Commercial Dispute Resolution

Roddy Dunlop KC is the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates and generally held to be the most accomplished advocate in Scotland. He is noted for the breadth of his practice, as well as his assertive and persuasive advocacy before the Bench. He can boast a strong track record in complex commercial and contractual litigation and in major banking disputes. He also receives plaudits for his handling of media and professional discipline matters.

"For the big cases, he is the one you want."

"Roddy has a unique ability to pick up a case, identify the key issues and deliver what is needed within the required timescale."

"Roddy is superb in every respect but also easy to work with."

"Roddy is a superb advocate in court who has the ear and respect of the Bench and is a fearsome cross-examiner. Clients place huge trust in his judgement and he is not afraid to tell it like it is."

"A brilliant lawyer, Roddy gets straight to the heart of the issues and is a pleasure to work with."

David Massaro is recommended by multiple sources as a strong advocate with an established commercial practice. He brings significant know-how to contractual, commercial property and insolvency disputes. He is also adept at handling professional negligence and construction cases.

"David understands the construction industry and works collaboratively with us on cases. His response times are also excellent."

"David is an able junior with excellent written work and a keen sense for the points which are going to be key in any litigation."

"David is as great on paper as he is on his feet in court."

"David really does put a shift in, but he is also capable of appearing on his own. He acts like a senior junior and he is very good."

David Thomson KC is an experienced advocate in particularly high demand for insolvency, real estate and company litigation. He comes recommended for especially difficult and complex commercial and contractual claims. He is also experienced in the handling of professional negligence and tax disputes.

"David is a go-to senior for important cases. He is a great communicator with a brilliant legal mind."

"David is one of the most versatile advocates."

"David is my first choice on all commercial litigation matters. He is the person I would go to in a crisis - excellent, robust, calm and good work."

"David Thomson is fantastic; he is the first person we think of when we have a dispute."

Ewen Campbell receives widespread praise from instructing solicitors and lay clients alike. He has a broad practice encompassing commercial, professional negligence and public procurement disputes. He is experienced appearing before the Commercial Court, the Inner House and the sheriff courts.

"Ewen is a fantastic junior; he is clearly somebody who is going places. He is hard-working, responsive and very easy to deal with."

"Ewen is well instructed. He works well as part of a team."

Garry Borland KC comes highly recommended for complex, high-value commercial and contractual matters and is regularly cited as a standout advocate for construction and engineering disputes. He is also frequently instructed in insolvency, tax and professional liability proceedings. He has handled disputes arising across a number of industry sectors including financial services, energy and insurance.

"Garry is the standout KC for complex commercial cases because of the way that he immerses himself in the detail of cases and the clarity of his analysis so as to cut through the complex."

"Garry is exceptionally careful and detailed. He can work around anything when required."

"He's able to take very complex situations and reduce them down simply for the clients, to come up with a strategy and deliver."

Gerry Moynihan KC maintains a strong reputation in the market for his considerable experience in construction, planning, public law and professional liability matters. He is also well versed in dealing with purely commercial disputes.

"Gerry is very good for professional negligence."

Kenneth McBrearty KC has a breadth of expertise spanning a wide variety of commercial disputes, including partnership and IP cases. He is noted for his handling of major real estate and professional negligence matters. He is particularly experienced in litigating in the Court of Session and the Supreme Court. He is also regularly instructed in cases concerning administrative and human rights law.

"Kenneth is a fantastic senior advocate - very bright, commercial and a pleasure to work with."

"Kenneth is a brilliant senior. He is one of the very best in court - a great cross-examiner with a terrific feel for the presentation of a case and able to handle complex legal issues with ease."

"Kenneth is excellent on feet and one of the best. He is an expert in commercial dispute resolution."

"Kenny is often really useful for complex, technical matters."

Mark Lindsay KC is able to call upon broad commercial litigation experience, including in several major shareholder and contractual disputes, in addition to offering expertise in professional discipline and competition matters. He also possesses considerable experience in public and administrative law, having been a standing junior to the Home Secretary prior to taking silk. He has appeared before the ECJ, House of Lords and Supreme Court.

"Mark is excellent and my go-to senior counsel. He's really smart and vastly experienced in lots of areas, including commercial and property litigation."

"Mark is my first choice for every type of commercial or contract dispute."

Scott Manson is highly rated for his handling of a wide range of commercial disputes, with particular experience in commercial contracts, professional negligence and construction-related matters. His clients include financial institutions, contractors and professional advisers, among others.

"Scott is very good on his feet and has a great understanding of the courts. He also provides excellent written work and is a real fighter who will give anything for the client."

"Scott is very strong in construction, professional negligence, commercial and property disputes."

"Scott is very experienced in many areas and always very sound in his advice."

"Scott has been involved in some of the biggest construction cases in Scotland. He's very user-friendly and very much someone who takes a very commercial approach."

Alastair Duncan KC is a leading silk in the field of professional negligence whose abilities are also in high demand for commercial contract disputes. He handles partnership and IT litigation, as well as disputes affecting sports clients and public law matters.

"Alastair gives very succinct advice. He does think outside the box and thinks of alternative ways to resolve maters."

David Welsh is an advocate with a rising profile and an impressive client following. He is frequently instructed in a variety of commercial matters, including contractual disputes and cases touching on competition law.

"David is thoroughly dependable and very clever."

"David is a very impressive junior counsel, a great legal brain and excellent at distilling complex points down to simple terms."

"David was a joy to work with. He had a hand-in-glove approach and we were all on the same team."

"David is an outstanding advocate. He handles complex and challenging cases with ease and brings a calm and reassuring presence to all interactions with clients."

Gavin Walker KC has developed an excellent reputation in a number of areas, including construction, real estate, insolvency and professional negligence. He frequently represents surveyors, architects and engineers in complex professional liability disputes.

"Gavin is very effective, extremely commercial and user-friendly for clients."

Jonathan Barne KC exhibits meticulous preparation and a robust style of advocacy. He has been instructed in a broad range of cases including construction and engineering contract disputes and commercial property matters. His clients typically include major energy companies, financial institutions and the Scottish Government. His practice also encompasses professional negligence, insolvency and administrative law.

"If it was an intellectual battle, the one person I don’t want to be against is Jonathan Barne."

"Clients have found him to be very responsive and pragmatic, and his advice on complex areas of law has been impressive."

"Jonathan is just excellent; clients get a good service from him. He's really smart and gets his head around a lot of information quickly."

"Jonathan is really easy to work with and knows how to communicate complex issues to clients."

"Jonathan has adapted well in becoming a senior counsel, having good experience with disputes and professional negligence. He has provided commercial and effective advice."

Lord Davidson of Glen Clova KC is highlighted for his strong tactical sense and formidable cross-examination abilities. He is well known for acting in large international disputes covering a range of commercial matters. His experience covers litigation in the Court of Session and the ECJ, as well as the representation of clients in mediations and arbitrations.

"Neil is a top-class senior. He has a brilliant ability to spot the points that really matter and to avoid making points that will only damage your case."

Paul O'Brien KC is consistently rated by sources as one of the most intellectually able performers at the Scottish Bar. His key areas of focus include IP and professional negligence. He has also been instructed in complex commercial property and insolvency matters. He has appeared in cases before the Inner House and the UK Supreme Court.

"Paul is excellent on the detail, always well prepared and works collaboratively with us; he is currently our KC of choice."

Ruth Crawford KC is highly rated for her work in public law and planning litigation, and is also recommended for handling difficult commercial and contractual disputes. Her clients include several local and national governments, as well as other public bodies. Commentators value her accessible and user-friendly manner. She has appeared in the courts and tribunals at all levels, up to and including the UK Supreme Court.

"Ruth's advice is measured and backed up with a thorough understanding of the law and a sound grasp of the commercial realities of the client."

Adam McKinlay acts for corporate clients in a variety of disputes. His experience encompasses high-value contractual claims as well as professional liability and construction mandates.

"Adam is user-friendly, very clever and understands all of the considerations that the client has when they're instructing counsel."

"Adam was excellent - very smart and very detail-oriented."

Almira Delibegović-Broome KC is frequently instructed by Scotland's leading law firms in matters covering the full spectrum of commercial disputes. She has developed an especially strong reputation in relation to high-value insolvency and company proceedings. Complex evidential hearings form a major part of her practice.

"Almira is a brilliant lawyer who undoubtedly has the ear of the court. She is top-rated for insolvency disputes and large-scale corporate matters."

Elisabeth Roxburgh is an esteemed advocate who has developed an impressive reputation among her peers. She is frequently instructed in a variety of commercial matters, including contractual and insolvency disputes.

"Elisabeth is very able junior counsel. She is great in finance and pension-related disputes."

"Elisabeth is brilliant junior counsel. She is highly responsive and incredibly good at dealing with complex technical matters."

"Elisabeth is a very strong junior, particularly on insolvency matters where her knowledge is unrivalled. She is really thorough, knows all the detail and turns round work incredibly quickly."

James Mure KC acts for clients in major contractual and commercial property disputes. His expertise in these areas is complemented by in-depth knowledge of public law, procurement and planning issues. He is also well versed in environmental and constitutional law. His clients include local authorities, public bodies and the government.

"James is a highly respected and longstanding member of the Bar. He is technically expert and a delight to work with."

John MacGregor KC maintains a broad commercial dispute resolution practice, complemented by his strong focus on public law. He is noted for his representation of financial institutions in disputes concerning financial products. He is also well regarded for his handling of high-value cases involving commercial contracts, shareholder disputes and professional negligence matters.

"He is an excellent senior, particularly in cases where human rights interact with corporates. He demonstrates a great knowledge of the law, is calm and unflappable, and his written work is excellent."

Jonathan Brown is active in professional negligence cases, as well as contractual, partnership and shareholder disputes. He also represents clients in insolvency, professional discipline and commercial property matters. He impresses interviewees with the depth of his experience in a variety of complex commercial disputes.

"Jonathan is very strong in partnership and property disputes."

Murray Steel has developed an impressive profile for his handling of commercial disputes, with particular skill in construction matters. His areas of expertise also include professional liability and insurance claims.

"Murray has the ability to grasp complex issues quickly and offer pragmatic strategic advice to clients. His advocacy skills are both impressive and persuasive."

Roisin Higgins KC enjoys an impressive reputation as one of the Scottish Bar's leading authorities on IP-related issues. She has additional expertise in commercial contract, construction and property disputes. She has experience representing clients before the Court of Session and the sheriff courts and in arbitration proceedings.

"Roisin is excellent to work with, thorough and extremely knowledgeable"

Chris Paterson is best known for his expertise in the professional liability sphere, defending healthcare, legal and construction professionals, among others, in a range of high-stakes proceedings. He also has notable experience in contractual disputes and commercial property litigation. He is currently a standing junior counsel to the Scottish Government.

"Chris is a great all-rounder - he's very user-friendly, knows the papers back to front and is a strong legal analyst. He is also an able court advocate."

"Chris is very impressive in his progress through the Bar. He is ferociously well prepared, has a huge eye for detail and is really good in court."

Ross McClelland is a well-regarded advocate recommended for a wide spread of commercial disputes, including contractual, commercial property and professional negligence matters. He has experience acting as sole advocate in both the Court of Session and Glasgow Sheriff Court. He is also known for his representation of clients in mediation and arbitration proceedings.

"Ross is very bright, great with clients and has an incredible attention to detail."

"Ross has excellent attention to detail. He is a reliable and hard-working individual who I would happily instruct on matters."

"Ross is extremely clever and great to work with. He is currently our advocate of choice."

"Ross is extremely clever and excellent to work with. He can anticipate and deal with opposing arguments."

Susan Ower is a highly regarded advocate with substantial experience handling complex and high-profile commercial contract disputes, and is highly rated for her insolvency and banking and finance practice. She is currently standing junior counsel to the Scottish Government Legal Directorate.

"Susan is fantastic on her feet in court and clients warm to her immediately. She is right at the top of the list for insolvency and commercial litigation work in Scotland."

"Susan is a superb silk for commercial matters. She really has the ear of the court and is great with clients."

"I found Susan to get to the nub of the matter very quickly and she is very user-friendly and commercially minded."