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”.
UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry – Module 1
On behalf of the Scottish Government as a standing junior counsel in Module 1 of the UK Covid Inquiry on the Resilience and Preparedness of the United Kingdom in June and July 2023.
James McGraw v Greater Glasgow Health Board [2022] CSOH 83
For defender in procedure roll debate in a clinical negligence case under Ch42A on Hunter v Hanley.
AW v Greater Glasgow Health Board [2015] CSOH 99 , AW v Greater Glasgow Health Board [2017] CSIH 58
For pursuer. Multimillion pound cerebral palsy case arising from birth injuries. Complex causation issues and longest-running clinical negligence proof in Scotland. Further Opinion issued after hearing in the Inner House in October 2016.
CD v Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals Trust [2015] CSOH
For pursuer. A birth injuries case against midwives involving shoulder dystocia where the child was born with a severe brachial plexus injury and permanent disability.
D’s Parent and Guardian v Greater Glasgow Health Board 2011 SLT 1137
For defenders. First Scottish case which settled with a periodic payment order approved by the Court. Structured settlement. Obstetric negligence claim arising from failed McClellan’s forceps rotation leading to spinal injury at birth.
Contact our clerks
Normal business hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
ampersandclerks@advocates.org.uk
+44 (0)131 260 5674 (9am to 5pm)
Alan Moffat
Advocates' Clerk
Sheena Hume
Deputy Advocates' Clerk
Shawn McArthur
Deputy Advocates' Clerk
Kathryn Ferguson
Deputy Advocates' Clerk
Emma Busby
Deputy Advocates' Clerk
Diploma in Legal Practice, University of Edinburgh 1996
LLB and French (Joint Hons), University of Edinburgh 1995
Diplôme de Droit Français, Université de Paris-Sud 1994
Quality Assurance Assessor, Faculty of Advocates, 2024
Appointed King’s Counsel, 2023
Acting Clerk of Faculty, 2023
Member of the Scottish Civil Justice Council: 2023 to date
Appointed Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Government, 2022
Ad hoc Advocate Depute: 2015 to 2017; 2021 to date
Legal Assessor to the General Teaching Council for Scotland: 2021 to date
Member of the Access to Justice Committee of the Scottish Civil Justice Council: 2020 to date
Clerk to the Examiners and Deputy Clerk of Faculty of Advocates: 2019 to 2023
Advocacy Skills Instructor on the Advocates Training Course
Tutor, University of Edinburgh , Civil Court Practice: 2011 to 2021
Legal Translator, Court of Justice of the European Communities 2000 – 2001
She regularly appear in the Inner and Outer House of Court of Session, sheriff court, High Court of Justiciary, Fatal Accident Inquiries and Public Inquiries.
Fiona has contributed to drafting materials for use in the Faculty of Advocates Training Course and the Diploma in Legal Practice at the University of Edinburgh.
- Ampersand Advocates excels in Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide 202517 October, 2024
- Ampersand Advocates Achieves Top Rankings Across Multiple Practice Areas in Legal 500 2025 Guide2 October, 2024
- UK Covid-19 Inquiry publish report on the Resilience and Preparedness of the United Kingdom18 July, 2024
- Ampersand Advocates continues Top Rankings success in 2024 Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide19 October, 2023
- Ampersand Advocates ranked as top tier set by Legal 500 in 2024 guide4 October, 2023