Charles Oliver

Year of Call
2020
Devil Masters
David Turner
Jamie Dawson KC
David Nicolson KC

Contact

charlesoliver@amadvocates.co.uk 07493 149803

Practice Profile

Charles has a busy and varied practice with a focus on commercial, professional negligence, regulatory, property, and financial services disputes. In addition to being instructed alongside Senior, he is frequently instructed as sole counsel in matters valued in excess of £10 million.

He was the winner of the Junior of the Year award in the inaugural Legal 500 Scotland Awards 2023. He is also double-ranked by Legal 500 where he is described as being a “junior with mastery over the facts in a case” and “well received by judges”.

Charles is instructed by a range of commercial, third sector, and individual clients. He is instructed in a group action in the Court of Session concerning a construction and insurance dispute. He has recently advised in relation to issues under the State Immunity Act in relation to a commercial dispute involving a foreign state.

Despite his core areas of practice, Charles has a broad experience of instruction that spans many practice areas and encompasses commercial, property, professional negligence, construction, medical negligence, regulatory, consumer rights, insolvency, business crime (POCA), succession, financial services, personal injury, public law, family, and employment litigation. He has also been instructed in both contentious and non-contentious tax matters.

Having a broad range of experience, Charles is frequently instructed in matters that touch upon more than one practice area. He is often instructed in family matters with linked legal issues, particularly in divorces involving business assets and family litigation with a cross-border element.

Charles previously sat on the board of a large Scottish Housing Association for 5 years. He regularly accepts instructions to act both for and against RSLs. He has been an ad hoc Reporter to the Law Society of Scotland in relation to conduct complaints.

Charles graduated with a First Class Honours degree from the University of Dundee. He was the recipient of several academic awards including the Harold How Memorial Award “awarded annually to student(s) whose performance in their first year of the graduation course in Law is deemed by the Dean to have been the most meritorious”. He called to the Bar as a Hope Scholar.

Appointments

  • Member of AM Commercial Law Practice Group (2023–present)
  • Board of Management Member, Kingdom Housing Association Ltd (2018–2023)
  • ad hoc Complaints Reporter to the Professional Conduct Sub Committee, Law Society of Scotland (2019–2022)

Selected Cases

  • Parks of Hamilton (Townhead Garage) Ltd v Deas 2022 SCLR 292

    Appeared both at first instance and on appeal for the successful Pursuer and Respondent, on both occasions without Senior. Appeared at first instance and successfully resisted dismissal of the Pursuer’s claim concerning rejection of a motor vehicle valued at almost £142,000. Thereafter, appeared on appeal to defend a challenge to the Sheriff’s decision based, in part, on her reliance on expert reports not incorporated into the pleadings.

  • Davie v Powerteam Electrical Services (UK) Ltd 2024 SLT 85, 2024 SCLR, 2023 GWD 50-425

    Instructed along with Senior Counsel on behalf of Pursuer in £20 Million occupiers’ liability action in the Court of Session. The decision concerned the assessment of foreseeability under the Occupiers’ Liability (Scotland) Act 1960, whether the Act required a staged approach, and the extent of any duty owed under the Act.

  • Gilchrist v Govan Dental Centre & Another 2024 GWD 7-56

    Appeared without Senior for the successful Pursuer in a commercial action challenging a discharge of claims signed by the patient of a dental practice. The court granted a declaration that the discharge was unenforceable under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and also found that, on a proper construction, it did not preclude the Pursuer from advancing a claim in negligence. Court finding that had it been wrong on the interpretation issue, the Pursuer would have also had a relevant case to challenge the discharge on the basis of essential error and undue influence.

  • B v P 2019 Hous. L.R. 19

    Appeared for the successful Defender. Decree reponed after almost 4 years. Statutory defences to division and sale of a family home by trustee of client’s sequestrated estate.

  • AB v CD 2018 Rep. L.R. 15

    Acted for the successful pursuer in obtaining Summary Decree in personal injury action where the Defender had previously been convicted of assaulting the Pursuer

Publications & Seminars

Better the Devil You Know Seminar - COVID: Easing the Lockdown on Expenses Recovery - 10th June 2020

Directories

Charles was the winner of the ‘Junior of the Year’ award in the inaugural Legal 500 Scotland Awards 2023.

Charles is also double-ranked as a “Rising Star” by Legal 500 (2024) in the practice areas of Commercial Disputes and Property, and Planning and Construction. He is reported on as follows:

'Charles is a very intelligent advocate who can quickly get to the heart of a dispute. He is well received by judges.' (Commercial Disputes, Legal 500 2024)

'A junior with mastery over the facts in a case and confident in court.' (Property, Planning And Construction, Legal 500 2024)