Licensing
UK Bar Guide 2025 : Scotland (Bar)
Band 1
Contact number
(0131) 260 5830Chambers Review
Terra Firma Chambers offers market-leading expertise in a wide range of licensing cases. Advocates at the stable are experienced in civic government licensing and regularly deal with highly contentious licensing appeals. Members are instructed by both licensees and local governments. An interviewee states: "Terra Firma are excellent - very helpful and very accommodating."
Work Highlights
- Terra Firma represented Open Seas in a fishing licensing challenge by Marine Scotland arising as a result of underlying concern that commercial fishing has effectively emasculated protections in Marine Protected Areas.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Emma Caskie-Potter, practice manager, is really first class."
"Emma Caskey is excellent, and her clerking team are very high quality, incredibly easy to deal with and make sure all sides are happy."
"The Terra Firma clerking team is incredibly easy to deal with, very high quality and makes sure all sides are happy."
"Emma Caskie-Potter, practice manager, is really first class."
"Emma Caskey is excellent, and her clerking team are very high quality, incredibly easy to deal with and make sure all sides are happy."
"The Terra Firma clerking team is incredibly easy to deal with, very high quality and makes sure all sides are happy."
Notable Practitioners
James Findlay KC is an accomplished barrister who has taken silk in both Scotland and in England and Wales, and acts on a wide range of licensing mandates. His work includes taxi, hospitality and housing cases. He is also equipped to handle complex licence cases relating to wildlife management and other environmental issues.
"James has an excellent reputation for providing strong advice and excellent advocacy."
Scott Blair is one of the leading advocates in Scotland, acting in all manner of licensing cases, including liquor licensing and licensing reviews. He enjoys a particularly strong following among local authorities, as well as licensing boards. To add to his licensing expertise, Blair has significant knowledge of administrative and human rights law.
"Scott Blair is the number one Scottish barrister dealing with licensing cases. He is a go-to advocate for licensing cases in Scotland."
"Scott Blair is a very knowledgeable licensing advocate."