Jennifer Dunn
Jennifer Dunn joined Ampersand in 2007. She holds an honours degree in politics and completed a paralegal qualification in Civil Court Practice. With over 15 years experience in the legal sector, including time as a Legal Secretary in a firm of Edinburgh solicitors, Jennifer has an extensive knowledge of all aspects of instructing counsel.
Jennifer’s personable outlook and efficient manner has established her as an important member of the Clerking team.
Jennifer works Mondays to Thursdays.
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Alan Moffat
Alan Moffat heads up the Ampersand Clerking team. With over 25 years experience in the legal sector, Alan has been with the stable since 2000 – initially as deputy clerk and taking over as head clerk in 2007. Alan previously worked at the Sottish Legal Aid Board. Alan holds an LL.B with Distinction and paralegal certificates in civil court practice and criminal law.
Alan has in-depth knowledge of fees in privately funded cases, judicial expenses and legal aid funding. He regularly attends taxations before Auditors of Court and negotiates accounts on behalf of counsel.
Alan has particular interests in LegalTech and Wellbeing and sits on the Law Society of Scotland’s LawscotTech Advisory Board and on the Faculty of Advocates Wellbeing Committee. He has spoken regularly for the Law Society of Scotland’s ‘CPD for New Lawyers’ series, on instructing advocates and is happy to provide insight into the bar for trainee and newly qualified solicitors. Alan is a member of the Legal Practice Management Association.
During his career, Alan has built up an extensive knowledge of legal practice, providing him with the tools to assist Ampersand’s instructing agents and members. Alan’s knowledge of members’ practises and fees means he is well placed to assist with all inquiries in relation to instructing counsel.
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Dana Forbes
Dana called to the bar in 2015 after 13 years with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Her caseload often involved difficult issues such as human rights, administrative law, novel legal argument and areas of potential legal reform. She has extensive experience in court practice as well as legal research, analysis and opinion writing. During her career, Dana has provided legal advice to the Law Officers, Crown Counsel and the Scottish Government Legal Directorate.
Since calling she has gained considerable experience in personal injury (acting for both pursuers and defenders), clinical negligence, judicial review and Fatal Accident Inquiries. Her other interests include health and safety prosecutions, succession, property rights and criminal appeals.
Dana has conducted proofs in the Court of Session and the All Scotland Personal Injury Court. She has presented cases before the Sheriff Appeal Court and the Court of Criminal Appeal. Dana has also represented clients before the Scottish Social Services Council and on referral to the Sheriff Court from the Children’s Hearing system.
Dana has assisted the Judicial Institute with their training programme. She has also given presentations to new lawyers on behalf of the Law Society of Scotland on subjects such as advocacy, personal injury and specialist procedure in the Court of Session.
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Eoghainn CM MacLean
Eoghainn MacLean is a leading commercial litigator, ranked by Chambers and the Legal 500.
In 2020, he returned full time to the commercial bar after a year as permanent Crown Counsel, leading High Court (i.e. Crown Court) prosecutions in back to back jury trials, preliminary and sentencing hearings.
“If you need someone in your corner instruct Eoghainn. Quick to get up to speed. Superb on his feet in court – and he explains what is going on to clients. Best at complex commercial cases. Superb legal brain. Good with clients and wins cases.”
Stuart MacFarlane, partner & office head, Weightmans, solicitors, Glasgow
“Eoghainn is consistently thorough and very user-friendly. He is exceptionally good at analysing complex issues and explaining difficult concepts to clients.”
Fraser Geddes, partner & head of dispute resolution, Anderson Strathern, solicitors, Glasgow
“Eoghainn is a determined and focused litigator who pounces on the relevant facts and applicable law. He makes the complex understandable and navigates your case in the correct direction. You definitely want him on your side!”
Richard Frenz, partner & head of court department, Miller Hendry, solicitors, Perth
“Eoghainn relishes mastering complex issues …and will not shy away from running difficult cases.”
John McHugh, partner, Harper MacLeod, solicitors, Edinburgh
“Eoghainn is particularly good at presentation of the client’s case in Court. He has shown he “can deliver” in the most complex of cases.”
Drew Taylor, Consultant, Shepherd and Wedderburn, solicitors, Edinburgh
“Eoghainn’ s careful approach is invaluable in complex commercial cases”
Graham Craik, Partner, Levy & McRae Solicitors, Glasgow
“Eoghainn is an outstanding advocate who gave us the confidence to pursue our case and win.”
Eileen Gallagher OBE & Ann McManus, co-founders Shed Productions, London
Eoghainn has handled hundreds of commercial, competition, property (including planning and IP) and professional liability cases before the highest civil courts. He conducts them as lead counsel.
A pdf of his full CV is available from the tab on the left.
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Giles Reid
“Giles is very smart and hard-working.” “He gives clear commercial advice and is good on his feet.” “He is very bright and very capable.” (Chambers & Partners (2021): ‘Up and Coming’ for Commercial Litigation)
“He has an impressive knowledge of property law and is regularly instructed due to his encyclopedic knowledge and his approachable nature.” “He’s very approachable and he’s also able to get his head round really tricky cases very quickly and give clear commercial advice.” (Chambers & Partners (2021): ‘Up and Coming’ for Real Estate Litigation)
“A legal encyclopeadia.” (Legal 500 (2020): Band 1 for Commercial Litigation)
“He has remarkable oral advocacy skills.” (Legal 500 (2019): Band 1 for Commercial Litigation)
Giles’ practice focuses on commercial and administrative law.
Giles has particular expertise in and experience of property litigation, commercial disputes, professional negligence, trusts, succession and insolvency matters. He regularly conducts proofs and debates in these areas, both alone and with senior counsel. He is frequently instructed in the Commercial Court.
Giles has developed distinct expertise in the law of prescription and limitation, acquired as the research assistant for the second edition of Johnston, Prescription and Limitation (2012). Giles has delivered training sessions in this area of law, and is regularly instructed to advise in matters where prescription is an issue. He is a member of the Faculty of Advocates’ sub-committee for the Prescription (Scotland) Act 2018.
Giles is a tutor at the University of Edinburgh for property, trusts and succession. He is regularly instructed in property disputes in the Sheriff Court and Court of Session, and also provides advice on contentious and non-contentious trusts and succession matters.
Giles has experience of employment litigation. He is frequently instructed in the Court of Session and Sheriff Courts in disputes arising from employment, including the enforcement of restrictive covenants and the recovery of confidential information from former employees.
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Jamie Dawson KC
Jamie Dawson KC called to the Bar in 2004 and took silk in 2020. He has a wide ranging civil practice involving both appearance and advisory work. He has experience of appearing in both the Inner and Outer House of the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary and sheriff courts as well as tribunals and public inquiries. The mainstay of his practice is medical and dental negligence cases (pursuer and defender) and public inquiries. He also works in the field of personal injury (pursuer and defender) and defamation and handles insurance and commercial disputes, trust and property cases.
Jamie was instructed as lead Counsel on behalf of the Scottish infected and affected core participants in the UK’s largest ever public inquiry at that time, the Infected Blood Inquiry. The final report was published in May 2024.
Jamie was appointed to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry legal team. He, along with 10 other KC’s, support Hugo Keith KC, Lead Counsel to the Inquiry, and Martin Smith, Solicitor to the Inquiry, with the preparation and delivery of the Inquiry’s investigative work. He lead Module 2A, Core UK decision-making and political governance – Scotland.
As a junior Counsel, he was recommended in legal directories for his expertise in clinical negligence and personal injury work for several years. Amongst the comments on his practice were the following:
• “Fantastic at dealing with complex medical evidence and technical details.” (Legal 500 (2020), personal injury and clinical negligence work, Band 1)
• “A committed advocate who has vast experience defending clinical negligence cases. His wide-ranging caseload spans such circumstances as birth injuries, dental malpractice and fatal accidents. He also has experience in mental health and cancer diagnosis cases.
Strengths: “He is very good at getting into the details in clinical negligence cases.”(Chambers & Partners (2020), clinical negligence work)
• Strengths: “He is very good at picking up on things and running with them.” “I would describe him as very proactive. He was very good in the case I was on and made a very positive contribution to its conclusion.” (Chambers & Partners (2017), personal injury work)
• “He’s good, thorough and professional.” (Chambers & Partners (2016), clinical negligence work)
• “He is extremely impressive and very helpful too.” (Chambers & Partners (2016), personal injury work)
• Expertise: “He’s very thorough and goes into a lot of depth; his advocacy skills are very good.” (Chambers & Partners (2014), personal injury work)
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