Top Rankings success in latest Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide
Ampersand has again received top tier rankings across a number of areas of practice in the latest published guide to the legal profession, Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide 2019.
Ampersand received 56 listings across 17 areas of practice, ranking as top tier (band 1) in Clinical Negligence as a Set, and band 2 in Administrative & Public law, Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Commercial Dispute Resolution, Planning & Environment, Personal Injury, Product Liability and Restructuring/Insolvency as a Set. 4 members are noted as “star individuals”.
Noted as a Band 1 set for Clinical Negligence, Ampersand has 16 rankings in this area. The guide says “Ampersand enjoys an excellent reputation in the field of Scottish clinical negligence litigation. It houses a large number of advocates who specialise in the pursuit and defence of clinical negligence cases, including both QCs and juniors. Matters commonly dealt with include brain and spinal injury claims as well as fatal accident inquiries. Members are skilled at handling high-profile group actions, such as the recent suits regarding vaginal mesh implants. Sources highlight the stable’s impressive offering in the area and the “great strength and depth” of its advocates.” The listing includes Maria Maguire QC as a “Star Individual”.
Band 2 listings include Administrative and Public law where Ampersand’s frequent level public law challenges across a wide range of practice areas noted. In Civil Liberties & Human Rights the Band 2 listing notes Ampersand as a “dynamic group of public law and human rights advocates” and that “Ampersand Advocates is particularly well known for advising on the ECHR and the intersection between UK and EU law.”
In Commercial Dispute Resolution it states “Ampersand Advocates offers a strong bench of versatile and well-regarded commercial dispute resolution practitioners. The stable houses a number of silks and juniors experienced in general commercial litigation, with proficiency in disputes concerning insolvency, professional negligence and construction in particular. Advocates are also noted for their abilities in contentious matters involving planning, commercial contracts and intellectual property, often representing large companies and financial institutions”. Ampersand’s Commercial expertise is further noted in Restructuring and Insolvency, which includes “Star Individual” David Sellar QC, stating Ampersand “Home to leading silks for restructuring and insolvency in Scotland. They are regularly instructed by insolvency administrators, directors and shareholders in a variety of matters ranging from the interaction of insolvency law with public regulatory schemes to allegations of wrongful trading. The advocates have good expertise in relation to jurisdictional matters.”
Ampersand’s Personal Injury work is again acknowledged with the guide noting “A well-reputed personal injury stable on the Scottish Circuit, noted for its expert handling of complex catastrophic injury and fatal claims on behalf of both pursuers and defenders. It is regularly instructed by several leading Scottish law firms, as well as major insurers and government agencies.” It also notes that our “members also have experience appearing before fatal accident inquiries, representing health boards, doctors and hospitals, as well as bereaved families and individuals. Ampersand’s advocates are regularly involved in high-value and complex personal injury claims, and have litigated cases in the Sheriff Courts, the Court of Session and the Supreme Court.” The listing includes Maria Maguire QC and Graham Primrose QC as “Star Individuals”.
In Planning and Environment it states “Ampersand Advocates includes a number of advocates who specialise in planning and environmental law. It excels in handling judicial reviews and planning challenges, and has substantive expertise in the communications, transport and energy sectors. Its clients include local councils, conservation bodies and developers.” This includes “Star Individual” Malcolm Thomson QC. Ampersand is also a Band 2 set in Product Liability stating “A prominent player in product liability matters, with additional bench strength in the areas of personal injury and professional liability. Members routinely act in cases involving defective medical devices and claims relating to industrial product liability. They are experienced in the representation of defenders and pursuers, both in individual cases and in group actions.”
The Clerks also receive high praise again stating “the clerking is excellent” noting “the clerking team is very responsive and experienced. The quality shines through.” and “team is very accommodating and helpful. The clerks respond to enquiries timeously”.
Ampersand’s full listings can be viewed on the Chambers and Partners website here.
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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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Midlothian Council v Bracewell Stirling and others [2018] CSIH 21
Professional negligence action arising from house development which is said to be on contaminated land; proper construction of contract; whether the Council acted reasonably in mitigating its losses. Appeal upholding Lord Ordinary, discussing proper interruption of commercial contract.
Decision here.
Paul Reid for First Defenders and Respondents
Robert Howie QC for Pursuers and Reclaimers
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Kathryn Ferguson
Kathryn Ferguson joined Ampersand in 2018 and has completed Paralegal qualifications in both Conveyancing and Wills and Executries. Prior to joining the team Kathryn worked for a global law firm supporting the Commercial Real Estate and Litigation teams.
Kathryn brings a can-do approach and is always willing to assist in all aspects of instructing counsel.
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PNLA conference – Challenging Territory
Conference organised by the Professional Negligence Lawyers’ Association, featuring talk’s from experienced solicitors and advocates, including Ampersand’s Ronnie Clancy QC and Paul Reid.
Full details and how to book can be found here.
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Ampersand Advocate amongst latest SSSC chair appointments
Ampersand’s Isla Davie is amongst a dozen advocates that have been approved for appointment as part-time legally Qualified Chairs by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
The members of Faculty will chair Fitness to Practise Panels in the part-time posts, and account for two-thirds of the latest round of appointments by the SSSC.
The Vice-Dean of Faculty, Angela Grahame, QC, congratulated the 12 and said: “The Faculty has worked hard with many regulatory bodies, including the SSSC, at ensuring that both our civil and criminal members are fully trained and educated in this highly specialised area.
“The Dean and I are delighted that so many have been appointed in what was a highly competitive recruitment process. This not only reflects well on the extensive skills and abilities of our membership, but also on the quality of training and education that has been provided. We wish them all well in their new roles.”
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