Crime and Regulatory Law

Ampersand members have extensive working knowledge and experience of all of the practical aspects of regulatory criminal cases including all aspects of Health and Safety Law. Many members have held appointments as Crown Counsel (senior public prosecutors in Scotland) and have successfully conducted complex and high profile cases at first instance and in the appellate courts for both the Crown and the defence.

One of the strengths of Ampersand is the very real breadth of understanding of all the criminal and civil aspects that arise in cases involving Health and Safety prosecutions including admissibility of evidence, procedural issues, human rights issues and the sensitive reputational aspects that inevitably arise. Ampersand members are regularly instructed in the public and fatal accident inquiries conducted in Scotland following investigations in health and safety matters.

What the Legal Directories say about Ampersand in Crime and Regulatory Law

Legal 500 UK Bar 2025

Crime and Regulatory
TIER 1

At Ampersand Advocates, multiple members of the stable have been kept especially busy representing various parties in the high-profile UK and Scottish COVID-19 inquiries, as well as acting for core participants in the Scottish Hospitals inquiry; in the case of the latter, Una Doherty KC is advising NHS National Services Scotland, while Susanne Tanner KC is representing Scottish Futures Trust in the ongoing proceedings. Simon Bowie KC ‘gets to the nub of the issue’ in complex, prominent inquiries. Paul Reid KC has a solid track record in advising on prison-related litigation, and is often instructed in Fatal Accident Inquiries arising from deaths in custody. At the junior end of the stable, Ayla Iridag is well known for appearing for participants in Fatal Accident Inquiries, and acted as sole counsel to NHS Grampian in the fatal accident inquiry into the death of an 83-year old man, who died as a result of injuries inflicted by a person who had been referred for psychiatric treatment but had not attended the appointments; it was found that no health care precautions could reasonably have been taken that could have avoided the man’s death. In a boost to the stable, James McConnell KC and Usman Tariq KC were appointed to silk in September 2024.

An impressive roster of silks includes Simon Bowie KC, Jamie Dawson KC, Una Doherty KC, Lisa Henderson KC. Geoffrey Mitchell KC, Susanne Tanner KC. Ayla Iridag, Jennifer Nicholson-White and Michael Way are recognised as leading juniors.

See full table here.

Stable Testimonials

  • ‘Alan Moffat is second to none.’
  • ‘Alan Moffat is a great leader of the Ampersand clerking team. Sensible and approachable.’
  • ‘The service of the clerks is efficient, friendly and very responsive. Sheena Hume is particularly helpful and responsive.’
  • ‘Great range and depth of available counsel with a great clerking team.’
  • ‘Great support from the stable.’