Douglas Ross KC
Douglas Ross is a graduate of the universities of Glasgow and Cambridge. Prior to calling to the Bar in 1998, he spent three years as a lecturer in law and eight years as a legal adviser at the United Nations, serving in Gaza, Vienna, Zagreb and Sarajevo. In addition to appearing in many important cases in the Court of Session, he has appeared in the Supreme Court, House of Lords, High Court of Justiciary, Sheriff Court, Scottish Land Court, Lands Tribunal for Scotland, Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal, Mental Health Tribunal and the Health Professions Council.
Douglas was appointed as a Standing Junior Counsel to the then Scottish Executive in 2000, becoming Second Standing Junior in 2010 and First Standing Junior in 2012. From 2014 to 2016, he was the only Scottish lawyer appointed to the A List of the Attorney General’s Panel of Public International Law Counsel for the UK Government. He has been instructed in cases in a wide range of areas, notably administrative law, judicial review and human rights. Other areas in which he has substantial experience include medical negligence and personal injuries cases in which he has been regularly instructed for both pursuers and defenders. He was instructed as Crown Counsel in the second and third Lockerbie appeals in, respectively, 2008-9 and 2020.
Douglas has appeared at numerous Fatal Accident Inquiries. He represented the Scottish Government at the lengthy inquiry into multiple fatalities in the fire at Rosepark Care Home and has appeared for health boards at inquiries in relation to deaths in hospital. He is instructed by NSS Scotland in the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry. Since being appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2016, Douglas’s principal areas of practice have continued to be in judicial review, human rights, medical negligence and personal injuries.
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Eoghainn CM MacLean
Eoghainn MacLean is a leading commercial litigator, ranked by Chambers and the Legal 500.
In 2020, he returned full time to the commercial bar after a year as permanent Crown Counsel, leading High Court (i.e. Crown Court) prosecutions in back to back jury trials, preliminary and sentencing hearings.
“If you need someone in your corner instruct Eoghainn. Quick to get up to speed. Superb on his feet in court – and he explains what is going on to clients. Best at complex commercial cases. Superb legal brain. Good with clients and wins cases.”
Stuart MacFarlane, partner & office head, Weightmans, solicitors, Glasgow
“Eoghainn is consistently thorough and very user-friendly. He is exceptionally good at analysing complex issues and explaining difficult concepts to clients.”
Fraser Geddes, partner & head of dispute resolution, Anderson Strathern, solicitors, Glasgow
“Eoghainn is a determined and focused litigator who pounces on the relevant facts and applicable law. He makes the complex understandable and navigates your case in the correct direction. You definitely want him on your side!”
Richard Frenz, partner & head of court department, Miller Hendry, solicitors, Perth
“Eoghainn relishes mastering complex issues …and will not shy away from running difficult cases.”
John McHugh, partner, Harper MacLeod, solicitors, Edinburgh
“Eoghainn is particularly good at presentation of the client’s case in Court. He has shown he “can deliver” in the most complex of cases.”
Drew Taylor, Consultant, Shepherd and Wedderburn, solicitors, Edinburgh
“Eoghainn’ s careful approach is invaluable in complex commercial cases”
Graham Craik, Partner, Levy & McRae Solicitors, Glasgow
“Eoghainn is an outstanding advocate who gave us the confidence to pursue our case and win.”
Eileen Gallagher OBE & Ann McManus, co-founders Shed Productions, London
Eoghainn has handled hundreds of commercial, competition, property (including planning and IP) and professional liability cases before the highest civil courts. He conducts them as lead counsel.
A pdf of his full CV is available from the tab on the left.
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Fiona Drysdale KC
Fiona Drysdale specialises in clinical negligence, reparation and public inquiries. She has considerable experience in catastrophic injury, fatal cases and those concerning children. She served as a Standing Junior to the Scottish Government and is an Ad Hoc Advocate Depute. She is a member of the Scottish Civil Justice Council, an instructor of instructors for Advocacy Skills and a Quality Assurance Assessor. Her regulatory work includes acting as a Legal Assessor for the General Teaching Council for Scotland and as clerk to the Disciplinary Tribunal of the Faculty of Advocates. Fiona was instructed as a standing junior counsel on behalf of the Scottish Government in Module 1 of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on the Resilience and Preparedness of the United Kingdom for which The Inquiry Report was published on 18 July 2024.
She is ranked in Chambers UK Bar 2025 for clinical negligence and public and fatal accident inquiries. Chambers states “Fiona Drysdale KC has hit the ground sprinting since taking silk in 2023. She has been instructed on several high-profile mandates for core participants. She is widely recognised for her prowess in the clinical negligence field” and “Fiona Drysdale KC represents clients on both the pursuer and defender sides of clinical negligence cases. She is noted for her strength in claims resulting from maximum-severity birth injuries. She is also experienced in fatal claims and delayed diagnosis cases”.
She is also ranked in Legal 500 UK Bar 2025 for clinical negligence and personal injury and crime and regulatory which states “She is extremely capable, hard-working and reliable”.
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Geoffrey D. Mitchell KC
Geoffrey Mitchell KC is an experienced litigator, with considerable experience in oral advocacy (at first instance and appellate level), public and local inquiries, regulatory work and public law.
Between 2001 and 2005, as an Advocate Depute and senior Advocate Depute (High Court prosecutor), he prosecuted serious and complex criminal cases.
In 2011 he was appointed Special Counsel to the Lord Justice General.
Between 2013 and 2015 he was the Director of Ampersand Advocates.
He is currently acting as lead Senior Counsel for the Scottish Ministers in the Covid-19 Public Inquiries.
He has ‘Leading Silk’ and ‘Band 1’ rankings in the Legal 500 and Chambers UK Bar Guide (2025 editions).
“Good on his feet and good before the judge. A very persuasive and calm advocate.”
(Chambers UK Bar Guide, 2025 ed.)
“An excellent communicator with strong analytical skills. He has great insight, and an ability to simplify even the most complex issues.”
(The Legal 500, 2025 ed.)
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Giles Reid
“Giles is very smart and hard-working.” “He gives clear commercial advice and is good on his feet.” “He is very bright and very capable.” (Chambers & Partners (2021): ‘Up and Coming’ for Commercial Litigation)
“He has an impressive knowledge of property law and is regularly instructed due to his encyclopedic knowledge and his approachable nature.” “He’s very approachable and he’s also able to get his head round really tricky cases very quickly and give clear commercial advice.” (Chambers & Partners (2021): ‘Up and Coming’ for Real Estate Litigation)
“A legal encyclopeadia.” (Legal 500 (2020): Band 1 for Commercial Litigation)
“He has remarkable oral advocacy skills.” (Legal 500 (2019): Band 1 for Commercial Litigation)
Giles’ practice focuses on commercial and administrative law.
Giles has particular expertise in and experience of property litigation, commercial disputes, professional negligence, trusts, succession and insolvency matters. He regularly conducts proofs and debates in these areas, both alone and with senior counsel. He is frequently instructed in the Commercial Court.
Giles has developed distinct expertise in the law of prescription and limitation, acquired as the research assistant for the second edition of Johnston, Prescription and Limitation (2012). Giles has delivered training sessions in this area of law, and is regularly instructed to advise in matters where prescription is an issue. He is a member of the Faculty of Advocates’ sub-committee for the Prescription (Scotland) Act 2018.
Giles is a tutor at the University of Edinburgh for property, trusts and succession. He is regularly instructed in property disputes in the Sheriff Court and Court of Session, and also provides advice on contentious and non-contentious trusts and succession matters.
Giles has experience of employment litigation. He is frequently instructed in the Court of Session and Sheriff Courts in disputes arising from employment, including the enforcement of restrictive covenants and the recovery of confidential information from former employees.
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Graeme Hawkes KC
Graeme Hawkes KC is an experienced commercial litigator, with a particular emphasis on commercial contracts, construction disputes, property and professional negligence. He was a solicitor in private practice for almost 10 years (Steedman Ramage and Brodies) and summer 2024 marks 21 years at the Bar. He also has a public law practice, having been a standing junior to the Scottish Government (2005-11) and regularly appearing in extradition cases on behalf of the Lord Advocate (including 2 Supreme Court appeals). As well as the high-quality advocacy skills to be expected of a senior used to appearing regularly in court, he brings common sense and a ‘can do’ attitude to cases. Agents admire his intellectual rigour, an ability to focus on the issues which really matter in a case and a determination to achieve the best result for the client. Graeme makes regular appearances at the Court of Session and sits as an Arbitrator.
Graeme is ranked in Chambers & Partners 2024 under Commercial Dispute Resolution.
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