UK Covid-19 Inquiry publish report on the Resilience and Preparedness of the United Kingdom
Baroness Heather Hallett has published her report today in Module 1 of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on the Resilience and Preparedness of the United Kingdom.
Ampersand had a significant number of counsel instructed for this module on behalf of various Core Participants at the 6-week hearing in London in June and July 2023. Baroness Hallett makes 10 key recommendations in her detailed report consisting of 240 pages which can be viewed on the Covid-19 Inquiry website here.
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Ampersand Advocates welcomes 4 new members: Louise Jardine, Kirsty Shaw, Amelia Mah and Sean White
Ampersand is delighted to welcome Louise Jardine, Kirsty Shaw, Amelia Mah and Sean White to the stable, following their call to the Bar today.
On the new members’ arrival, Stable Director Euan Mackenzie KC, said: “I am delighted to welcome Louise, Kirsty, Sean and Amelia to Ampersand. They have all demonstrated exceptional legal ability and skills before coming to the Bar and will be an asset to the Stable. I wish them all the best in their new careers as Advocates”.
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 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”.
Louise Jardine
Louise calls to the Bar after working as a solicitor for a large public sector organisation.
Louise’s practice focuses on clinical negligence and personal injury. She also has experience representing clients at public and fatal accident inquiries. Louise has experience in other areas including mental health, regulatory matters and public law. Louise has appeared in Sheriff Courts across Scotland, including the All-Scotland Sheriff Personal Injury Court. As a solicitor, Louise regularly dealt with cases raised in the Court of Session. She also has experience of dealing with cases in the Inner House.
During her period of devilling, Louise expanded her knowledge base further having been exposed to cases involving other areas of professional negligence, commercial law and criminal law.
Louise completed her LLB and Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Glasgow.
Kirsty Shaw
Kirsty calls to the Bar having previously worked as a solicitor at a leading commercial law firm.
Kirsty practices principally in the field of commercial disputes and has particular experience of construction project litigation. She also has considerable experience in professional liability, insolvency and property litigation. In addition, Kirsty has an interest in public and planning law and clinical negligence.
She has represented a broad range of clients in a number of complex disputes of substantial value in court and at arbitration, adjudication and mediation.
Kirsty is currently a tutor in Contract law and Unjustified Enrichment, Commercial law and Evidence at the University of Edinburgh.
Amelia Mah
Amelia calls to the Bar having trained at an international commercial law firm with a particular focus on commercial and real estate litigation. She was the recipient of the Lord Hope and Faculty scholarships whilst devilling.
In private practice, Amelia worked on large commercial disputes, including breaches of contract, procurement and group litigation. She also has experience with insurance and reinsurance matters, particularly in professional negligence defence. Amelia also practised in real estate litigation where she was involved in lease disputes, actions for payment of rent arrears and dilapidation claims.
Whilst devilling, Amelia gained further experience in a wide range of high value and complex commercial actions in the Court of Session. She has developed a particular interest in the field of intellectual property, covering trademark infringement, patent infringement and copyright infringement claims. Amelia gained considerable experience in moving for interim orders in intellectual property actions. She continues to work in the field of commercial property litigation, including disputes on access rights.
Amelia was also involved in fatal and serious clinical negligence claims for both pursuers and defenders, public law cases and public inquiries. She has experience in all levels of the Court system in Scotland from the Sheriff Court to the Inner House.
Sean White
Sean calls to the Bar having enjoyed a varied civil litigation practice as a solicitor.
He practices mainly in commercial litigation, with particular interest in construction and property disputes, commercial contracts and professional and clinical negligence.
Sean came to the Bar with already impressive representative experience, having appeared in various courts and tribunals in Scotland, where he has conducted proofs, debates and other contentious and non-contentious hearings for pursuers and defenders. He has represented businesses and individuals in a range of complex and high-value cases.
Before calling to the Bar, Sean worked as a Senior Solicitor in the commercial disputes team of a well-known Scottish firm, where he focussed principally on construction and energy sector disputes. During this time, he worked on many Court of Session litigations and gained experience in different forms of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration and adjudication.
He previously trained and worked with an Edinburgh-based litigation firm, during which time he represented clients in a range of cases, covering commercial contracts, professional and clinical negligence, personal injury, interdict and judicial review, amongst other things.
During devilling, Sean gained further experience in construction, property, professional and clinical negligence, commercial contract, company and insolvency litigation.
For further information about their practices view their profiles here:
To instruct any of them, please contact the Ampersand Clerking Team: ampersandclerks@advocates.org.uk.
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Sean White
Sean White called to the Bar in 2024, having enjoyed a varied civil litigation practice as a solicitor.
He practices mainly in commercial litigation, with particular interest in construction and property disputes, commercial contracts and professional and clinical negligence.
Sean came to the Bar with already impressive representative experience, having appeared in various courts and tribunals in Scotland, where he has conducted proofs, debates and other contentious and non-contentious hearings for pursuers and defenders. He has represented businesses and individuals in a range of complex and high-value cases.
Before calling to the Bar, Sean worked as a Senior Solicitor in the commercial disputes team of a well-known Scottish firm, where he focussed principally on construction and energy sector disputes. During this time, he worked on many Court of Session litigations and gained experience in different forms of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration and adjudication.
He previously trained and worked with an Edinburgh-based litigation firm, during which time he represented clients in a range of cases, covering commercial contracts, professional and clinical negligence, personal injury, interdict and judicial review, amongst other things.
During devilling, Sean gained further experience in construction, property, professional and clinical negligence, commercial contract, company and insolvency litigation.
Selected cases:
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Louise Jardine
Louise Jardine called to the Bar in 2024 after working as a solicitor for a large public sector organisation.
Louise’s practice focuses on clinical negligence and personal injury. She also has experience representing clients at public and fatal accident inquiries. Louise has experience in other areas including mental health, regulatory matters and public law. Louise has appeared in Sheriff Courts across Scotland, including the All-Scotland Sheriff Personal Injury Court. As a solicitor, Louise regularly dealt with cases raised in the Court of Session. She also has experience of dealing with cases in the Inner House.
During her period of devilling, Louise expanded her knowledge base further having been exposed to cases involving other areas of professional negligence, commercial law and criminal law.
Louise completed her LLB and Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Glasgow.
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Infected Blood Inquiry final report published
The final report of the UK wide Infected Blood Inquiry was published on Monday 20th May 2024. The Inquiry was announced in July 2017 and began its work in 2018, with public hearings taking place across the UK, including in Edinburgh in late 2019. The Inquiry investigated the circumstances in which individuals came to be infected with various viruses, including HIV and hepatitis C as a result of blood transfusions or from blood products administered in their treatment for bleeding disorders, predominantly in the 1970s and 1980s. It also examined the government response to these infections, as well as the consequences of them.
The final report can be viewed online at: https://www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk/reports/inquiry-report.
Ampersand’s Jamie Dawson KC acted as Senior Counsel for around 300 infected and affected core participants, including Haemophilia Scotland and the Scottish Infected Blood Forum, along with Heather Arlidge of 42 Bedford Row; Aidan O’Neill KC had acted as Senior Counsel until 2020. Ampersand’s Simon Bowie KC acted for the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and the Scottish territorial health boards, along with Barney Ross of Compass Chambers and Ampersand’s Mary Ellen Stewart. Ampersand’s Paul Reid KC acted for Professor Christopher Ludlam.
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Graham Maciver appointed Junior Counsel to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry
Ampersand’s Graham Maciver has been appointed Junior Counsel to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry. Lord Brodie, Chair of the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, confirmed the appointments of three counsel to complete the work leading to hearings in 2024 in relation to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital as set out in March 2023.
He said: “I am pleased to welcome Fred Mackintosh KC and Michael Meehan KC as senior counsel to the Inquiry, and Graham Maciver, Advocate, as junior counsel.
The issues at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital are complicated and varied. It is however my intention to report findings as soon as possible, not least in order to offer families and their patients answers to the concerns they have raised. The Inquiry team has continued with its investigative work especially in relation the water and ventilation systems, drawing from its experts as needed. I plan to be able to confirm hearing dates shortly for a hearing starting in the late Summer of 2024.
The team making investigations in relation to the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and the Department of Clinical Neurosciences Edinburgh continues to progress its work. Two provisional position papers have been shared with Core Participants this month. A further two will be issued in the course of the next few weeks.
Lord Brodie said: “These papers are in preparation for our Edinburgh hearings next Spring. I anticipate that I will be able to report on the Edinburgh hospital after these hearings have been completed.”
Counsel biographies are available on the Inquiry Team page.
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