Scott Clair
Scott Clair called to the Bar in 2022 as a Lord Hope Scholar.
He has experience in a wide range of commercial, private and public law litigation. In the course of devilling, Scott was involved in a variety of complex and high-value cases including commercial disputes, clinical and professional negligence claims, regulatory, human rights and constitutional law cases. Scott has a particular interest in the latter and, whilst devilling, worked on a number of high-profile judicial review cases including a legislative competence challenge to an Act of the Scottish Parliament, a challenge to Scotland’s Census 2022 and the first removal of a judicial office holder under the Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014.
He has assisted with the preparation of cases before the Sheriff Courts, the Sheriff Appeal Court, the Court of Session, the UK Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights.
Before calling to the Bar, as a solicitor and then associate with a well-known litigation firm in Edinburgh, he gained substantial experience of appearing in court and regularly conducted proofs, debates and complex opposed motions including for interdict. Scott also gained experience in fatal accident inquiries and various forms of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration, adjudication and mediation.
Scott has particular interests in contract law, clinical and professional negligence, media law, private client litigation and judicial review.
Scott also has an interest in legal education. Since 2021, he has tutored in Commercial Law, Public Law and Individual Rights, and Evidence at the University of Edinburgh.
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Louise Cockburn
Louise Cockburn called to the Bar in 2022 having qualified as a solicitor in 2004.
She was a partner in a mid-sized firm in Edinburgh and Head of Planning in Scotland for a global firm before setting up her own practice in 2014.
She specialised in planning and environmental law and regularly appeared at inquiries and hearings, many into large scale renewable energy and infrastructure projects including the proposed redevelopment of the former Royal High School in Edinburgh, the Trump Organisation’s golf course at Menie and the Rosyth international container terminal. She was also the instructing solicitor in a successful legal challenge to a local plan. She is a member of the Scottish Planning, Local Government and Environmental Law Bar Group.
Whilst devilling Louise focused on clinical negligence. She was involved in complex and high value cases for pursuers and for defenders, often health boards.
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Ayla Iridag
Ayla Iridag called to the bar after a career in private practice. As a solicitor Ayla specialised in defender personal injury litigation as well as public and administrative law, health and safety law, regulatory proceedings, firearms licensing, and orders under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Ayla frequently acted as Edinburgh agent to local authorities and companies across Scotland.
During her devilling Ayla gained additional experience in clinical and professional liability, contractual disputes, fatal accident inquiries, and public inquiries.
Ayla has significant experience of appearing in the Sheriff Appeal Court and in Sheriff Courts across Scotland, including the All Scotland Personal Injury Court. She has conducted numerous proofs, evidential hearings and debates as well as opposed motions and procedural hearings.
Ayla has pre-qualification experience in pursuing personal injury claims and in regulation of social service workers. Ayla was also the Student Director of the Dundee Student Law Clinic, where she co-ordinated the caseload and appeared in employment tribunals for clients.
Selected cases (as solicitor or instructing agent):
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Katharine Muir
Katharine Muir called to the Bar in 2022 after 6 years as a solicitor in private practice. As a solicitor Katharine appeared regularly in the Sheriff Courts, where she gained considerable experience of running proofs and conducting contentious hearings.
Katharine’s principal area of practice is in commercial law. She has a particular interest in product liability. As a solicitor and while devilling, she worked on some of the most high-profile product liability cases in Scotland. She has also advised manufacturers on product compliance and safety, labelling and advertising.
Katharine also has experience in regulatory crime, particularly health and safety, anti-bribery and corruption, healthcare regulation and fatal accident inquiries. During her period of devilling, Katharine gained experience in judicial review, defamation, and professional and clinical negligence.
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Lauren Sutherland QC calls to Bar of England and Wales and joins Byrom Street Chambers
Ampersand is pleased to announce that Lauren Sutherland QC has called to the Bar of England and Wales and joined Byrom Street Chambers in Manchester. Lauren will continue her practice in Scotland with Ampersand, alongside her practice in England and Wales.
Lauren is a widely recognised leader in the field of Clinical Negligence and was counsel for the successful appellant in the landmark case in the Supreme Court of Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board.
Lauren will continue to practise in the fields of Clinical Negligence and Serious Personal Injury in both jurisdictions.
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Fenrir Thorvaldsen v Dundee City Council [2021] CSOH 120
Court of Session action where an employee sued his employers for over £280,000 following an accident at work.
Liability for a wooden partition falling and striking the pursuer on the head, rendering him briefly unconscious, had been admitted at an early stage in the proceedings.
The defenders’ case was that the pursuer’s injuries were limited to a minor head injury and associated post-concussive symptoms, all which resolved within, at most, 7 weeks.
The pursuer claimed that his symptoms have never resolved, that he suffers from debilitating headaches and an exacerbation of his poor mental health as a result of the accident.
The Court agreed with the defenders that the pursuer had suffered a minor head injury and post-concussion syndrome lasting, at most, 7 weeks. Damages were restricted to solatium for a minor head injury and services totaling £5,250 plus interest.
Jennifer Nicholson for defender, instructed by Gillespie Macandrew LLP
Opinion of Lord Harrower can be found here.
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