Leading Silks

Euan Mackenzie KCAmpersand Advocates 'Euan approaches each case with excellent attention to detail. His negotiation skills are second to none. He is an exceptional KC in the complex field of clinical negligence.'
Geoffrey Mitchell KC  – Ampersand Advocates 'He is very focused, and equally approachable. A silk with outstanding attention to detail and an excellent command of the evidence. He has the ear of the court.'
Graham Primrose KCAmpersand Advocates 'A powerhouse silk.'
Lesley Shand KCCompass Chambers 'Lesley is an exceptionally talented advocate. Her technical skills are second to none, and her work ethic is phenomenal.'
Astrid Smart KCCompass Chambers 'Astrid is not only experienced, articulate and talented on her feet, but she is also empathetic with clients and approachable. She demonstrates a human approach while remaining professional at all times. She is always prepared, extremely knowledgeable on all matters she is instructed in, and has great attention to detail.'
Una Doherty KC  – Ampersand Advocates 'Una is acutely intelligent with a meticulous and analytical approach. Her negotiation skills are excellent, and her legal analysis second to none.'
Amber Galbraith KC  – Compass Chambers 'A highly skilled silk.'
Graeme Middleton KC – Compass Chambers 'Graeme is an excellent negotiator, who always gives pragmatic advice based on a thorough understanding of the issues.'
Douglas Ross KC  – Ampersand Advocates 'He is very impressive in court. Always extremely well prepared and presents arguments methodically, logically and carefully.'
Kay Springham KCCompass Chambers 'Kay is very pragmatic, considered, and commercially astute. She has excellent rapport with clients and quickly gains their trust.'

2022 Silks

Calum Wilson KC – Compass Chambers 'An authoritative silk who is unafraid to argue novel legal points.'

2023 Silks

Fiona Drysdale KCAmpersand Advocates 'Fiona is very precise. She has the ear of the court, and is well respected by the bench.'

Leading Juniors

Kate BennettCompass Chambers 'A very hard working junior. She is very well organised and always up for the challenge to get the best outcome for her clients.'
Robin ClelandCompass Chambers 'Robin has strong technical knowledge of the full array of medical negligence and personal injury work. He is measured and balanced in his approach. A fearless advocate.'
Barney RossCompass Chambers 'He is a very pragmatic litigator and is detail-orientated. He brings a calming influence to proceedings and is always reliable.'
Andrew Crawford – Themis Advocates 'A junior with a meticulous eye for detail.'
Shane Dundas – Ampersand Advocates 'Shane is very diligent. A dedicated junior with superb judgement.'
Nick Gardiner  – Arnot Manderson Advocates 'Nick demonstrates a thorough understanding of the facts and has a very analytical eye. He is an effective advocate.'
Bruce Langlands – Compass Chambers 'Bruce is adept at getting to the bottom of complicated issues of liability, particularly in cases involving allegations of medical negligence, very quickly. He takes a pragmatic approach and is incredibly popular with clients.'
Jennifer Nicholson-White –Ampersand Advocates 'A stand-out junior counsel in the field of personal injury and medical negligence. Her attention to detail is unrivalled. She is a persuasive advocate and is always one you would prefer to have in your corner. She is effective in court and in negotiation.'

Personal injury and medical negligence in Scottish Bar

Ampersand Advocates


At Ampersand Advocates, the team is well-regarded for its strength in representing defenders and pursuers in high-profile, complex clinical negligence cases, and continues to handle the full range of high-value personal injury work. Lauren Sutherland KC (who has dual tenancy with Manchester-based set Byrom Street Chambers) has established expertise in advising on issues of consent concerning clinical negligence matters. In recent instructions for the stable, Douglas Ross KC is acting for the defenders in a case involving a claim arising from a prison officer undergoing alleged secondary exposure to a psychoactive substance via vapes being used by the prisoners. Lisa Henderson KC is a dual tenant at London set 42BR Barristers. Fiona Drysdale KC took silk in September 2023.

Testimonials

‘Ampersand has a strong and accessible clerking team, under the strong leadership of Alan Moffat.’

‘Alan Moffat is a stand-out clerk, who takes client relationships extremely seriously.’

‘Excellent – Sheena Hume is very organised and always quick to help.’

‘Sheena Hume is fantastic. She is always responds quickly and keeps you updated on her contact with counsel.’

Ampersand has a very strong clinical negligence offering.’

Ampersand Advocates is a highly professional and helpful stable.’

The stable has strength of depth in relation to medical negligence.’

Good stable with in-depth clinical negligence experience.’





Compass Chambers


Compass Chambers ‘offers the cream of the Scottish personal injury Bar‘, and has an excellent reputation for its expertise in handling complex medical negligence instructions. Astrid Smart KC acted for the successful pursuers in a clinical negligence claim concerning the suicide of a woman following her discharge from psychiatric hospital care; it was established that there was a negligence failure on the part of the psychiatrist who discharged the woman from hospital relating to the provision of follow-up psychiatric care and community support. At the junior end of the stable, Kate Bennett acts for pursuers and defenders in a wide spectrum of personal injury cases, and Barney Ross is sought after for his established track record in advising on industrial disease, spinal and brain injury claims. The senior end of the practice was bolstered by the elevation of Calum Wilson KC to silk in October 2022.

Testimonials

‘Gavin Herd and Lesley Hogg are both knowledgeable and helpful. A pleasure to deal with.’

‘Gavin Herd is an excellent head of stable.’

‘Gavin Herd is super efficient and knowledgeable but down to earth and incredibly helpful.’