Ampersand is delighted to welcome Brandon Malone to the stable, following his calling to the Bar today.
On Brandon’s arrival, Stable Director Euan Mackenzie KC, said: “I am delighted to welcome Brandon to Ampersand. He is a renowned lawyer with an impressive CV and accomplishments before coming to the Bar. He will be an asset to the Stable. I wish him all the best in his career as an Advocate”. Ampersand’s Practice Manager, Alan Moffat added “I am delighted to welcome our newest member of Ampersand. Brandon’s arrival brings the membership to 61 and the experience which he brings is a fantastic fit for Ampersand’s core areas of practice, including our increasing range of ADR offering. He will be a real asset to those looking to instruct counsel. I am sure that joining Ampersand will offer rewarding opportunities and collaborative support”.
Brandon calls to the Bar following thirty years’ experience as a commercial litigation solicitor, twenty of those years as a solicitor advocate.
Brandon is also Barrister authorised to practice in England and Wales, and has rights of audience before the DIFC Court, Dubai, UAE.
As a solicitor, Brandon specialised in construction and engineering law and international arbitration. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and an eminent Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He has wide ranging experience of construction, engineering, infrastructure and energy disputes.
Brandon has a particular interest in alternative dispute resolution. He regularly sits as an arbitrator in domestic, UK and international cases, and is recommended as a global leader in arbitration by Who’s Who Legal. He also sits as an adjudicator and expert determiner. He is a FIDIC Certified Adjudicator (dispute board member) and a mediator registered with RICS, IMI and CMC.
Brandon also has significant experience of energy and technology disputes, and has dealt with a number of blockchain and cryptocurrency cases. He Chairs the ICCA – New York City Bar – CPR Institute Working Group on Cybersecurity in International Arbitration.
For further information about Brandon’s practice view his profile here:
New panel of Standing Junior Counsel to the Advocate General for Scotland announced
Following the recent appointment process, the Advocate General for Scotland is pleased to announce new additions to his General Panel of Standing Junior Counsel to deal with UK Government work arising in the Scottish Courts. The appointments, which have been approved by him include two Ampersand Advocates, Alan Cowan and Ayla Iridag.
Full details of all appointments can be found on the UK Government’s website here.
Lord Brailsford, Chair of the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry, has appointed 4 new counsel to the Inquiry, including Ampersand’s Mary Ellen Stewart.
Junior Counsel will work closely with Senior Counsel Stuart Gale KC and Ampersand’s Laura-Anne van der Westhuizen KC, who will jointly lead the Inquiry’s Counsel team. Junior Counsel will be responsible for conducting legal research, analysing and reviewing documents, identifying evidence, drafting materials, and assisting with the preparation of hearings.
Ful news article is available on the Inquiry website here.
Sexual Offences Review webpage and Terms of Reference launched
The Sexual Offences Review has published its webpage and Terms of Reference to give information to the public and professionals about its work on reviewing how the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service in Scotland deals with reports of sexual offences.
The review was commissioned by Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC , in recognition of the profound impact that sexual violence crimes have on victims and on society, and the fact that sexual offences now account for at least 70 per cent of the casework of Scotland’s High Court prosecutors.
Ampersand’s Susanne Tanner KC has been appointed to chair the review, assisted by colleagues seconded from Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Ms Tanner KC will make findings and recommendations to improve the way in which reports of sexual offences are dealt with and they will be published on the webpage in autumn 2023.
Full article can be viewed on the COPFS website here.
Susanne Tanner KC appointed as UK delegate on ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR
Susanne Tanner KC is proud to have been appointed as a UK delegate on the new, adept and diverse group of expert members of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, ICC’s leading think tank and rule-making body for international dispute resolution.
Susanne said: “I look forward to working with the other UK national committee members and the Commission’s Steering Committee in the interests of efficient and cost-effective #disputeresolution worldwide.”
Faculty Christmas Collection now open for donations
Christmas is coming, which means so is winter – which will be even harder than usual for vulnerable families given the current cost-of-living crisis gripping the country.
As in previous years, the Faculty of Advocates is stepping up to make a difference through the annual Faculty Christmas Collection, which is now open to donations. This charitable campaign, spearheaded by Maria Maguire KC and now in its eighth year, offers support to vulnerable families in Fife.
“Every donation, no matter how small, will help,” said Ms Maguire. “It has been a particularly hard year for families and our help is needed more than ever.
“The response last year was incredible but we need to do it again. Families are in even more desperate circumstances with rising prices for food, fuel and hygiene products. Many services are not operating. The pressure on families is intolerable. There are increasing mental health problems. There is loss of employment and benefits are decreasing. Parents are becoming extremely distressed that they may be unable to provide basic needs or even heat their home for their children and feel hopeless. It is within our power to make a positive difference and I would encourage everyone to donate,” she said.
“Donations of presents, Xmas treats and cash (for food and essentials) are needed. And it is not only the children who need them. A significant number of the families supported by this campaign have a parent with mental health issues. The pressure of Christmas can often feel overwhelming and we know that a gift for a parent makes them feel more supported and less isolated. This helps the whole family.
“As well as from our members and staff, we have had wonderful support previously from the solicitors’ branch of the profession, and the judiciary, and we are hoping that this year again, together we can make a real difference,” she added.
Anyone wanting to contact Ms Maguire can email her at maria.maguire@advocates.org.uk. More details on what is needed, where to drop off donations and how to make cash donations can be found here.
On Brandon’s arrival, Stable Director 