News
1 October, 2026
Legal 500 2027: Ampersand Advocates Recognised Across the Scottish Bar
Ampersand Advocates is delighted to have secured another outstanding set of results in the Legal 500 2027 Scottish Bar rankings, with the Stable achieving Tier 1 rankings in Administrative & Public Law, Crime, Regulatory & Inquiries, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence, and Property, Planning & Construction, together with a Tier 2 ranking in Commercial Disputes. The rankings demonstrate the continued strength of the Stable at every level, with more than 40 individual recognitions spanning five key practice areas. Across the rankings, members have been recognised as Leading Silks, Senior Counsel, Leading Juniors, Junior Counsel, 2026 Silks and Rising Stars, underlining the depth and breadth of expertise available across the Stable.
The clerking team was commended for their efficiency and responsiveness. This recognition reflects the significant contribution made by the clerks in supporting both counsel and agents and ensuring the highest standards of service across the Stable.
Administrative & Public Law (Tier 1)
Ampersand retained its Tier 1 ranking in Administrative & Public Law. Legal 500 highlights the Stable’s strength in judicial review and public law litigation, noting members’ involvement in high-profile cases and matters engaging human rights issues.
Within the Leading Silks rankings, Douglas Ross KC and Susanne Tanner KC are recognised in Tier 1, while Paul Reid KC, Usman Tariq KC and Laura-Anne Van Der Westhuizen KC are recognised in Tier 2. Ross Anderson KC has been recognised as a Tier 1 2026 Silk. Ampersand’s emerging talent is also recognised through Michael Way as a Leading Junior (Tier 2) and Scott Clair, who is a Rising Star (Tier 1) in the field, reflecting their growing reputations in this area.
Commercial Disputes (Tier 2)
Ampersand maintained its strong standing in Commercial Disputes. The rankings reflect expertise across intellectual property, competition, professional negligence, technology disputes and complex commercial litigation.
Within the Leading Silks, Robert Howie KC, Usman Tariq KC and Laura-Anne Van Der Westhuizen KC are recognised as Tier 2 Silks with Ross Anderson KC as a Tier 1 2026 Silk.
Ampersand’s junior bar is well represented in this area. Eoghainn MacLean is recognised as a Tier 1 Leading Junior, while Mark Boni, Nicholas McAndrew and Giles Reid are all ranked as Tier 2 Leading Juniors.
Further recognition comes through Scott Clair, who is named as a Rising Star (Tier 1) in Commercial Disputes.
Crime, Regulatory & Inquiries (Tier 1)
Ampersand continues to be recognised as a leading Stable for criminal, regulatory and inquiry work. Legal 500 highlighted members’ roles in major public inquiries reflecting the Stable’s significant presence in some of the most high-profile public law and regulatory matters in Scotland.
Among the Leading Silks we have Isla Davie KC recognised at Tier 1 with Simon Bowie KC, Jamie Dawson KC, Una Doherty KC, Fiona Drysdale KC, James McConnell KC, Geoffrey Mitchell KC, Paul Reid KC, Susanne Tanner KC and Usman Tariq KC all recognised as Tier 2 Leading Silks.
At Leading Junior level, Ayla Iridag and Shane Dunas are recognised as a Tier 1 while Jennifer Nicholson-White and Michael Way are both ranked within Tier 2.
Scott Clair also secures recognition as a Rising Star (Tier 1) in this practice area.
Personal Injury & Medical Negligence (Tier 1)
Ampersand remains a Tier 1 Stable for Personal Injury & Medical Negligence.
The results are particularly impressive at silk level, with a substantial concentration of Tier 1 rankings demonstrating the significant strength of Ampersand’s senior counsel offering in clinical negligence, catastrophic injury and complex reparation work.
The Stable boasts an exceptional group of Leading Silks Tier 1, comprising Simon Bowie KC, Una Doherty KC, Lisa Henderson KC, Maria Maguire KC, Geoffrey Mitchell KC, Graham Primrose KC and Lauren Sutherland KC. Further recognition is given to Isla Davie KC, Vinit Khurana KC, Euan Mackenzie KC, James McConnell KC, Paul Reid KC and Douglas Ross KC, all ranked as Tier 2 Silks.
At Leading Junior level, Jennifer Nicholson-White achieves a Tier 1 ranking, while Shane Dundas and Ayla Iridag are both recognised as Tier 2 Leading Juniors.
Scott Clair notably achieves further recognition as a Rising Star (Tier 1).
Property, Planning & Construction (Tier 1)
The stable retained its Tier 1 ranking in Property, Planning & Construction, with Legal 500 highlighting the Stable’s involvement in significant planning, development and infrastructure matters throughout Scotland, reflecting the depth of expertise available in this specialist area.
Within the Leading Seniors ranks, Robert Howie KC and Ailsa Wilson KC are recognised as Tier 1 Silks, while Marcus McKay KC and Laura-Anne Van Der Westhuizen KC are ranked as Tier 2 Silks. Ross Anderson KC is recognised as a Tier 1 2026 Silk
At the junior bar, Eoghainn MacLean and Nicholas McAndrew receive Tier 1 recognition as Leading Juniors, while Louise Cockburn, Giles Reid and Alexander Sutherland are ranked as Tier 2 Leading Juniors.
Elsewhere, Mark Boni achieves Tier 1 Leading Junior recognition in the Private Client and Family listings.
Collectively, the 2027 rankings reinforce Ampersand Advocates’ reputation as one of Scotland’s leading stables, demonstrating exceptional strength from established market-leading silks through to an increasingly prominent junior bar.
Full listings, for all of Ampersand’s rankings can be viewed on the Legal 500 website, here.