Ampersand Advocates welcomes 2 new members: Sarah McWhirter and Tony Convery

Ampersand is delighted to welcome Sarah McWhirter and Tony Convery to the stable, following their call to the Bar on Friday, 27^th June 2025.

On the new members’ arrival, Stable Director Isla Davie KC, said: “We are delighted that Sarah and Tony are joining Ampersand. They are already highly regarded as lawyers, and this is the start of incredibly promising careers for both at the Bar. Not only does their considerable experience lend itself well to our existing practice areas, but they are also lovely people and we look forward to welcoming them into the stable.”

Ampersand’s Practice Manager, Alan Moffat added “I am delighted to welcome our newest members of Ampersand. Their addition to our set brings the membership to 61 and the experience which each of them brings is a fantastic fit for Ampersand’s core areas of practice. They will be a real asset to those looking to instruct counsel. I am sure that joining Ampersand will offer them rewarding opportunities and collaborative support”.

Sarah and Tony featured in Ampersand’s “& the Devils in the Detail” Hey Legal Live chat in May. You can watch clips of Sarah and Tony discussing their practice areas here.

Sarah McWhirter

Sarah specialises in clinical negligence and personal injury actions. She has extensive experience in complex and high-value claims. She has particular expertise in birth injury, spinal injury, amputation and fatal claims.

Prior to calling to the Bar, Sarah specialised in clinical negligence and personal injury work for over 10 years. Latterly, Sarah was Head of Clinical Negligence (Scotland) and a Principal Lawyer (partner) at a large UK-wide firm. She was ranked ‘Band 1’ in Chambers and Partners for Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant (2025). Sarah has experience of representing both pursuers and defenders.

As a solicitor Sarah, appeared in the All-Scotland Sheriff Personal Injury Court and regularly dealt with cases raised in the Court of Session.

During devilling, Sarah enhanced her existing experience in clinical negligence and personal injury work. She expanded her knowledge of specialist personal injury claims, including industrial disease and historical child abuse. She also gained experience in other areas of law, most notably mental health, professional regulation and public law.

Sarah is the Course Organiser for the Personal Injury elective course on the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Edinburgh.

Tony Convery

Tony specialises in commercial litigation and public law. He calls to the Bar 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.

For further information about their practices view their profiles on the Ampersand Advocates website: Our People – Ampersand Advocates

To instruct either of them, please contact the Ampersand Clerking Team: ampersandclerks@advocates.org.uk.

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