Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Personal Injury - Scotland (Bar)
What the Team is Known For
Compass Chambers is praised by instructing solicitors as having "strength and depth of specialised advocates." 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 act for Police Scotland in Ross Lamont v Police Scotland, where the pursuer suffered fractures to his knee and finger while being arrested by the police.
Strengths
Gavin Herd is helpful, knowledgeable and efficient.
The chambers is led by Gavin Herd who is just incredibly helpful. The clerking team will always respond quickly and are always helpful.
The clerks communicate well, are quick to respond and work with me to find solutions when things are difficult.
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 Milligan KC is very good at getting to the detail and focussing on the key points of the case.
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.
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 enjoyable to work with. He is decisive, mediates well, builds good relationships and clients like him.
He is affable, responsive and robust in his view.
Barney is quite academic so he can go into huge detail. He is top class.
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 has great attention to detail and ensures that we are fully prepared. She led us with a strong defence which achieved a great result.
Lesley is great for getting stuck in to the fine detail of a complicated case. She will defend cases robustly and with courage.
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 is great to deal with. He is pragmatic and provides clear advice.
Richard Pugh KC is very commercially aware and responds promptly to emails. He is great with clients and provides sound legal but also practical advice.
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 Smith KC brings considerable legal knowledge to a case.
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.
Astrid Smart KC has the perfect balance of client empathy and can be tenacious when required.
She is excellent with clients and very understanding of their needs. She is able to tailor advice.
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.
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 Swanney is a very able advocate.
He is very good. He works well with senior counsel and communicates well.
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 excellent. He brings real attention to a case and clients trust 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 is very responsive and helpful. He is great to deal with.
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 KC provides sound advice and responds promptly which is very helpful when dealing with insurers. He collaborates well.
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 an excellent advocate and strong negotiator who builds a rapport with clients easily.
Amber Galbraith KC is very experienced counsel.
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.
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 outstanding. He has an excellent client manner and has the ability to explain the most complex of things in a very straightforward way. He has excellent advocacy skills.
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 good on the detail and communicates very well.
Graeme Middleton KC is an excellent advocate. He is very approachable and helpful.
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 Bennett is good. She is user-friendly.
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 is very experienced and knowledgeable.
He is very decisive and very personal. He is straightforward and gets on well with clients.
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.
Preston Lloyd is an excellent senior junior with vast personal injury experience.
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.
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.
He is absolutely first-class.
Bruce is excellent, he grasps issues extremely quickly and distils those elegantly.
He is dramatic in his advice, efficient and approachable and his reputation is growing.
Gordon Balfour KC 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 has excellent opinions. He is very bright and great to deal with. He is one of the best.
Gordon is excellent. His attention to detail is great, he responds quickly and works well to timescales.
Gordon is excellent and hard to beat.
