Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Personal Injury - Scotland (Bar)
What the Team is Known For
Ampersand Advocates is a highly regarded stable for personal injury matters with "a number of unique personnel who are trusted and respected by clients." Members act for both pursuers and defenders, including several major insurers, in the full range of claims, and offer considerable expertise in the handling of catastrophic injury cases arising from road traffic and workplace accidents. The team is also well regarded for its expertise in complex product liability and occupiers' liability disputes and matters involving accidents abroad. Recent matters include acting on behalf of the defendant in F v Diocese of Galloway, in which the claimant suffered from complex PTSD following separate episodes of abuse, for only one of which the defenders were responsible. Interviewees report the stable: "offers a formidable level of experience and provides a wealth of specialist personal injury advocacy and expertise."
The head clerk at Ampersand Advocates is Alan Moffat.
Strengths
The clerks respond very quickly and if there are any issues they seek to resolve them quickly.
The clerks are all very helpful, responsive and supportive.
The clerks at Ampersand are really good. They are extremely helpful, efficient and quick at getting back to you. Their efficiency and proactive nature stands out.
Alan Moffatt is a very good clerk.
Ampersand Advocates has excellent clerks. Alan Moffat is my go-to clerk.
Notable practitioners
Graham Primrose KC acts for both pursuers and defenders, and is considered an expert in aviation-related cases. He is capable of handling catastrophic injury as well as asbestos-related claims.
Graham is just incredible. He has the ability to deal with clients from all walks of life in a sensitive manner but also provide them with excellent legal advice.
Graham is a senior often requested by long-standing insurance clients when there are large sums at stake, as his experience and wisdom are highly prized in such cases.
Graham is the advocate we call when we need a complex matter resolved.
Maria Maguire KC is a towering figure in both personal injury and clinical negligence matters. She specialises in complex catastrophic injury claims, as well as fatal accidents, abuse claims and psychiatric injuries. She is further equipped to handle sophisticated bullying and harassment at work claims. She acts on behalf of defenders including several local authorities, insurers and professional bodies. She is also regularly instructed to act on behalf of individual pursuers.
Maria has an absolute laser-like focus. She see every little thing that needs to get done and is top drawer.
Maria is the best senior junior in regards to personal injury cases. She has a certain gravitas about her, knows her cases inside and out and can pick up a lot of detail in a short space of time.
Maria is a delight to work with. She is organised and diligent, with superb advocacy and excellent client-handling skills.
Douglas Ross KC is noted for his extensive experience acting for the Scottish Government at fatal accident inquiries. He also regularly represents health boards at inquiries into deaths in hospital.
Euan Mackenzie KC is skilled in a number of areas relating to personal injury, including employers' liability, catastrophic injury and fatal accident claims. He has recently been active in public inquiries and receives praise from the market for his medical knowledge.
Euan is brilliant at putting clients at ease. He is great at explaining even the most complex of legal concept to clients so as to make sure they understand it all.
Euan leaves no stone unturned in his preparation and his attention to detail is second to none.
He is always very well prepared and great with clients. Euan is superb at distilling complex issues in a straightforward and manageable way.
Jennifer Nicholson-White has a varied personal injury practice and regularly acts for both defenders and pursuers. She is noted for her expertise in claims arising from accidents at work or on the road.
Jenny is experienced in dealing with medic-legal work and has good insight into the cases. She has a very good turnaround rate with her work.
She is very through and her manner with clients is very empathetic. Her soft skills stand out.
Jennifer is absolutely brilliant. She is really approachable, responsive and really values everyone's input in a case.
Simon Di Rollo KC is a specialist in high-value and complex catastrophic injury claims. He has a broad practice covering industrial disease, employers' liability and medical negligence claims. His capabilities include disputes concerning the calculation of damages in personal injury awards. He has experience appearing before the Scottish courts at all levels, as well as the House of Lords and the Supreme Court.
Clients are reassured by Simon's stature. He is calm and relaxed.
Alan Cowan has experience of appearing in serious personal injury claims arising from road traffic accidents and accidents at work. He is well regarded for his handling of claims involving issues surrounding liability, and he also practises in employment law.
Alan is a brilliant member of the team in any case. He is technically brilliant and very level-headed, no matter the situation.
Alan brings a wealth of experience to complex cases and is excellent with clients.
Alan is an outstanding counsel with a gift for quickly identifying the salient issues in a case and formulating a strategy to ensure the best possible outcome for the client.
Lisa Henderson KC maintains a varied practice, often handling employers' liability, product liability and road traffic accident claims. She is respected for her medical knowledge and her ability to apply it to catastrophic injury and fatal accident claims. She acts for both pursuers and defenders.
Christian Marney acts primarily for defenders in a wide range of personal injury cases, including occupiers' liability, health and safety, and industrial disease claims. He is routinely instructed by major insurers as well as individuals, companies, solicitors and construction professionals. He is particularly strong in cases that involve tricky quantum issues.
His advocacy is excellent.
Christian Marney is a good all rounder with a strong practice.
Isla Davie KC is a talented silk who acts for both pursuers and defenders. She has a wide-ranging civil practice which spans both personal injury and medical negligence claims. She has a reputation for taking a methodical and considered approach to cases. Her capabilities include representing pursuers and defenders, and she is frequently instructed by local authorities and businesses.
Isla is excellent with clients, good at getting to grips with quite complicated issues and breaking it down.
Isla is a fabulous advocate and offers genuinely supportive advice but also realistic.
Shane Dundas is a skilled advocate focused on issues of liability. He has particular strength acting in personal injury cases in the healthcare sector.
Shane is a pleasure to work with. He is always responsive and helpful, providing clear and high-quality advice.
Shane is a very able advocate and a safe pair of hands. He is intelligent, approachable, and very user-friendly.