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Terra Firma Chambers

Planning & Environment

UK Bar Guide 2026 : Scotland (Bar)

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Terra Firma Chambers

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Planning & Environment - Scotland (Bar)

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Terra Firma Chambers is a highly acclaimed stable for Scottish planning and environment work. Advocates at the stable appear in judicial reviews, as well as appeals to the Scottish Ministers on behalf of a wide range of clients such as developers, local authorities and energy companies. One interviewee notes the stable is "certainly one of the go-to stables in relation to environmental and judicial review work". Another source comments: "Terra Firma Chambers are organised, convivial and provide practical lawful advice to the clients".

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Emma Caskie-Potter, practice manager, is excellent and it's almost like she and the stable become another part of the team.

    Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar

  • The clerking team is exceptionally proactive and supportive. Emma Caskie-Potter is really outstanding, very user-friendly and approachable.

    Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar

  • Emma Caskie-Potter who leads the clerking team is exceptionally helpful and she is very knowledgeable about the skills of the advocates.

    Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar

  • Excellent service from the clerks and they always provide sensible and quality alternatives where specific counsel are not available.

    Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Alasdair Burnet
    Alasdair Burnet

    Alasdair Burnet

    Alasdair Burnet KC frequently appears in appeals and inquiries relating to residential, retail and leisure developments. He also handles infrastructure work, as well as planning disputes involving high-profile transportation projects.

    • Alasdair is extremely user-friendly and is a first-class planning and environmental lawyer.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Alasdair Burnet is one of the best at thinking on his feet and combines excellent legal knowledge with a strong commercial understanding.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Alasdair is very well considered and a strong communicator.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Alasdair Burnet is very thorough - clients like him and he becomes part of the team.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Alasdair is very adaptable, unflappable and he has a very good manner in court.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar
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  • Douglas Armstrong
    Douglas Armstrong

    Douglas Armstrong

    Douglas Armstrong KC is highly respected for his work across a range of planning matters. He has particular expertise in matters relating to renewable energy and large-scale infrastructure projects, but also represents clients in the public and private sectors in connection with residential, retail, transportation and waste management projects.

    • Douglas Armstrong is really pragmatic and also extremely detail-oriented.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Douglas Armstrong is excellent to work with, very organised and has excellent advocacy skills.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Douglas delivers advice based on great experience and incredible technical knowledge, taking into account commercial realities.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar
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  • Graham Dunlop
    Graham Dunlop

    Graham Dunlop

    Graham Dunlop is an experienced junior who regularly appears in planning inquiries and appeals for a wide range of public bodies, particularly local authorities. His work regularly includes cases relating to transport and residential developments.

    • Graham Dunlop provides extremely sound legal and practical advocacy skills.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Graham is very efficient and extremely knowledgeable on any planning matter.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Graham Dunlop is fair, unflappable and very easy to work with.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar
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  • James Findlay
    James Findlay

    James Findlay

    James Findlay KC is renowned for his experience, knowledge and gravitas. He is experienced across the full range of planning and environmental law, and often appears in inquiries and higher court. He is frequently instructed to bring and defend appeals involving planning permission, and is particularly well versed in planning disputes involving housing developments.

    • James Findlay is a very adept advocate with a strong grounding in planning law.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar

    • James Findlay is very experienced and a safe pair of hands who is extremely skilled on his feet in court.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar

    • James is very sought after for planning matters.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar

    • James is the preeminent environmental lawyer in Scotland; he has an incredible depth of knowledge, and his advocacy skills are outstanding.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar

    • James Findlay is tactically and strategically very astute; he is also a master of brevity when it comes to submissions.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar
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  • Maurice O'Carroll
    Maurice O'Carroll

    Maurice O'Carroll

    Maurice O'Carroll is a seasoned junior with a substantial background in planning and environmental law. He conducts planning inquiries, judicial reviews and appeals spanning various sectors including renewable energy.

    • Maurice O'Carroll handles each case with great professionalism and ease.

      Planning & Environment respondentUK Bar
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Ranked Barristers at Terra Firma Chambers (5)

Scotland (Bar)

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