Mary Ellen Stewart
Mary Ellen Stewart called to the Bar in 2021, after training and qualifying with Brodies LLP, and latterly working there as a senior solicitor.
As a solicitor, Mary Ellen had a busy practice dealing with a broad range of commercial disputes. Her practice had a particular focus on commercial contracts, banking and finance, insolvency and professional liability litigation. When in private practice, Mary Ellen appeared in the Sheriff Courts and instructed Counsel in Court of Session cases.
Mary Ellen has a particular interest in professional liability and regulation. She also has an interest in maritime and shipping law, and is the Advocate member of the Law Society of Scotland’s Marine Law Sub-Committee. Mary Ellen is also a part-time tutor of Contract Law and Unjustified Enrichment at Edinburgh University.
Mary Ellen was appointed to the Advocate General’s panel of Nominated Presenting Officers to the Home Office in 2021.
Mary Ellen is fluent and fully literate in Scottish Gaelic and is well placed to undertake work involving consideration of documents in Gaelic.
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Mark Boni
Mark Boni called to the Bar in 2020, having qualified as a solicitor in 2014. Since 2022, Mark has been ranked by Legal 500 as a tier 2 leading junior in commercial disputes.
Mark has experience in a wide range of commercial and private law litigation, with a particular interest in contractual and property disputes, prescription, personal insolvency and private client litigation.
As a solicitor and latterly associate with a well-known litigation firm, he appeared regularly for pursuers and defenders in the Sheriff Courts conducting proofs and debates, procedural hearings, opposed motions and interim orders hearings. Mark also has experience in alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation.
Mark has experience, both as a solicitor and at the Bar, of litigating in the Sheriff Courts, Sheriff Appeal Court, Lands Tribunal, Court of Session (Outer and Inner Houses) as well as the UK Supreme Court. Mark also has experience in alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation.
Whilst devilling, Mark was a Lord Hope Scholar and was involved in a variety of complex and high value cases, including professional negligence claims and intellectual property actions.
Since 2012, Mark has tutored part-time at the University of Edinburgh. He presently tutors “Commercial Law” and “Contract and Unjustified Enrichment” and previously tutored “Public Law of the UK and Scotland” and “Public Law and Individual Rights”.
Mark wrote the reissue edition of “Prescription and Limitation” in the Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia (published 2023).
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Nicholas McAndrew
Nick McAndrew called to the Bar in 2020, having been a solicitor for five years in a large Scottish commercial law firm specialising in Construction Litigation. Since calling, Nick has continued to focus on Construction disputes, as well as a growing practice in Commercial Disputes and Planning & Environmental law issues.
Nick is rated as a Leading Junior (Band 1) in Legal 500 for Property, Planning and Construction disputes, with solicitors emphasising his strong written work and methodical approach to cases:
Legal 500 (2023): ‘Nicholas’ very clear drafting style simplifies and strengthens the core arguments of a client’s case, which is great for persuading the tribunal.’
Legal 500 (2022): ‘a first class junior, particularly when it comes to construction and engineering disputes’.
‘An incredibly able junior with a very calm, measured and methodical way of approaching cases. He is conscientious, and clear and concise in his advocacy.’
Nick is nominated for Junior Counsel of the Year in the Legal 500 Scotland Awards 2023.
Previously as a solicitor, and now as an Advocate, Nick has litigated in the Courts (Sheriff Court & Court of Session (Outer and Inner House)), Lands Tribunal, Adjudication, and at Arbitration.
Selected cases:
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Emma Busby
Emma Busby joined Ampersand as a Deputy Clerk in February 2020. Prior to joining us, Emma worked for the Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South and brings with her experience of working in a fast paced environment and front facing administrative role. Emma’s personable outlook and efficient work ethic makes her a great asset to the clerking team.
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Ampersand welcomes Alexander Sutherland
Ampersand is delighted to welcome Alexander Sutherland to the stable who called at the Bar today.
Before calling to the Bar, Alex trained with Addleshaw Goddard LLP, formerly HBJ Gateley. During his seat in the firm’s dispute resolution department, he gained experience of a wide range of litigation in both the Court of Session and the sheriff court, including real estate and insolvency litigation. He also had seats in the real estate and corporate recovery departments.
Alex completed his LLB at Glasgow University in 2014 and the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at Edinburgh University in 2015. Before then, he studied German and English Language at Edinburgh University, during which time he spent a year studying in Vienna.
Alex’s interests lie primarily in the fields of commercial and public law. As a devil he also gained experience of planning. His principal devilmaster was Ampersand’s Laura-Anne van der Westhuizen.
He speaks fluent French and German and is well placed to undertake work involving consideration of documents in those languages.
On Alex’s arrival, Head Clerk Alan Moffat said “I am delighted that Alex has joined us. He comes with a great reputation from his time at a top firm and has been highly praised during his time on the devils course. I am very sure he will continue to impress at the Bar and expect him to be a great addition to the stable.”
In the first part of the time-honoured two-stage admission ceremony, the Dean of Faculty, Gordon Jackson, QC, said the public office of advocate carried real privileges and corresponding responsibilities.
“You have become part of a great national institution which has played, throughout its existence, a very significant role in the legal and cultural life of this nation. As a member of Faculty you will play your own particular part in the future of that institution,” he added.
In the second part of the ceremony, before Lord Clark in the Court of Session, Alex along with 6 other new calls made the declaration of allegiance.
Lord Clark said: “It is a genuine pleasure and a privilege to welcome you as members of the Faculty of Advocates and to congratulate you on this great achievement. The Faculty has long been an important and distinguished organisation. It has commonly attracted some of the ablest minds of each generation, and it continues to thrive.
“It is truly one of the great features of our society that the general public, businesses and other organisations have at their disposal people like you – independently-minded advocates who will take on and fight their causes.
“I very much hope that you thoroughly enjoy your work at the Bar and the camaraderie of your colleagues.”
Alex is a welcome addition to the depth of counsel on offer at Ampersand.
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Alexander Sutherland
Alex has been an advocate depute, preparing and presenting cases in the High Court of Justiciary, since October 2021. He has very limited availability to accept civil instructions as a result. As an advocate depute, he has prosecuted cases of attempted murder, causing death by dangerous driving, possession of firearms and rape, and appeared as junior in the Court of Criminal Appeal.
His civil practice covers commercial law, public law (including judicial review and planning) and reparation. Selected cases are below.
In May 2020 he was appointed as a reporter for Session Cases. He contributed chapters on the sale of goods and (together with Ross Anderson) alternative dispute resolution for the second edition of Scots Commercial Law. He tutored Civil Court Practice as part of the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at Edinburgh University in 2019 and 2020.
Before calling to the Bar, Alex trained with a commercial firm in Edinburgh. He completed his LLB at Glasgow University in 2014 and the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at Edinburgh University in 2015. Before then, he studied German and English Language at Edinburgh University, during which time he spent a year studying in Vienna.
He speaks fluent French and German and is well placed to undertake work involving consideration of documents in those languages.
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