Alexander Sutherland
Alex practises primarily in public law (including judicial review and planning) and reparation. Selected cases are below.
He was an advocate depute, preparing and presenting cases in the High Court of Justiciary, from 2021 to 2024. He conducted over 30 trials in the High Court, including for murder, attempted murder, causing death by dangerous driving, possession of firearms and rape.
In March 2024 he was appointed as a standing junior to the Scottish Government.
In May 2020 he was appointed as a reporter for Session Cases. He contributed chapters on the sale of goods and (together with Ross Anderson) alternative dispute resolution for the second edition of Scots Commercial Law. He tutored Civil Court Practice as part of the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at Edinburgh University in 2019 and 2020.
Before calling to the Bar, Alex trained with a commercial firm in Edinburgh. He completed his LLB at Glasgow University in 2014 and the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at Edinburgh University in 2015. Before then, he studied German and English Language at Edinburgh University, during which time he spent a year studying in Vienna.
He speaks fluent German and French and is well placed to undertake work involving consideration of documents in those languages.
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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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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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Jennifer Nicholson-White
Jenny is currently working as an AD in Crown Office.
Acting for both pursuers and defenders in a wide range of personal injury litigation, Jenny Nicholson-White has a particular interest and expertise in clinical negligence and is ranked as leading junior by both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 in personal injury and clinical negligence.
Her recent work includes complex cases involving brain injury in road traffic accidents, birth injury cases including cerebral palsy, amputations as a result of alleged clinical negligence, defending GPs in cases involving allegedly negligent loss of sight in a young man and loss of hearing in a young woman respectively, acting for families seeking damages for the loss of a loved one due to alleged negligence, acting for insurers to defend claims under the Damages (Scotland) Act 2011, representing dentists before Interim Orders Committees in advance of Fitness to Practice Hearings, acting for families in secondary victim claims arising out of alleged clinical negligence, representing nurses as instructed for the RCN, representing the SPS and Forestry and Land Scotland as instructed by the Scottish Government and acting for health boards in defence of various allegations of surgical error and delayed diagnosis.
In January 2022, Jenny was appointed a Standing Junior to the Scottish Government. In that capacity, she has acquired further experience in public law and been instructed in several cases raised in the Lands Tribunal of Scotland. In both the UK and Scottish Covid-19 Public Inquiries she was one of six junior Counsel, led by Geoff Mitchell K.C. representing the Scottish Ministers (2022 to 2025).
In August 2021, Jenny was appointed an ad hoc Advocate Depute and has experience in that capacity of prosecuting serious sexual offending in the High Court.
Jenny was shortlisted for Scottish Junior Advocate of the Year 2020 by the Legal 500.
In October 2025, Jenny was appointed to the Advocate General for Scotland’s Panel of Special Advocates.
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Alan Cowan
Prior to calling to the bar, Alan was a solicitor in private practice for over 20 years. He was a partner with Simpson & Marwick from 2001 and a solicitor advocate from 2004.
As a solicitor advocate, Alan appeared regularly in both the Inner and Outer Houses of the Court of Session. He conducted numerous proofs, debates and appeals. In addition, he was frequently instructed to appear with Senior Counsel.
During his career as a solicitor, Alan had a varied civil practice. His principal areas of expertise were personal injury, employment law and commercial litigation. He is also experienced in the fields of property damage, defamation, professional negligence and valuation rating appeals. He has an interest in family law and gained further experience in that area during his devilling.
In 2022 Alan was appointed to the Advocate General for Scotland panel of Standing Junior Counsel which will deal with UK Government work arising in Scotland.
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