Ampersand Advocates Celebrates Outstanding 2026 Chambers & Partners Rankings
Ampersand Advocates is proud to celebrate another outstanding year in the Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2026 rankings published date, confirming its position as one of the most highly regarded and comprehensive sets at the Scottish Bar.
This year, Ampersand and its members secures 12 set rankings and an impressive 99 individual rankings across 25 practice areas, including recognition across the London Bar and All Circuits. The stable is further honoured with five Star Individuals, underscoring its depth and quality.
Set Rankings
Ampersand Advocates is ranked as a set in the following areas:
Band 1:
Band 2:
Practice Areas and Ranked Members
Administrative & Public Law – Band 2
Ranked Members:
Aidan O’Neill KC, Douglas Ross KC, Ian S. Forrester KC, Laura-Anne van der Westhuizen KC, Michael Way, Paul Reid KC, Timothy Young, Usman Tariq KC
Star Individual: Aidan O’Neill KC
Highlight: Appearing in landmark constitutional and equality law cases before the Supreme Court and Court of Session.
Civil Liberties & Human Rights – Band 2
Ranked Members:
Aidan O’Neill KC, Douglas Ross KC, Usman Tariq KC
Highlight: Leading advocates in major human rights and discrimination cases, including Billy Graham Evangelistic Association v SMG (UK) Ltd.
Clinical Negligence – Band 1
Ranked Members:
Euan Mackenzie KC, Fiona Drysdale KC, Geoffrey Mitchell KC, Graham Primrose KC, Isla Davie KC, James McConnell KC, Jamie Dawson KC, Jennifer Nicholson-White, Lauren Sutherland KC, Lisa Henderson KC, Maria Maguire KC, Mark Fitzpatrick, Shane Dundas, Simon Bowie KC, Una Doherty KC, Vinit Khurana KC
Star Individual: Maria Maguire KC
Highlight: Described as “the premier stable for clinical negligence in Scotland”, with members leading in complex medical and catastrophic injury cases.
Commercial Dispute Resolution – Band 2
Ranked Members:
Eoghainn MacLean, Giles Reid, Laura-Anne van der Westhuizen KC, Mark Boni, Michael Way, Nicholas McAndrew, Robert Howie KC, Ross G. Anderson, Timothy Young, Usman Tariq KC
Highlight: Recognised for “depth and breadth across civil litigation”, with expertise in commercial, contract, and intellectual property disputes.
Company
Ranked Members:
Ross G. Anderson, Timothy Young
Highlight: Expertise in shareholder and director disputes, representing corporate entities and institutions.
Construction – Band 2
Ranked Members:
Nicholas McAndrew, Robert Howie KC, Timothy Young
Highlight: Trusted for handling large-scale building and delay disputes, including Greater Glasgow Health Board v Multiplex.
Employment
Ranked Members:
Aidan O’Neill KC
Highlight: Leading counsel in discrimination and constitutional employment cases.
Immigration
Ranked Members:
Michael Way
Highlight: Recognised for expertise in judicial reviews and appeals involving immigration and asylum.
Information Technology
Ranked Members:
Usman Tariq KC
Highlight: Specialist in software, data, and technology-related litigation.
Intellectual Property
Ranked Members:
Usman Tariq KC
Highlight: Recognised for IP and tech sector disputes and advisory work.
Media Law
Ranked Members:
Usman Tariq KC
Highlight: Acts in defamation, reputation, and privacy cases.
Personal Injury – Band 1
Ranked Members:
Alan Cowan, Christian Marney, Douglas Ross KC, Euan Mackenzie KC, Usman Tariq KC, Isla Davie KC, Jennifer Nicholson-White, Lisa Henderson KC, Maria Maguire KC, Shane Dundas, Simon Di Rollo KC
Star Individuals: Graham Primrose KC, Maria Maguire KC
Highlight: Described as “a formidable team of injury specialists”, acting in high-value, complex personal injury claims across Scotland.
Planning & Environment – Band 1
Ranked Members:
Ailsa Wilson KC, Laura-Anne van der Westhuizen KC, Marcus McKay KC, Nicholas McAndrew
Highlight: Commended for expertise in renewable energy, development planning, and environmental judicial review.
Product Liability
Ranked Members:
Paul Reid KC
Highlight: Recognised for handling complex product and regulatory disputes.
Professional Discipline
Ranked Members:
Paul Reid KC, Scott Clair
Highlight: Act for regulators and professionals in high-stakes disciplinary proceedings.
Professional Negligence – Band 2
Ranked Members:
Paul Reid KC, Scott Clair, Usman Tariq KC
Highlight: Expertise across financial, legal, and technical negligence claims.
Public & Fatal Accident Inquiries – Band 1
Ranked Members:
Ayla Iridag, Fiona Drysdale KC, Geoffrey Mitchell KC, Isla Davie KC, James McConnell KC, Jamie Dawson KC, Jennifer Nicholson-White, Lisa Henderson KC, Michael Way, Paul Reid KC, Shane Dundas, Simon Bowie KC, Susanne Tanner KC, Una Doherty KC
Highlight: Market leader in public inquiries including the UK and Scottish COVID-19 Inquiries, and the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Real Estate Litigation – Band 2
Ranked Members:
Giles Reid, Mark Boni, Michael Way, Robert Howie KC, Ross G. Anderson, Timothy Young
Highlight: Leading expertise in commercial property and access rights disputes.
Restructuring/Insolvency – Band 2
Ranked Members:
Robert Howie KC, Ross G. Anderson, Sheana Campbell, Usman Tariq KC
Highlight: Praised for “excellent knowledge and expertise” in insolvency, breach of duty, and cross-border matters.
Tax – Band 1
Ranked Members:
Julian Ghosh KC, Ross G. Anderson
Star Individual: Julian Ghosh KC
Highlight: Recognised as a Star Individual for Tax (London Bar), handling major tax appeals and IR35 cases such as McCann Media Ltd v HMRC.
Independent Investigations – All Circuits (Band 2)
Ranked Member:
Susanne Tanner KC
Highlight: Recognised across the UK for her leadership in independent investigations and inquiries.
European Law – London Bar (Band 2)
Ranked Member:
Aidan O’Neill KC
Highlight: Noted for constitutional and EU law expertise bridging the Scottish and London Bars.
Tax – London Bar & Private Client
Ranked Member:
Julian Ghosh KC
- Tax: London Bar (Star Individual)
- Tax: Private Client – Band 1
- Tax: Indirect Tax – Band 2
Highlight: Acknowledged as one of the UK’s foremost tax specialists.
Star Individuals
Ampersand Advocates proudly celebrates its five Star Individuals recognised for exceptional excellence and leadership:
Clerking Excellence
Ampersand’s clerking team, led by Alan Moffat, is again commended for professionalism, responsiveness, and efficiency.
“Second to none.”
“Depth and breadth across all disciplines.”
“Incredibly responsive and professional.”
The clerks’ deep understanding of clients’ needs continues to be a cornerstone of Ampersand’s success.
Overall Recognition
With 99 individual rankings, five Star Individuals, and 12 ranked practice areas, Ampersand Advocates cements its reputation as one of Scotland’s leading stable for excellence across the civil Bar. Ampersand stands out for its depth, versatility, and advocacy excellence.
You can view the full rankings and detailed individual feedback here.
Back
Legal Services Agency Webinar: The work of an International Court & pleading before the EU or ECHR courts
*** LSA event ***
Thu, 6 Nov 2025 11:30 – 13:00 GMT. CPD 1.5 hours
OBJECTIVES
What is it like to plead before some of Europe’s highest courts? What makes advocacy effective when arguing complex cases in a multilingual, multinational judicial setting?
In this webinar, Ampersand’s Ian S. Forrester KC will describe how the courts work and will give some recommendations about the best way of presenting arguments to Luxemburg judges.
Whether you’re interested in international litigation, EU law, or simply how large transnational courts operate behind the scenes, this session offers rare and valuable insights from someone who has sat on the bench.
PARTICIPANTS
This Zoom webinar is aimed at solicitors, trainee solicitors, and professionals working in law and legal policy who are interested in international litigation, EU law, and human rights advocacy.
SPEAKERS
Chair: Aaliya Seyal, CEO, Legal Services Agency
Aaliya has a longstanding interest in immigration and human rights law.
Ian S. Forrester KC LLD
Ian S. Forrester KC is a highly respected international lawyer, academic, and former judge of the General Court of the European Union (2015–2020), where he sat on over 230 cases covering areas such as competition, trademarks, state aid, terrorism sanctions, and public procurement. He also contributed to the Court’s first Code of Conduct and represented it in international missions.
A practising advocate across multiple jurisdictions—including the UK, EU institutions, the US, and international tribunals—Mr. Forrester has argued landmark cases in competition, intellectual property, pharmaceuticals, sport, and human rights, including before the European Court of Human Rights.
He has published over 150 articles in multiple languages and has lectured globally on EU law, competition, and human rights. Following Brexit, he returned to practice at the Bar as King’s Counsel and now serves as a member of the UK Competition Tribunal and the ICSID panel of Conciliators.
Back
Ampersand Advocates Celebrates Top-Tier Recognition in 2026 Legal 500 Rankings
Ampersand Advocates has once again secured its position among Scotland’s leading sets of counsel in the newly released 2026 edition of The Legal 500 United Kingdom Bar Guide. The rankings, published today, reaffirm Ampersand’s reputation for excellence across a broad spectrum of legal disciplines.
In the 2026 guide, Ampersand Advocates has been ranked in Tier 1 for Administrative and Public Law, Personal Injury and Medical Negligence and Property, Planning and Construction. The set also achieved a Tier 2 ranking in Commercial Disputes, reflecting its growing influence and expertise in high-value and complex litigation.
Administrative and Public Law (Tier 1) Ampersand’s offering is praised for handling high-stakes judicial reviews and public inquiries, with commentators highlighting our members ability to command respect at the highest levels of the judiciary. Ampersand’s expertise in this area is highlighted by the rankings of Aidan O’Neill KC, Douglas Ross KC, Susanne Tanner KC, Paul Reid KC and Usman Tariq KC (2024 silk). The stable’s juniors Timothy Young and Ross Anderson are also recognised, with Michael Way and Scott Clair noted as rising stars.
Personal Injury and Medical Negligence (Tier 1) An impressive roster of silks includes Simon Bowie KC, Una Doherty KC, Lisa Henderson KC, Euan Mackenzie KC, Maria Maguire KC, Geoffrey Mitchell KC, Graham Primrose KC, Lauren Sutherland KC, Alan Dewar KC, Vinit Khurana KC, Douglas Ross KC and James McConnell KC. Jennifer Nicholson-White, Ayla Iridag, and Shane Dundas are recognised as leading juniors.
Property, Planning and Construction (Tier 1) Robert Howie KC, Ailsa Wilson KC, Marcus McKay KC, and Laura-Anne Van Der Westhuizen KC are all ranked as leading silks. Eoghainn MacLean, Nicholas McAndrew, Ross Anderson, Timothy Young, Giles Reid and Louise Cockburn are recognised as leading juniors.
Commercial Disputes (Tier 2) The stable’s commercial disputes team is led by silks Robert Howie KC, Laura-Anne Van Der Westhuizen KC, Paul Reid KC and Usman Tariq KC (2024 silk). Ross Anderson, Eoghainn MacLean, Mark Boni, Timothy Young, Giles Reid and Nicholas McAndrew are ranked as leading juniors, with Michael Way noted as a rising star.
Crime and Regulatory (leading set) The stable has achieved acknowledgement in this category for 2026 as a leading set with a number of members ranked as leading silks including Isla Davie KC, Jamie Dawson KC, Lisa Henderson KC, Geoffrey Mitchell KC, Paul Reid KC, Simon Bowie KC, Una Doherty KC, Fiona Drysdale KC, Susanne Tanner KC, James McConnell KC (2024 silk) and Usman Tariq (2024 silk). Jenny Nicholson-White, Shane Dundas and Ayla Iridag are ranked as leading juniors, with Michael Way noted as a rising star.
Ampersand Advocates is also recommended in the Employment and Private Client and Family categories, with Aidan O’Neill KC ranked as a leading silk in Employment and Mark Boni recognised as a leading junior in Private Client and Family.
Under Alan Moffat’s leadership, the clerking team was commended for its exceptional efficiency, prompt communication, and forward-thinking approach.
These rankings highlight Ampersand’s continued commitment to delivering outstanding advocacy and legal insight across Scotland’s distinct legal landscape.
Full listings, for all of Ampersand’s rankings can be viewed on the Legal 500 website here.
Back
Ampersand Advocates welcomes Chris Stephen to the Stable
Ampersand Advocates is delighted to welcome Chris Stephen to the Stable.
Chris was called to the Scottish Bar in 2022 as a Lord Hope Scholar and is also qualified as a barrister in England & Wales. His practice focuses on administrative and public law (including public inquiries), international law, and commercial and alternative dispute resolution.
Shortly after call, Chris was appointed Standing Junior to the Advocate General for Scotland (UK Government) in December 2022, with re-appointment in September 2024. In that role he has advised and represented the UK Government in matters ranging from immigration judicial reviews to a peerage case before the Lord Lyon. He has also acted as junior counsel to the Lord Advocate in extradition cases.
Chris has assisted in several major public inquiries, including the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry and the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry, and he is currently junior counsel to the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry.
He brings substantial international law experience. Chris previously served for over five years as an Assistant Legal Adviser at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), during which he represented the UK at the United Nations in Geneva and New York and before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in contentious proceedings. Before coming to the Bar, he also worked as a dual-qualified solicitor in London, representing private clients and States across a broad range of contentious and non-contentious matters, including arbitrations under bilateral investment treaties (BITs).
Alan Moffat, Practice Manager said: “We are thrilled to welcome Chris to Ampersand. His combination of public law expertise, hands-on inquiry work and high-level international experience is of real value to those looking to instruct counsel. Chris strengthens our offering across government, regulatory and commercial matters, and we look forward to supporting his flourishing practice.”
Ampersand is a tier-1 ranked Scottish Stable in the leading legal directories across multiple practice areas and was named “Stable of the Year” at the Legal 500 Scotland Awards 2023. With recognised depth in his core practice areas, Chris’s arrival further enhances Ampersand’s reputation as a leading choice for those seeking to instruct Scottish counsel.
View Chris Stephen’s profile here.
For enquiries about instructing counsel, please contact the Ampersand Clerking Team: ampersandclerks@advocates.org.uk.
Back
Chris Stephen
Chris Stephen called to the Bar in Scotland in 2022 as a Lord Hope scholar. He is also qualified as a barrister in England & Wales. He primarily specialises in administrative & public law (including public inquiries), international law and alternative/commercial dispute resolution.
Shortly after calling, he was appointed as a Standing Junior to the Advocate General for Scotland (UK Government) in December 2022 and re-appointed in September 2024. In that capacity, he has advised and represented the UK Government in a number of matters, ranging from judicial review in the immigration context to a peerage case before the Lord Lyon. He has also acted as junior Counsel to the Lord Advocate in extradition cases.
Since calling, Chris has assisted with several public inquiries, including the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry and the Sheku Bayou Inquiry. He is currently junior Counsel to the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry.
Chris also has particular interest and experience in international law. He was formerly an Assistant Legal Adviser at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) for over five years, during which time he represented the UK at the United Nations in Geneva and New York and before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in contentious proceedings. He also worked as a dual-qualified solicitor for law firms in London representing private clients and States on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious issues, including arbitration proceedings brought under bilateral investment treaties (BITs).
Chris also spent three years as Legal Secretary (Deputy Director) to the Advocate General for Scotland, one of the UK Government’s Law Officers. In doing so, Chris worked on public law litigation of national significance, including the prorogation case (R (Miller) v The Prime Minister and Cherry v Advocate General for Scotland [2019] UKSC 41), the UK Withdrawal from the EU (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill reference [2018] UKSC 64 and the Article 50 (Wightman) case before the Inner House of the Court of Session [2018] CSIH 62 and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU C-621/18).
Chris also worked previously as a Judicial Assistant to the Law Lords (Lords Hope of Craighead and Mance) in the House of Lords (now the UK Supreme Court).
Selected cases:
Back
Tony Convery
Tony Convery specialises in commercial litigation and public law. He called to the Bar in 2025 as the Lord Reid Scholar. That Scholarship is awarded annually to the outstanding candidate. He previously worked at a leading commercial law firm.
Tony has considerable commercial litigation experience, including in professional negligence, company and property law disputes. He also has experience of group proceedings, procurement litigation and proceedings before the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
Tony has a broad public law practice. As well as core constitutional and administrative law, Tony has experience in: (i) equality and human rights, (ii) planning and (iii) information law (including data protection and freedom of information). He has a wealth of experience in advising on legislative competence challenges.
Tony also has experience of acting in environmental, regulatory, education and media law disputes, as well as inquiries. He provides advice on trade/financial sanctions and related regulatory schemes.
Tony was a research assistant to Professor Jim Murdoch CBE in relation to the fourth edition of the leading textbook, Human Rights Law in Scotland. He has also published in his own right. He is a tutor at the University of Glasgow.
Back
