Alexander Sutherland Returns to Full-Time Practice After Three Years as Advocate Depute
Ampersand is delighted to announce that Alexander Sutherland has returned to full-time practice at the civil bar after serving as an Advocate Depute for three years. During his time with the Crown Office, Alex prosecuted numerous cases in the High Court of Justiciary.
Alex’s return brings a wealth of experience to his practice areas, which include commercial law, public law (including judicial review and planning), and reparation. His time as an Advocate Depute saw him conduct over 30 trials in the High Court, handling cases involving murder, attempted murder, causing death by dangerous driving, possession of firearms, and rape.
Upon his return, Alan Moffat, Practice Manager said, “We are thrilled to welcome Alex back to full-time practice. His return strengthens our team and offers clients access to his unique blend of criminal and civil litigation experience. The time serving as an Advocate Depute in the Crown Office is invaluable, as he brings enhanced advocacy skills back to his civil practice.”
Alex’s expertise has been further recognised with his appointment as a Standing Junior to the Scottish Government in March 2024. He continues to serve as a reporter for Session Cases, a role he has held since May 2020.
With his fluency in German and French, Alex is particularly well-positioned to handle cases involving documents in these languages. His diverse background, including his contributions to legal publications and his experience tutoring Civil Court Practice at Edinburgh University, makes him a versatile and knowledgeable advocate.
For those seeking counsel with a proven track record in litigation and a broad range of legal expertise, Alexander Sutherland is available for instruction again.
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Ampersand Advocates Achieves Top Rankings Across Multiple Practice Areas in Legal 500 2025 Guide
Ampersand Advocates is delighted to once again be recommended as a top-tier set across multiple practice areas by The Legal 500 UK Bar Directory in their latest listings for the 2025 guide. The Stable has again achieved impressive rankings across five key practice areas, solidifying its position as a leading Scottish Set.
Ampersand has been listed as tier 1 in Administrative & Public Law, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence, Crime and Regulatory, and Property, Planning & Construction. The stable also secured a tier 2 ranking in Commercial Disputes. This comprehensive recognition spans an impressive 34 Senior Counsel rankings and 21 Junior Counsel rankings, including 2 rising stars, across the Scottish Bar listings.
Administrative and Public Law (Tier 1) Ampersand’s expertise in this area is highlighted by the rankings of Douglas Ross KC, Aidan O’Neill KC, Laura-Anne Van Der Westhuizen KC, Susanne Tanner KC and Paul Reid KC (2023 silk). The stable’s juniors Timothy Young and Ross Anderson are also recognized, with Michael Way noted as a rising star. Usman Tariq KC’s appointment to silk in September 2024 further strengthens the team.
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 Fiona Drysdale KC (2023 silk). Jennifer Nicholson-White, Ayla Iridag, and Shane Dundas are recognized as leading juniors. James McConnell KC took silk in September 2024, further bolstering the team’s expertise.
Crime and Regulatory (Tier 1) The stable’s strength in this area is evidenced by the rankings of Simon Bowie KC, Lisa Henderson KC, Jamie Dawson KC, Una Doherty KC, Susanne Tanner KC, Geoffrey Mitchell KC, Paul Reid KC (2023 silk), and Fiona Drysdale KC (2023 silk). Ayla Iridag and Jennifer Nicholson-White are noted as leading juniors, with Michael Way recognized as a rising star. James McConnell KC and Usman Tariq KC were appointed to silk in September 2024.
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 and Giles Reid are recognized 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, and Paul Reid KC (2023 silk). Ross Anderson, Eoghainn MacLean, Mark Boni, Timothy Young and Nicholas McAndrew are ranked as leading juniors, with Michael Way noted as a rising star. Usman Tariq KC’s appointment to silk in September 2024 adds further depth to the team.
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.
The Stable’s clerking team, led by Alan Moffat, received high praise for their efficiency, responsiveness, and proactive approach.
These rankings reflect Ampersand Advocates’ continued excellence and dedication to providing top-tier legal services across a wide range of practice areas in Scotland.
Full listings, for all of Ampersand’s rankings can be viewed on the Legal 500 website here.
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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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