, measured and strategic advice on the most complex matters.’

Ruth Crawford KC – Axiom Advocates

James Findlay KC - Terra Firma Chambers 'James has the ear of the court. He is an incredibly effective advocate and a pleasure to work with. Clients like his easy manner.'

Morag Ross KC - Axiom Advocates

Philip Simpson KC - Terra Firma Chambers

Leading Juniors

Scott Blair - Terra Firma Chambers 'Scott is an excellent advocate who is completely on top of his brief. He is very approachable and brings a calm confidence to proceedings.'

Dan Byrne - Axiom Advocates

Lesley Irvine – Axiom Advocates

Paul Reid - Ampersand Advocates

Ross Anderson - Ampersand Advocates

Ewen Campbell - Axiom Advocates

Kenneth Forrest – Themis Advocates

Derek Francis – Terra Firma Chambers

Wojciech Jajdelski - Arnot Manderson Advocates

Adam McKinlay - Axiom Advocates

Usman Tariq - Ampersand Advocates

Gordon Watt – Terra Firma Chambers

David Welsh - Axiom Advocates

Stephen Winter - Terra Firma Chambers 'Stephen is extremely pragmatic, commercially aware and responsive.'

Timothy Young – Ampersand Advocates ‘Timothy has a pragmatic approach to cases. He is an extremely safe pair of hands.'

Rising Stars

Michael Way - Ampersand Advocates 'Michael is exceptionally thorough and meticulous, very insightful in his drafting, and exceptional on his feet.'

Administrative and public law in Scottish Bar

Tier 1 sets

Ampersand Advocates

Ampersand Advocates is home to a team of 'excellent public and administrative law counsel'. In a prominent case highlight, Douglas Ross KC and Paul Reid represented the Scottish Ministers in Fair Play for Women Limited v Registrar General for Scotland & Scottish Ministers, concerning a judicial review challenging the guidance issued to accompany the "sex question" in the 2022 Scottish census; the review was refused and the challenge thrown out. Aidan O’Neill KC (who has dual tenancy with London-based set Matrix Chambers) garners praise for his 'outstanding knowledge', and successfully acted for rewilding charity Trees for Life in a judicial review brought against Scottish Government agency NatureScot, on the grounds that the agency's policy of issuing licences to cull beavers was unlawful.

Testimonials

Stable

‘Very helpful and responsive.’

‘Considerable strength in depth.’

Tier 2 sets

Terra Firma Chambers

'Leading stable' Terra Firma Chambers includes members instructed across a broad spectrum of administrative and public law matters. James Findlay KC's recent workload includes representing the City of Glasgow Licensing Board in a case involving the issuance of occasional licenses for a pop-up bar, while Alasdair Burnet KC appeared in a case involving disputed compensation for acquiring land to construct the Aberdeen City bypass. Scott Blair's areas of expertise include licencing, local government law and EU law. Stephen Winter is 'extremely approachable and thorough in his work'. Robert Skinner retired from practice in April 2022.

Testimonials

Stable

‘Professional and responsive.’

‘Strong offering of advocates.’

Coverage By Practice AreaScottish Bar