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Ampersand Advocates Celebrates Outstanding 2026 Chambers & Partners Rankings

Ampersand Advocates is proud to celebrate another outstanding year in the Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2026 rankings published date, confirming its position as one of the most highly regarded and comprehensive sets at the Scottish Bar.

This year, Ampersand and its members secures 12 set rankings and an impressive 99 individual rankings across 25 practice areas, including recognition across the London Bar and All Circuits. The stable is further honoured with five Star Individuals, underscoring its depth and quality.

Set Rankings
Ampersand Advocates is ranked as a set in the following areas:

Band 1:

Band 2:

Practice Areas and Ranked Members

Administrative & Public Law – Band 2
Ranked Members:
Aidan O’Neill KC, Douglas Ross KC, Ian S. Forrester KC, Laura-Anne van der Westhuizen KC, Michael Way, Paul Reid KC, Timothy Young, Usman Tariq KC

Star Individual: Aidan O’Neill KC

Highlight: Appearing in landmark constitutional and equality law cases before the Supreme Court and Court of Session.

Civil Liberties & Human Rights – Band 2
Ranked Members:
Aidan O’Neill KC, Douglas Ross KC, Usman Tariq KC

Highlight: Leading advocates in major human rights and discrimination cases, including Billy Graham Evangelistic Association v SMG (UK) Ltd.

Clinical Negligence – Band 1
Ranked Members:
Euan Mackenzie KC, Fiona Drysdale KC, Geoffrey Mitchell KC, Graham Primrose KC, Isla Davie KC, James McConnell KC, Jamie Dawson KC, Jennifer Nicholson-White, Lauren Sutherland KC, Lisa Henderson KC, Maria Maguire KC, Mark Fitzpatrick, Shane Dundas, Simon Bowie KC, Una Doherty KC, Vinit Khurana KC

Star Individual: Maria Maguire KC

Highlight: Described as “the premier stable for clinical negligence in Scotland”, with members leading in complex medical and catastrophic injury cases.

Commercial Dispute Resolution – Band 2
Ranked Members:
Eoghainn MacLean, Giles Reid, Laura-Anne van der Westhuizen KC, Mark Boni, Michael Way, Nicholas McAndrew, Robert Howie KC, Ross G. Anderson, Timothy Young, Usman Tariq KC

Highlight: Recognised for “depth and breadth across civil litigation”, with expertise in commercial, contract, and intellectual property disputes.

Company

Ranked Members:
Ross G. Anderson, Timothy Young

Highlight: Expertise in shareholder and director disputes, representing corporate entities and institutions.

Construction – Band 2
Ranked Members:
Nicholas McAndrew, Robert Howie KC, Timothy Young

Highlight: Trusted for handling large-scale building and delay disputes, including Greater Glasgow Health Board v Multiplex.

Employment

Ranked Members:
Aidan O’Neill KC

Highlight: Leading counsel in discrimination and constitutional employment cases.

Immigration

Ranked Members:
Michael Way

Highlight: Recognised for expertise in judicial reviews and appeals involving immigration and asylum.

Information Technology

Ranked Members:
Usman Tariq KC

Highlight: Specialist in software, data, and technology-related litigation.

Intellectual Property

Ranked Members:
Usman Tariq KC

Highlight: Recognised for IP and tech sector disputes and advisory work.

Media Law

Ranked Members:
Usman Tariq KC

Highlight: Acts in defamation, reputation, and privacy cases.

Personal Injury – Band 1
Ranked Members:
Alan Cowan, Christian Marney, Douglas Ross KC, Euan Mackenzie KC, Usman Tariq KC, Isla Davie KC, Jennifer Nicholson-White, Lisa Henderson KC, Maria Maguire KC, Shane Dundas, Simon Di Rollo KC

Star Individuals: Graham Primrose KC, Maria Maguire KC

Highlight: Described as “a formidable team of injury specialists”, acting in high-value, complex personal injury claims across Scotland.

Planning & Environment – Band 1
Ranked Members:
Ailsa Wilson KC, Laura-Anne van der Westhuizen KC, Marcus McKay KC, Nicholas McAndrew

Highlight: Commended for expertise in renewable energy, development planning, and environmental judicial review.

Product Liability

Ranked Members:
Paul Reid KC

Highlight: Recognised for handling complex product and regulatory disputes.

Professional Discipline

Ranked Members:
Paul Reid KC, Scott Clair

Highlight: Act for regulators and professionals in high-stakes disciplinary proceedings.

Professional Negligence – Band 2
Ranked Members:
Paul Reid KC, Scott Clair, Usman Tariq KC

Highlight: Expertise across financial, legal, and technical negligence claims.

Public & Fatal Accident Inquiries – Band 1
Ranked Members:
Ayla Iridag, Fiona Drysdale KC, Geoffrey Mitchell KC, Isla Davie KC, James McConnell KC, Jamie Dawson KC, Jennifer Nicholson-White, Lisa Henderson KC, Michael Way, Paul Reid KC, Shane Dundas, Simon Bowie KC, Susanne Tanner KC, Una Doherty KC

Highlight: Market leader in public inquiries including the UK and Scottish COVID-19 Inquiries, and the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Real Estate Litigation – Band 2
Ranked Members:
Giles Reid, Mark Boni, Michael Way, Robert Howie KC, Ross G. Anderson, Timothy Young

Highlight: Leading expertise in commercial property and access rights disputes.

Restructuring/Insolvency – Band 2
Ranked Members:
Robert Howie KC, Ross G. Anderson, Sheana Campbell, Usman Tariq KC

Highlight: Praised for “excellent knowledge and expertise” in insolvency, breach of duty, and cross-border matters.

Tax – Band 1
Ranked Members:
Julian Ghosh KC, Ross G. Anderson

Star Individual: Julian Ghosh KC

Highlight: Recognised as a Star Individual for Tax (London Bar), handling major tax appeals and IR35 cases such as McCann Media Ltd v HMRC.

Independent Investigations – All Circuits (Band 2)
Ranked Member:
Susanne Tanner KC

Highlight: Recognised across the UK for her leadership in independent investigations and inquiries.

European Law – London Bar (Band 2)
Ranked Member:
Aidan O’Neill KC

Highlight: Noted for constitutional and EU law expertise bridging the Scottish and London Bars.

Tax – London Bar & Private Client
Ranked Member:
Julian Ghosh KC

Highlight: Acknowledged as one of the UK’s foremost tax specialists.

Star Individuals

Ampersand Advocates proudly celebrates its five Star Individuals recognised for exceptional excellence and leadership:

Clerking Excellence

Ampersand’s clerking team, led by Alan Moffat, is again commended for professionalism, responsiveness, and efficiency.

“Second to none.”
“Depth and breadth across all disciplines.”
“Incredibly responsive and professional.”

The clerks’ deep understanding of clients’ needs continues to be a cornerstone of Ampersand’s success.

Overall Recognition

With 99 individual rankings, five Star Individuals, and 12 ranked practice areas, Ampersand Advocates cements its reputation as one of Scotland’s leading stable for excellence across the civil Bar. Ampersand stands out for its depth, versatility, and advocacy excellence.

You can view the full rankings and detailed individual feedback here.

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Ampersand Advocates Celebrates Top-Tier Recognition in 2026 Legal 500 Rankings

Ampersand Advocates has once again secured its position among Scotland’s leading sets of counsel in the newly released 2026 edition of The Legal 500 United Kingdom Bar Guide.  The rankings, published today, reaffirm Ampersand’s reputation for excellence across a broad spectrum of legal disciplines. 

In the 2026 guide, Ampersand Advocates has been ranked in Tier 1 for Administrative and Public Law, Personal Injury and Medical Negligence and Property, Planning and Construction. The set also achieved a Tier 2 ranking in Commercial Disputes, reflecting its growing influence and expertise in high-value and complex litigation. 

Administrative and Public Law (Tier 1) Ampersand’s offering is praised for handling high-stakes judicial reviews and public inquiries, with commentators highlighting our members ability to command respect at the highest levels of the judiciary. Ampersand’s expertise in this area is highlighted by the rankings of Aidan O’Neill KC,  Douglas Ross KC, Susanne Tanner KC, Paul Reid KC and Usman Tariq KC (2024 silk).  The stable’s juniors Timothy Young and Ross Anderson are also recognised, with Michael Way and Scott Clair noted as rising stars.   

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 James McConnell KC. Jennifer Nicholson-White, Ayla Iridag, and Shane Dundas are recognised as leading juniors.   

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, Giles Reid and Louise Cockburn are recognised 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, Paul Reid KC  and Usman Tariq KC (2024 silk).  Ross Anderson, Eoghainn MacLean, Mark Boni, Timothy Young, Giles Reid and Nicholas McAndrew are ranked as leading juniors, with Michael Way noted as a rising star.  

Crime and Regulatory (leading set) The stable has achieved acknowledgement in this category for 2026 as a leading set with a number of members ranked as leading silks including Isla Davie KC, Jamie Dawson KC, Lisa Henderson KC, Geoffrey Mitchell KC, Paul Reid KC, Simon Bowie KC, Una Doherty KC, Fiona Drysdale KC, Susanne Tanner KC, James McConnell KC (2024 silk) and Usman Tariq (2024 silk).  Jenny Nicholson-White, Shane Dundas and Ayla Iridag are ranked as leading juniors, with Michael Way noted as a rising star.  

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. 

Under Alan Moffat’s leadership, the clerking team was commended for its exceptional efficiency, prompt communication, and forward-thinking approach. 

These rankings highlight Ampersand’s continued commitment to delivering outstanding advocacy and legal insight across Scotland’s distinct legal landscape. 

Full listings, for all of Ampersand’s rankings can be viewed on the Legal 500 website  here. 

 

 

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Whamond v Klasa [2025] SAC (Civ) 28

On 29 August 2025, the Sheriff Appeal Court determined an appeal and cross-appeal concerning neighbouring properties in Arbroath, Spring Garth and Willow Cottage. The key issue for determination was whether Spring Garth benefited from a servitude right of drainage to a septic tank situated on the grounds of Willow Cottage.

The defenders (proprietors of Willow Cottage), represented by Tim Young, succeeded in overturning the Sheriff’s finding that a servitude in favour of the pursuers (Spring Garth) had been created by implication at the time of the break-off disposition of Spring Garth in 1966. In particular, the Appeal Court held that the drainage contractor’s evidence as to the age of the original septic tank was inadmissible considering the proper scope of expert evidence, and accordingly there had been insufficient evidence to confirm the existence of the septic tank prior to 1977 (and in particular prior to the break-off disposition in 1966). The Appeal Court reaffirmed that evidence of use prior to a break-off disposition was critical to a finding of a servitude granted by implication.

However, the Appeal Court upheld the pursuers’ cross-appeal, holding that a servitude right of drainage had been constituted by positive prescription between 1977 and 2016 and that this right had not been abandoned when the septic tank was relocated by agreement in 2016. The court found the bar for abandonment to be higher than simple non-use and distinguished the facts in this case from those in the Magistrates of Rutherglen v Bainbridge ((1886) 13 R 745) – a case considered binding by the Sheriff at first instance.

However, as the old septic tank arrangement was materially different to a new one that had been installed in 2016, the Appeal Court confirmed that no servitude right had been created in respect of the new septic tank or its route. The practical result being to effectively leave the parties to consider whether the original drainage arrangements would be reconstituted or the new servitude formally recorded.

Pursuers, Respondents and Cross-Appellants: C. MacColl; Thorntons Law LLP Defenders,

Appellants and Cross-Respondents: T. Young; Harper Macleod LLP

Opinion of the court is here.

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Tony Convery

Tony Convery specialises in commercial litigation and public law. He called to the Bar in 2025 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.

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Ampersand Advocates excels in Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide 2025

Ampersand Advocates has once again demonstrated its exceptional standing in the Scottish legal landscape, securing top-tier rankings across multiple practice areas in the newly published Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide 2025. The stable has been recognised as a Band 1 set in Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury, Planning & Environment, and Public and Fatal Accident Inquiries, while achieving Band 2 rankings in Administrative & Public Law, Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Commercial Dispute Resolution, Construction, Professional Negligence, Real Estate Litigation, and Restructuring/Insolvency.

This performance underscores Ampersand’s breadth and depth of expertise, with the stable boasting a total of 11 set rankings and an impressive 101 individual rankings across 18 areas of practice for 41 members, which includes 6 “star individual” rankings.

Key highlights from the guide include:

In additional to these Scottish bar listings, Ampersand has members recognised in the London Bar where Julian Ghosh KC is Band 1 ranked in 3 tax areas, Aidan O’Neill KC is Band 2 listed for European Law, and Susanne Tanner KC has a spotlight listing for Independent Investigations in the All Circuits region.

The Ampersand clerks have again garnered widespread praise for their exceptional clerking services, with numerous sources highlighting the team’s efficiency, responsiveness, and proactive approach. The clerks are described as friendly, helpful, and pragmatic, offering first-class service that aligns with the commercial realities of litigation. Overall, Ampersand’s clerking team is recognised for delivering a consistently high standard of service.

These outstanding rankings reaffirm Ampersand Advocates’ position as a leading stable in Scotland, offering exceptional expertise across a wide range of practice areas. The stable’s commitment to excellence and depth of talent backed by exceptional clerking, continues to give instructing agents confidence when instructing an Ampersand advocate.

All of the Ampersand rankings can be viewed on the Chambers and Partners website here.

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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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