Department profile
Westwater Advocates

Family/Matrimonial

UK Bar Guide 2026 : Scotland (Bar)


Westwater Advocates

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Family/Matrimonial - Scotland (Bar)

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Westwater Advocates is widely considered to be the go-to stable for the full spectrum of family law matters. Its members are highly regarded for complex, high-value provisions matters including those with overseas and farming assets. The stable is also very well respected for its work in child care proceedings involving inter-UK care orders and disputes around contact and child arrangements. Sources note that Westwater Advocates has "hugely experienced, understanding and pragmatic advocates" who "provide calm, concise and assured advice." Members regularly act in leading cases and appear at all levels of court, including the Sheriff Court, Court of Session and Supreme Court.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Sheila Westwater, clerk, and her team are first-class. They remember all of the agents and their clients. Their response times are unbeatable, and the level of service is second to none.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • They are the best family law clerks in Scotland. They are always hugely helpful.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are exceptionally responsive and helpful.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Star IndividualsJanys M Scott
    Star IndividualsJanys M Scott

    Janys M Scott

    Janys Scott KC is an outstanding silk who is recognised for her roles in leading cases. She regularly acts for clients in complex financial provision cases with overseas assets, as well as maintenance variations across different jurisdictions. She is particularly well known for the breadth of her expertise in children matters involving the Hague Convention, deprivations of liberty and children's hearings.

    • Janys is one of the leading advocates in Family Law and has been for many years. She is particularly adept at dealing with vulnerable and anxious clients needing careful guidance.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Janys is very approachable. She discusses matters in clear, accessible terms, and is highly respected.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Janys is a stalwart of the family law world and continues to offer a level of expertise that is extremely high.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • She is incredibly charming, lovely to work with, extremely diligent, and reliable. She is quite an exceptional senior advocate.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Lynda J Brabender
    Band 1Lynda J Brabender

    Lynda J Brabender

    Lynda Brabender KC is a highly respected silk with expertise across finance and children matters. She offers particular prowess in high net worth financial provision cases involving farming and pension assets as well as complex children cases, including judicial reviews.

    • Lynda is a formidable opponent. She is able and tenacious. She practices at the highest level of sophistication.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Lynda Brabender is an excellent advocate. She is extremely knowledgeable, hard-working, tenacious and will always do her very best for her clients.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Lynda continues to be a leading light in the family law world. She is particularly skilled in complex financial provision cases. Her ability to define a clear strategy is exceptional.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Lynda is a powerhouse at the Scottish Bar in financial provision and child cases. She's an intelligent strategist who is commanding 'on her feet'.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Ruth Innes
    Band 1Ruth Innes

    Ruth Innes

    Ruth Innes KC is widely considered to be one of the leaders for high-value financial provision cases, especially those involving complex asset and income structures. Her varied experience also covers highly complex children work, including cross-border work regarding the Hague Convention and sibling rights under the ECHR.

    • She is an excellent advocate with very strong technical legal skills and operates with supreme diligence.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Ruth is a simply phenomenal lawyer. Her attention to detail is like no other, with an incredible intelligence. She has a fantastic manner with clients and agents alike.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Ruth is superb. Her ability to assimilate information is extraordinary and her technical abilities are unmatched.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Ruth is exceptionally bright, very hard-working, really strategic and thoughtful.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Alison Wild
    Band 2Alison Wild

    Alison Wild

    Alison Wild is an excellent junior with particular strength in highly contentious children matters. She regularly acts for parents, for children and as curator ad litem in international adoption, relocation and contact arrangement cases. She also has expertise in handling finance matters, including high-value divorces which involve farming dynamics.

    • Alison's knowledge and approach in Family law is extremely forensic, logical and clearly articulated in pleadings and in person. An absolute asset to have on your team.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Alison Wild is an excellent advocate, with great knowledge of the law and very good client-handling skills.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Amy Donachie
    Band 2Amy Donachie

    Amy Donachie

    Amy Donachie has an impressive practice in family law. She has significant experience in habitation matters and permanence orders. She is also frequently sought out to act in finance-related family law proceedings.

    • Amy is an excellent junior counsel, particularly on child-related work. She gains confidence from clients and presents to the court in a clear and firm manner.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Amy Donachie is an exceptional advocate.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Emily Bradbury
    Band 2Emily Bradbury

    Emily Bradbury

    Emily Bradbury maintains a highly regarded family law practice, and she is particularly noted for her advocacy in child law disputes. She routinely handles complex mandates in this field, including Hague Convention cases, international abductions and child contact mandates. Her work covers parental dynamics such as parental alienation and abuse, among others.

    • Emily Bradbury is quite tenacious in terms of seeing what the client needs and trying to fulfil that. She also has good communication skills.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Emily Bradbury is robust, sensible and knowledgeable in her advice. She regularly brings innovative thinking to bear when tackling cases.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Robert Hayhow
    Band 2Robert Hayhow

    Robert Hayhow

    Robert Hayhow KC is a brilliant advocate with considerable strength across the full spectrum of financial issues during separations. He is particularly well versed in handling complex financial provision cases with various asset structures and multi-jurisdictional proceedings.

    • The level of expertise and advice Robert Hayhow has provided has been exceptional.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Up and ComingJohn Laing
    Up and ComingJohn Laing

    John Laing

    John Laing is an experienced family barrister with a focus on child relocation and proceedings under the Hague Convention. He is regularly instructed in matters involving a wide range of issues, including abuse and non-accidental injuries, as well as financial provisions in divorces.

    • John is able, conscientious and hard-working.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • John is efficient with a good working knowledge of law. He is responsive and very good at advocacy.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • John Laing is fast developing a stellar reputation as the up-and-coming junior advocate in child cases.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • New SilksRachel Shewan
    New SilksRachel Shewan

    Rachel Shewan

    Rachel Shewan KC has considerable experience and continues to be recognised for her expertise as an advocate in family law. She regularly deals with child abduction, relocation and contact arrangements, with a focus on Hague Convention cases. She also capably handles financial provision cases with complex asset structures in the Sheriff Courts.

    • Rachel Shewan is a skilled litigator, produces excellent written work and achieves good results for her clients.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Rachel is a gifted advocate with excellent client handling skills. She is responsive and helpful.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Rachel is one of the leading juniors in the field without doubt. An excellent all-round family advocate with excellent client care skills.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • New SilksScott McAlpine
    New SilksScott McAlpine

    Scott McAlpine

    Scott McAlpine KC is a leading advocate for children and financial matters. He is regularly involved in complex children cases including Hague Convention and ECHR rights for children. He is further noted for his expertise in financial provision and maintenance payments cases involving various asset structures.

    • Scott McAlpine is an excellent KC. He is very gifted at cross-examination and will fight his client's corner to achieve good results.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Scott's advocacy is second to none and he is exceptional 'on his feet'. Scott's elevation to KC was thoroughly deserved and warranted.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • On his feet Scott is one of the best in court. His level of intelligence stands him in excellent stead. He is able to persuade a court of his line of argument in a very sophisticated way.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Westwater Advocates (16)

Scotland (Bar)

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