Christian Marney FCIArb

Christian Marney’s interest and considerable experience is in professional negligence and commercial litigation; employment and personal injury reparation. He is regularly instructed in professional negligence matters in particular, though not exclusively, by the Law Society of Scotland professional indemnity insurers. He is currently pursuing and defending actions in the Court of Session and Sheriff Court on behalf of solicitors and construction and housing professionals. He has a well established track record in personal injury having acted for most of the major insurers for most of his professional career. However, he also ensures that he continues to pursue cases on behalf of individuals and succeed in securing full compensation on behalf of those injured persons. He has a longstanding interest and involvement in employment matters, both advisory and litigated. He is one of a small number of junior counsel recognised in this area at the Scottish Bar. He has advised and represented UK plc’s, Local Government and major insurance companies in all of those areas. Christian was admitted to The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in 2017 as a Fellow in October 2018.

Recent cases:

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Dana Forbes

Dana called to the bar in 2015 after 13 years with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Her caseload often involved difficult issues such as human rights, administrative law, novel legal argument and areas of potential legal reform. She has extensive experience in court practice as well as legal research, analysis and opinion writing. During her career, Dana has provided legal advice to the Law Officers, Crown Counsel and the Scottish Government Legal Directorate.

Since calling she has gained considerable experience in personal injury (acting for both pursuers and defenders), clinical negligence, judicial review and Fatal Accident Inquiries. Her other interests include health and safety prosecutions, succession, property rights and criminal appeals.

Dana has conducted proofs in the Court of Session and the All Scotland Personal Injury Court. She has presented cases before the Sheriff Appeal Court and the Court of Criminal Appeal. Dana has also represented clients before the Scottish Social Services Council and on referral to the Sheriff Court from the Children’s Hearing system.

Dana has assisted the Judicial Institute with their training programme. She has also given presentations to new lawyers on behalf of the Law Society of Scotland on subjects such as advocacy, personal injury and specialist procedure in the Court of Session.

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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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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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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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Jamie Gardiner

Jamie Gardiner specialises in cases combining legal and financial analysis.

On the legal side, Jamie has broad experience across commercial disputes. He particularly enjoys technical points of contractual / statutory interpretation – and finding them in factually ‘messy’ cases. From 2005-2007 he practised as a Barrister in London, so is able to advise on questions of English law.

On the financial side, he likes spreadsheets, cross-examining accountants and insolvency practitioners, complex corporate structures, quantifying loss, valuing companies and interrogating financial statements.

Jamie developed these skills as a Business Consultant. From 2007 to 2015, he worked (latterly as Director) in Accenture’s Trading, Investment and Optimisation team. He led projects in the energy, financial services and beverages sectors. His clients included BP, British Airways, Diageo and a major bank.

Jamie has an interest in animal law. He sits on the Advisory Board of the Animal Law Foundation and is interested in finding ways to better enforce farm animal welfare legislation.

Selected cases:

(Where the names of parties have not appeared in published opinions, initials have been substituted)

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