Geoffrey D. Mitchell KC
Geoffrey Mitchell KC is an experienced litigator, with considerable experience in oral advocacy (first instance and appellate), public and local inquiries, and public and administrative law.
He was lead Counsel for the Scottish Government in the Covid-19 Public Inquiries.
He has ‘Leading Silk’ and ‘Band 1’ rankings in the Legal 500 and Chambers UK Bar Guide (2026 editions).
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.
In 2025 he was appointed to the Advocate General’s panel of Special Advocates.
Between 2013 and 2015 he was the Director of Ampersand Advocates.
“Hard-working and an impressive performer in court.”
Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide 2022
“He is very calm, measured and extremely well organised. He is also always well prepared and very focused…Approachable and easy to work with. He really gets into the detail.”
Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide 2021
“He combines sharp attention to detail with empathy and sensitivity in the most challenging of cases”
Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide 2020
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Giles Reid
‘Giles Reid is a leading junior and always near the top of the list of junior counsel in contentious property matters.’ (Chambers and Partners 2026, Real Estate Litigation, Band 1)
‘Giles is a super brain. He is pragmatic and a real asset, particularly when working as part of a team.’ (Legal 500 2026, Commercial Disputes, Band 2)
‘A fiercely intelligent advocate, with a client-friendly manner. He has a strong presence in the court.’ (Legal 500 2026, Property, Planning and Construction, Band 2)
Giles is a leading senior junior, practising in commercial, property and public law. He is regularly instructed as sole counsel or as part of a team in large, complex and high-value cases.
He has particular expertise in prescription and limitation, developed through his role as research assistant for the second edition of Johnston, Prescription and Limitation (2012). He regularly advises and appears in cases where these issues arise, and has delivered specialist training in this area. Giles previously tutored in property law, trusts and succession at the University of Edinburgh.
He also has experience in disputes arising from employment contracts, including restrictive covenants and the protection of confidential information. He has acted in substantial group litigation and is instructed on behalf of claimants in the Pan NOx vehicle emissions actions.
Giles is a Standing Junior to the Advocate General for Scotland and regularly appears on behalf of the UK Government in public law matters. He is frequently instructed by HMRC in contentious tax and insolvency cases.
Giles is ranked in Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 for commercial and property litigation.
A selection of recent cases is set out below.
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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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Graham Maciver
Graham Maciver works primarily throughout the fields of public and administrative law, including principally judicial review, human rights and immigration law. Graham’s other areas of practice include commercial and regulatory law (directors disqualification and tax), personal injury and international law.
Graham has been a Standing Junior to the Advocate General for Scotland since 2012 and was appointed to the newly created post of Second Standing Junior to the Advocate General for Scotland in 2021, and now First Standing Junior in 2024.He has been on the Public International Law Panel to the Attorney General since 2014 and Equality and Human Rights Commission Panel of Counsel since 2019. Junior Counsel to Scottish Hospitals Inquiry since 2023.
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Isla Davie KC
Isla Davie’s practice covers a range of medical negligence, professional negligence, commercial law, property and personal injury disputes, in particular catastrophic injury. She is regularly instructed on behalf of insurers, public bodies, professional bodies and individuals. She is often asked to speak on medical negligence and property law.
Isla studied law at Edinburgh and Paris-Sud. She joined the Bar in 2004 after seven years’ experience as a solicitor with commercial firms and took silk in 2019. She practices in civil law, being regularly instructed in interdicts, debates, proofs, civil jury trials and Fatal Accident Inquiries.
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James McConnell KC
James McConnell KC has a practice that mainly focusses on clinical negligence. He is also frequently instructed in inquiries with a medical element. He acts for pursuers and defenders in roughly equal proportions. As a junior he was Band 1 ranked by Chambers and Partners in Clinical Negligence and by the Legal 500 in Personal Injury and Medical Negligence.
Cases:
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