Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Personal Injury - Scotland (Bar)
What the Team is Known For
Compass Chambers is praised by instructing solicitors as having "developed a very impressive reputation for being the top personal injury stable in Scotland." The stable houses a strong bench of senior and junior advocates who are regularly instructed to act on behalf of both pursuers and defenders in high-value catastrophic injury, industrial disease and fatal accident claims. Additional areas of expertise for the team include cases arising from road traffic accidents and complex occupiers' liability claims, and several of the stable's members are adept at handling cases involving allegations of abuse. Advocates were instructed to defend Powerteam Electrical services and Vinci Energies UK after the pursuer was left paraplegic from an alleged fall and sued the company for £20 million.
Strengths
The clerks are fantastic and really responsive.
Lesley Hogg always responds quickly, in an approachable manner, and is very efficient in ensuring requests are dealt with.
The clerking team, led by Gavin Herd, is adaptive, responsive and commercially minded.
Notable practitioners
Robert Milligan KC is widely revered as one of Scotland's most eminent personal injury advocates. He is considered to be an authority on catastrophic injury, occupational stress and product liability claims. He acts for both pursuers and defenders in all courts up to the Court of Session.
Robert is very experienced, very commercial, knows his audience and is very good on the detail and in negotiations.
Robert Milligan is a strong negotiator with an unrivalled knowledge of the law of damages and a cerebral approach to new legal situations.
Andrew Smith KC has particular expertise in cases involving brain injuries and complex quantum issues. He is also well versed in high-value road traffic accidents and disease cases. He is known for his robust approach to representing pursuers, and he also has considerable experience working on behalf of defendants. He brings his knowledge of negligence claims to bear in individual claims and group actions.
Andrew is very personable, extremely competent and approachable.
Angela Grahame KC has a varied practice spanning road traffic accidents, employers' liability, catastrophic injury, historic abuse and industrial disease claims. She is also experienced in the handling of fatal claims. She is sought after for her handling of inquiries, which often involve considerable media attention. She typically acts on behalf of pursuers.
Angela is extremely intelligent and has a deft touch with clients and a forensic attention to detail.
Lesley Shand KC has a broad practice encompassing both fatalities and catastrophic injury cases. She primarily represents defenders and has acted for a number of prominent insurers. She is experienced in cases with complex or unusual liability and quantum issues. Her experience also includes participating in abuse inquiries.
Lesley is highly respected and terrifying at the same time. Her attention to detail and forensic approach is second to none. A KC to have on your side, not on the other side of a case.
Lesley works exceptionally hard to drive outstanding results for clients in cases. Her technical knowledge is second to none. She is fierce in court and always robustly presents her client's position.
Lesley Shand KC provides solid and detailed advice. She leaves nothing to chance. When instructing Lesley you know you are in a safe pair of hands.
Richard Pugh KC has expertise in a wide array of personal injury matters, including industrial disease and road traffic accident claims, with complementary skill in employment liability. He acts for both pursuers and defenders in complex, high-value claims. He has experience advocating before the Inner and Outer Houses, as well as in the Supreme Court.
Richard provides excellent notes, outlining key legal points and highlighting practical advice. He is excellent with clients, inspiring confidence in his ability to resolve cases.
Steve Love KC maintains an excellent reputation for handling road traffic accident claims. He is particularly noted for his expertise in cases involving motorcycle accidents. He also has experience in aviation accidents. He receives recognition for his tenacity in cases. His expertise also encompasses industrial disease and claims arising out of employment.
Steve Love is an excellent negotiator with a strong practical bent.
Steve is great with clients, showing a clear path forward with the case. His advice is legally sound but also practical.
Astrid Smart KC is a standout silk in both personal injury and clinical negligence matters. She is acknowledged as a towering figure in claims relating to employment liability, public liability, occupiers' liability and road traffic accidents. Additionally, she is knowledgeable about psychiatric claims, and her capabilities include handling both individual and group actions.
She is exceptionally thorough and approaches matters pragmatically while always going the extra mile for clients.
Barney Ross acts for both pursuers and defenders in catastrophic brain and spinal injury cases. He is also well regarded for his expert handling of complex industrial disease and fatal claims, and is regularly instructed in cases arising from historic child abuse.
Barney is extremely hard-working, personable and produces extremely good written work. He has a terrific manner and is very good with clients.
Calum Wilson KC is known by solicitors and advocates alike for his impressive knowledge of industrial disease claims. He is also proficient in claims involving road traffic accidents. His experience includes claims involving accidents that occur abroad.
Calum is always a go-to for difficult and complex cases. He is terrifically bright with great attention to detail and a forensic approach, demonstrating pragmatism when required.
David Swanney is recognised for his growing expertise in complex personal injury matters. He wins praise for his manner in the courtroom and is routinely instructed in employers' and occupiers' liability claims.
David has developed a very impressive practice for both defence and pursuer work and has an impressive catalogue of favourable decisions. The level of his popularity is a testament to his ability.
David Swanney is great with clients.
Gavin Thornley focuses on fatal and catastrophic injury claims. He has notable experience handling cases concerning spinal and head injuries. He is capable of handling matters involving offshore accidents, employment liability, industrial disease and road traffic accidents. He is particularly able in cases involving foreign law complexities or significant media attention.
Gavin is conscientious and reliable, with good attention to detail.
Ian Mackay KC is capable of handling cases across the full spectrum of personal injury. He has a particular specialism in stress and catastrophic injury work. His capabilities include fatal claims or disputes involving heavily contested liability. He acts for both pursuers and defenders, and he is known for his expertise in cross-examination.
Ian is a go-to senior who comes into his own in negotiation and at the court stage. He is an outstanding court performer, a formidable cross-examiner and an expert negotiator.
His greatest strength is his advocacy. I've not seen a better counsel on his feet and not seen any counsel better able to present complex issues to civil juries than him.
Robin Cleland is a respected practitioner acting for both pursuers and defenders in personal injury claims. He is noted for his expertise in both road traffic accidents and employers' liability claims. He brings a solid understanding of medical issues to litigation, particularly in the context of fatal accidents.
Robin has the benefit of instructions from claimants and insurers, which brings an unrivalled capacity to see both sides. A strong negotiator, he is an invaluable source of practical advice.
Amber Galbraith KC is a talented practitioner who is known for her work for both pursuers and defenders. She shows expertise in catastrophic injury cases involving complex causation and quantum issues. She is also regularly instructed in fatal inquiries. She is experienced appearing before the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, the Court of Appeal and the sheriff courts.
Amber is particularly fantastic with clients and detail-oriented with experts. She is fantastic on her feet and has the ear of the court. They listen when she is putting an argument forward.
She is excellent, committed and a formidable court performer.
Amber is an excellent senior counsel.
David McNaughtan KC has an expansive practice and is proficient in matters relating to occupiers' liability, road traffic accidents and industrial disease. He is able to handle cases involving foreign jurisdictions. He has recent experience of acting for pursuers in claims involving defective hip implants under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.
David is an excellent KC who has the ability to explain complex matters in a simple manner. He is always willing to do work quickly and to a high standard.
Graeme Middleton KC has a broad practice which encompasses a range of personal injury matters, including employment liability, industrial disease, road traffic accidents and fatal claims. He is also a prominent figure in professional and clinical negligence matters. He frequently represents both pursuers and defendants, and his clients include local authorities. He has a specialist expertise in asbestos-related lung disease.
Graeme is extremely capable, with excellent all-round personal injury and industrial disease expertise.
Kate Bennett routinely represents both pursuers and defenders in complex personal injury matters. She has notable experience acting in highly sensitive cases including fatalities and matters arising from third-party criminal activity.
Kate has brilliant judgement, she is very up to speed with procedure, and her background as a solicitor means she knows the work back to front. She is a formidable opponent.
Kate is extremely conscientious and reliable, with excellent attention to detail. I always feel in safe hands if she is instructed.
Preston Lloyd handles the full gamut of personal injury matters ranging from road traffic accidents to employers' liability. He is also experienced in cases involving property damage and insurance claims.
When you instruct Preston Lloyd you get the skill, application and know-how of a first-rate senior.
Steve Laing is highly regarded for his ability to handle fatal and catastrophic injury claims, in particular those relating to road traffic accidents. He commands respect for his work in numerous aspects of personal injury, including employers' liability and occupiers' liability. He predominantly acts for pursuers in tricky cases and is also adept at representing defenders.
Steve has considerable experience and is extremely intelligent and pragmatic, with great attention to detail.
Bruce Langland is a skilled junior in personal injury matters. He is particularly adept at representing pursuers and defenders in historic abuse and road traffic accidents.
Bruce's attention to detail is second to none. He is able to swiftly get to the bottom of very complex matters, and his approach with clients is warm and engaging.
Bruce is detail-oriented and his way with clients is great. He is very tenacious in court on behalf of clients and fantastic on his feet.
Craig Murray acts for defenders, such as local authorities and insurance companies, in a range of personal injury claims. He has notable experience defending fraudulent claims and offers expertise in matters arising from road traffic accidents.
Craig is an all-round defence advocate. He's clear-thinking, able to assist and interact with clients very well, and can gather huge amounts of information and condense it into key points.
Gordon Balfour is acknowledged for his diverse workload. He predominantly acts for defenders across a range of areas, including industrial disease claims, employers' liability and catastrophic and fatal injury matters. He is particularly adept at handling claims involving spinal and brain injuries. He also has experience advising on claims involving PTSD and road traffic accidents.
Gordon is an excellent lawyer.
Gordon is an exceptionally talented individual with vast in-depth legal knowledge. He is an extremely capable and safe pair of hands on any case on which he is instructed.
Gordon is excellent and my first choice. His notes are thorough while very accessible for clients. His notes on quantum are extremely detailed but also practical.
Malcolm McGregor KC acts primarily for defenders and is a specialist in catastrophic injury and industrial disease claims, particularly in asbestos-related actions. He is also a recognised expert in clinical negligence claims.
Malcolm McGregor KC brings a pragmatic approach to all cases and is aware of clients' requirements, achieving excellent results.
He's exceptional at negotiating, very good at dealing with clients and experienced in complex and catastrophic cases.
Malcolm is tenacious and excellent with defending challenging cases.