Inner House refuses appeal against Health Board
On Friday 19 April 2024 the Second Division issued its Opinion in the reclaiming motion (appeal) in the case of SD v Grampian Health Board.
This case concerned a brain injury suffered by the pursuer’s son shortly before his birth. It originally went to trial in early 2022. The trial lasted several weeks and the Lord Ordinary who heard it ultimately found in favour of the defenders.
The pursuer reclaimed (appealed) arguing that the Lord Ordinary had misunderstood the evidence. The Second Division heard a two-day reclaiming motion in March 2024 and, having considered matters, refused the appeal. The full decision can be found here.
Vinit Khurana KC and Barney Ross represented the pursuer in the reclaiming motion. James McConnell and Shane Dundas represented the defenders. Vinit, James and Shane are members of Ampersand Advocates.
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Ampersand Advocates members appointed as Legally Qualified Chairs by SSSC
Ampersand Advocates is delighted to announce that two of its members, Vinit Khurana KC and Laurence Kennedy, have been appointed as Legally Qualified Chairs by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
In their new part-time roles, they will chair panels with social service and lay members to decide whether workers’ fitness to practise is impaired. They will also impose sanctions where necessary to protect the public and maintain confidence in the social service profession.
The SSSC is the regulator for the social service workforce in Scotland. It protects the public by registering social service workers, setting standards for their practice, conduct, training and education, and by supporting their professional development.
Vinit Khurana KC and Laurence Kennedy are both experienced advocates and their appointments further increase the extensive work that Ampersand members undertake in the regulatory field.
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Ampersand duo appointed new First and Second Standing Junior Counsel to Advocate General for Scotland
The Advocate General for Scotland has announced that Ampersand’s Graham Maciver has accepted the appointment as First Standing Junior Counsel to the Advocate General for Scotland effective from 1 April and Ampersand’s Usman Tariq has accepted the appointment as Second Standing Junior Counsel to the Advocate General for Scotland on an interim basis from 1 April to 10 September 2024 (when the appointment of all Standing Junior Counsel will come to an end).
Press release can be viewed here.
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Two new appointments to panel of Standing Junior Counsel to Scottish Government for Ampersand
Ampersand is delighted to announce that Jamie Gardiner and Alexander Sutherland have been appointed to the Scottish Government’s panel of Standing Junior Counsel.
They join fellow Ampersand members Tim Young, Euan Scott, Jennifer Nicholson-White and Michael Way on the panel.
The panel of counsel may be instructed on any matter falling within the Scottish Government’s remit.
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Brandon Malone joins Dubai arbitration panel
Ampersand’s Brandon Malone has been admitted to the panel of Arbitrators of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre, the MENA region’s largest alternative dispute resolution centre.
Brandon has a strong interest in Dubai and has rights of audience before the DIFC Courts, where Lord Glennie, his successor as chairman of the Scottish Arbitration Centre is a judge.
In addition to the DIAC, he is a member of the arbitrator rosters of other arbitral institutions in the region, including the SCCA in Riyadh, the BCDR, Bahrain, and ADGM, Abu Dhabi.
For a number of years, he has worked on MENA cases with fellow Aberdonian and former head of legal at John Wood Group PLC, Hugh Fraser, of Hugh Fraser International, who has been based the Middle East for 16 years.
He said: “There is a great deal of opportunity for Scottish lawyers in the Middle East. As well as developments in the energy sector, some of the largest construction and infrastructure projects in the world are being built there right now.”
Brandon will be speaking on artificial intelligence in arbitration at a Jus Mundi event during Riyadh International Disputes Week in March.
Brandon Malone joins Dubai arbitration panel | Scottish Legal News
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Scottish Episcopal Church appoints Paul Reid KC as new Procurator
A new Procurator has been appointed by the Scottish Episcopal Church, with immediate effect.
Paul Reid KC takes on the position following the resignation of his predecessor Alan McLean KC.
In November last year, the Preliminary Proceedings Committee of the SEC concluded its investigation into complaints lodged under Canon 54 regarding Bishop Anne Dyer. Those complaints which the PPC decided require further consideration were referred to the Church’s internal procurator as the next stage of the canonical process.
The role of the Church’s procurator is to decide whether to take the referred complaints to a hearing before the Clergy Disciplinary Tribunal.
As a result of issues which emerged during his initial consideration of papers sent to him by the PPC, Mr McLean decided to resign in order to allow the appointment of a replacement who has no pre-existing connection of any nature to any of the parties or witnesses potentially involved, so as to avoid any suggestion that the process was not being conducted in an independent and impartial manner.
The appointment of Mr Reid was made by the Provincial Standing Committee, in consultation with the College of Bishops.
No further comment will be made on the on-going Canon 54 process at this stage.
Originally published on 23rd January 2024 on the Scottish Episcopal Church website here: Church appoints new Procurator – The Scottish Episcopal Church (anglican.org)
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