Better the Devil You Know CPD Seminar Series 2026
Arnot Manderson Advocates are looking forward to welcoming five new Devils, Alan Calderwood, Gregor McPhail, Garry Ferguson, Jillian Merchant and Ed Cadden to the Stable upon their calling to the Bar at the end of June. To mark their transition from “Devil” to “Advocate” Arnot Manderson Advocates are pleased to dust off our snappiest ever CPD event title and invite you to: “Better the Devil You Know”.
Besides giving you an introduction to the freshest legal talent to reach the Bar you will be treated to a range of informative and topical CPD talks updating you on a variety of practice areas which will exemplify the full service nature of Arnot Manderson. The series will feature two seminars each starting at 4pm and will end with a Q&A Session and a brief wine reception.
Each seminar is accredited by the Faculty of Advocates (and by extension by the Law Society) for one hour of – free – CPD and each will feature a question and answer session. These events are free but places are limited and early booking is recommended. Please use the booking links below to register your place. We do hope you can join us. The programme for these Seminars is as follows:
18th June, 4pm – Alan Calderwood, Gregor McPhail and Garry Ferguson
In person at the Mackenzie Building, Old Assembly Close, High Street, Edinburgh
3:30pm – Registration and Teas or Coffee
4:00pm – Welcome and Introduction
4:05pm – Alan Calderwood – Higher! Lower! – Contributory Negligence
How precise can we be? What lessons can be learned from the case law? To what extent can past cases inform what level of contributory negligence is likely to be found in other cases?
4:40pm – Gregor McPhail – The full and final settlement that wasn’t: Crozier and the new strategic landscape
The Supreme Court’s decision in Veale and others v Scottish Power UK plc [2025] UKSC 45 has reshaped the landscape of asbestos litigation in Scotland. The Supreme Court held that a prior full and final settlement of a non-mesothelioma asbestos claim does not extinguish a family’s statutory right to damages where the victim later develops and dies from mesothelioma.
This session looks behind the judgement and examines the practical fallout: the impact on settlement strategy/negotiation, file management and client advice for both pursuers and defenders alike, and the unresolved questions left behind.
5:15pm – Garry Ferguson – 28 years later. The only constant is change.
Since Scotland’s last appearance at the World Cup Finals in 1998 the legal landscape in respect of civil liability in the context of an employer’s liability claim has changed dramatically. Garry will discuss those changes and consider where we are now, hopefully against the backdrop of a change in Scotland’s fortunes at this year’s World Cup.
5:40pm – Q&A Session and Closing Remarks
5:55pm – Wine!
Click here to book your place
19th June, 4pm – Jillian Merchant and Ed Cadden
In person at the Mackenzie Building, Old Assembly Close, High Street, Edinburgh
3:30pm – Registration and Teas or Coffee
4:00pm – Welcome and Introduction
4:05pm – Jillian Merchant – Strategic Litigation and Modern Public Law
Jillian will examine the increasing use of public law litigation to advance broader public policy objectives beyond the immediate interests of individual litigants. Drawing on recent Scottish case law involving equality, environmental, prison, and group proceedings, she will explore developments in procedural scrutiny, institutional accountability, and strategic rights-based challenges. The discussion will also address issues of crowdfunding, interventions, and standing in modern public law disputes, together with the practical implications for litigators and public authorities.
4:40pm – Ed Cadden – Domestic abuse in section 11 family proceedings
In this talk Ed will discuss the impact of domestic abuse on family proceedings, some recent developments in the area and the importance of case management.
5:15pm – Q&A Session and Closing Remarks
5:30pm – Wine!
Click here to book your place