Ampersand welcomes Alexander Sutherland
Ampersand is delighted to welcome Alexander Sutherland to the stable who called at the Bar today.
Before calling to the Bar, Alex trained with Addleshaw Goddard LLP, formerly HBJ Gateley. During his seat in the firm’s dispute resolution department, he gained experience of a wide range of litigation in both the Court of Session and the sheriff court, including real estate and insolvency litigation. He also had seats in the real estate and corporate recovery departments.
Alex 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.
Alex’s interests lie primarily in the fields of commercial and public law. As a devil he also gained experience of planning. His principal devilmaster was Ampersand’s Laura-Anne van der Westhuizen.
He speaks fluent French and German and is well placed to undertake work involving consideration of documents in those languages.
On Alex’s arrival, Head Clerk Alan Moffat said “I am delighted that Alex has joined us. He comes with a great reputation from his time at a top firm and has been highly praised during his time on the devils course. I am very sure he will continue to impress at the Bar and expect him to be a great addition to the stable.”
In the first part of the time-honoured two-stage admission ceremony, the Dean of Faculty, Gordon Jackson, QC, said the public office of advocate carried real privileges and corresponding responsibilities.
“You have become part of a great national institution which has played, throughout its existence, a very significant role in the legal and cultural life of this nation. As a member of Faculty you will play your own particular part in the future of that institution,” he added.
In the second part of the ceremony, before Lord Clark in the Court of Session, Alex along with 6 other new calls made the declaration of allegiance.
Lord Clark said: “It is a genuine pleasure and a privilege to welcome you as members of the Faculty of Advocates and to congratulate you on this great achievement. The Faculty has long been an important and distinguished organisation. It has commonly attracted some of the ablest minds of each generation, and it continues to thrive.
“It is truly one of the great features of our society that the general public, businesses and other organisations have at their disposal people like you – independently-minded advocates who will take on and fight their causes.
“I very much hope that you thoroughly enjoy your work at the Bar and the camaraderie of your colleagues.”
Alex is a welcome addition to the depth of counsel on offer at Ampersand.
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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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Ampersand welcomes Tim Young
Ampersand Advocates is delighted to welcome Timothy Young to the stable.
Tim is a very welcomed addition to Ampersand, enhancing our strong offering of junior counsel. Tim is ranked by Chambers and Partners as an Up and Coming Junior in Commercial Dispute Resolution.
Tim’s practice focuses on commercial and public law disputes. Since calling to the Bar in 2013, he has quickly developed a busy and wide-ranging practice in many areas of commercial law including commercial contract disputes (particularly construction and IT contracts), trusts, real estate, banking, insolvency, and intellectual property. He is regularly instructed in complex and high profile litigations in these areas, with senior counsel and alone.
He has, also, developed a broad experience of judicial review and statutory appeals in public and administrative law matters. He has particular experience of public procurement disputes and professional discipline matters. As well as appearing in Court, he has appeared in a wide variety of tribunals, committees, and disciplinary hearings.
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Timothy Young
‘Timothy Young is an excellent leading junior and operates at the very top of the junior Bar. He has experience of complex areas of corporate, property and commercial law which few can match.’ (Chambers (2025) – Commercial Dispute Resolution and Real Estate Litigation – Scotland)
‘Timothy Young is very technically adept and super diligent.’ (Chambers (2025) – Construction – Scotland)
‘Timothy is extremely bright and capable; he is impressive’ (Chambers (2025) – Commercial Dispute Resolution – Scotland)
‘He is a powerful and focused advocate and enjoys the respect of judges.’ (Legal 500 – Commercial Dispute Resolution)
‘Timothy is a very astute operator who commands the confidence of clients and solicitors alike.’ (Chambers (2024) – Commercial Dispute Resolution – Scotland)
‘His intellectual prowess and ability to quickly and competently ascertain the critical considerations of a case and the best strategy moving forward is matched with a formidable style of advocacy.’ (Chambers (2024) – Construction)
‘He is one of the best advocates at the Bar. He is very bright and very user-friendly’ (Chambers (2023) – Commercial Dispute Resolution)
‘Tim is excellent. He is regularly instructed in public law matters and his written work is exceptional.’ (Chambers (2023) – Administrative and Public Law)
Tim Young is a leading junior counsel in commercial and public law disputes at the Scottish bar. He has been widely recognised as such in all the major legal directories including Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, and Who’s Who Legal.
He is regularly instructed – both led and unled – in the most important, complex, and high-value commercial cases before the Scottish courts and in arbitrations.
He has extensive experience and expertise in commercial contract disputes (particularly complex construction and IT contract matters), civil fraud and bribery, trusts, banking, company, insolvency, and shipping and maritime law. He is also a contributing editor to leading practitioner texts in these areas, the Companies Law (reissue) and Shipping and Maritime Law (reissue) volumes of The Laws of Scotland: Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia.
He has also been retained by the defenders in several sets of group proceedings relating to diesel emissions and has been heavily involved in several recent and important decisions on the proper approach to such litigations.
He also has a very extensive experience in all commercial and agricultural property matters. He has conducted many cases in relation to the electronic communications code, crofting, agricultural tenancies, commercial leases, servitudes, rights of way, and title disputes.
In addition to his heavy weight commercial practice, he also has substantial experience of judicial review and statutory appeals in the field of public and administrative law. He is particularly sought after for his experience in dealing with human rights challenges, malicious prosecution cases, public procurement disputes, and professional discipline matters. As well as appearing in Court, he has appeared in a wide variety of tribunals, committees, and disciplinary hearings. Tim has also been appointed as a Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Government, and regularly appears in the courts for the Scottish Government.
He graduated with a first class honours from the University of Strathclyde. Throughout his career, he has maintained links with academia through tutoring Business Entities and Constitutional Law at both the University of Edinburgh and Napier University, and as an external examiner at Robert Gordon University. He is also the Deputy Editor of the official law report series in Scotland, Session Cases.
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Pet of William Grant & Sons Distillers Limited for Judicial Review of a decision by The Moray Council dated 6 March 2017 [2018] CSOH 27
Judicial Review of the decision of a local authority in respect of planning conditions. William Grant & Sons Distillers Ltd, owners of the Glennfiddich distillery and visitor centre, argued that access works were not part of the development and sought judicial review of a decision by Moray Council to the effect that the planning conditions had been met. Lord Woolman refused to grant the orders sought and upheld the decision of the local authority.
Ailsa Wilson QC for Moray Council, instructed by Harper Macleod LLP.
Opinion of Lord Woolman here.
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Ampersand Member appointed as Legal Member of the Health and Education Chamber
Susanne Tanner QC has been appointed as a Legal Member of the Health and Education Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland. She will sit as a part-time Chair to determine references brought by parents of school children and young people with additional support needs, and disability discrimination claims brought by parents, children and young people in relation to their education. She continues in her role as a part-time Legal Member and Chair in the Housing and Education Chamber of the First-tier tribunal and will perform both roles alongside her practice at the Bar.
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