Education & Professional Career to Date

Appointments

• General Standing Junior to the Advocate General for Scotland (2021–present)
• Director of Training and Education, Faculty of Advocates (2021–2024)
• Deputy Traffic Commissioner for Scotland (part time) (2017–present)
• Standing Junior to the Ministry of Defence (2012 –2021)
• General Standing Junior to the Advocate General for Scotland (2009–2012)
• Standing Junior to the Department of Transport (2005–2009)
• Ad hoc Advocate Depute (2011 –present)
• Assistant Director of Training and Education, Faculty of Advocates (1998 –2000)
• Instructor, Faculty of Advocates Training Programme (1999 –present)
• Member of Faculty Council (1996–1998)
• Member of Dean’s Council (1997–2011)
• Member, Training and Admissions Committee, Faculty of Advocates (1998–2011)
• Secretary, Advocates Human Rights Law Group (2000–2002)
• Member, Faculty of Advocates Equal Treatment Working Group (2000–2001)
• Secretary, Faculty of Advocates Personal Injury Law Group (2002–2004)
• Steering Committee Member, Faculty of Advocates Free Legal Services Unit (2003–present)
• Member, Faculty of Advocates Investigating Committee panel (2004–present)
• Member, South East Scotland Research Ethics Committee (medical research) (2004–present)

Selected Cases

• University and College Union v University of Stirling [2015] UKSC 26

  With Brian Napier QC whether when a fixed term contract of employment ended, a failure to offer the employee a new contract was a dismissal 'for a reason not related to the individual concerned' for the purposes of s.195(1) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

• Doogan and Wood v Greater Glasgow Health Board (Royal College of Midwives and British Pregnancy Service intervening) [2014] UKSC 68

  With Brian Napier QC, acted for the Health Board in a dispute about the extent of a midwife’s right of conscientious objection to abortion under appeal to the UK Supreme Court.

• Fisher v Applied Drilling Technology International Ltd [2016] CSOH 108

  A test case for 70 former oil company employees, in which an offshore engineer sought an enhanced redundancy package on the basis of an implied term arising from an alleged policy or practice since 1986.

• Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of Douglas Gordon

  Acted for the DVLA in 11 day FAI into the death of a bus driver.

• Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of James Lochrie

  Acted for the DVLA in 14 day FAI into a death caused by a bus driver losing consciousness at the wheel of a bus.

• Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of Elaine Dunne

  Acted for DVLA. The Crown sought to criticise the DVLA’s guidance about licensing of elderly drivers.

• Fatal Accident Inquiry into the deaths of Mhairi Convy and Laura Stewart

  Acted for the DVLA in 12 day FAI into the deaths of two students who were killed by a driver who lost consciousness at the wheel of his car.

• Garry Stewart and others v Clive Franks & others [2013] CSOH 63

  With Jonathan Mitchell QC, acted for the executors of a multimillion pound estate in defending a challenge to the testator's mental capacity