Our Advocates

Professional Information:

Year of Call: 2006
Devil Masters: W. James Wolffe, QC; Thomas L. Ross; Robert G. Milligan QC; Chris Shead
Qualifications: B.A. (Hons) Oxford University; LL.B. University of Edinburgh; Dip. L.P. University of Edinburgh


Biography:

Since calling to the Bar in 2006, Alasdair has acted in a wide variety of cases.  In particular, he has appeared as Junior Counsel in planning appeals in the Inner and Outer House of the Court of Session including in relation to housing developments, supermarket retailing applications and challenges to Local Plans; and at public inquiries including for objectors to the proposed AWPR Aberdeen City Bypass, for City of Edinburgh Council in relation to a major hotel and office development at Haymarket and for Shell in relation to a proposed Compulsory Purchase Order.  He has also appeared in the Lands Tribunal in relation to the value of compensation claims for land subject to Compulsory Purchase Orders.

Prior to calling, Alasdair practiced as a solicitor in the litigation department of a large commercial firm for 5 years.  He represented the defenders in McTear v Imperial Tobacco Limited 2005 2 SC 1. The case involved complex and novel legal issues amongst other things on causation, standard of proof, evaluation of expert evidence, duty to warn, and personal responsibility. It was one of the first civil cases in Scotland to utilise electronic display of productions, a simultaneous electronic transcript "Livenote" facility and case analysis software - "Casemap".  In 2005 Alasdair was seconded to Office of the Solicitor to the Scottish Executive. As well as commercial and public law litigation he also has experience in planning law.

He is involved in several ongoing planning inquiries, appeals and judicial reviews and has undertaken various medical and dental negligence defence work for Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland and the Central Legal Office of NHS Scotland. He also has experience in property and contractual disputes.

Recent Cases:

Inner House and Outer House Planning Appeals and Judicial Reviews including:

• McGinty v Scottish Ministers [2010] CSOH 5
• Forbes v Aberdeenshire Council and Trump International Golf Links [2010] CSOH 01 (refusal of interim interdict of preparatory works for golf course pending judicial review of planning permission)
• Upland Investments Limited and Robertson Property Limited and Another [2009] CSOH 143
• Sainsbury Stores v Perth & Kinross Council [2009] CSOH 138 (judicial review of adoption of supplementary planning guidance)
• Bellway Homes and Others v Stirling Council, [2008] CSIH 42 (appeal against adoption of alteration to local plan)
• Aberdeenshire Council v Scottish Ministers [2008] CSIH 28 (appeal against grant of planning permission)
• FSH Airport (Edinburgh) Services Limited v City of Edinburgh Council [2007] CSOH 193 (appeal against adoption of local plan)

Planning and CPO Public Inquiries including:

• Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) (for various objectors) re route and CPOs for proposed Aberdeen City by-pass.
• Tiger Developments, Morrison Street, Haymarket, Edinburgh (for local authority) re major redevelopment of land at Haymarket including 2 hotels and office blocks.
• A90 (Balmedie to Tipperty ) CPO Inquiry (for local objector) re CPO for trunk road upgrade north of Aberdeen.
• Peacock Cross, Hamilton CPO (for objector, Shell UK) re CPO of petrol filling station for new link road.
• East Lothian Local Plan Inquiry (re Haddington Housing allocation)

Lands Tribunal/Land Court

•  ITS Corporate Entertainment v City of Edinburgh Council (for local authority) re compensation for land subject to CPO
• Dundas Trust v City of Edinburgh Council (for local authority) re compensation value of land subject to CPO for construction of M9 spur.
• Advised various clients in relation to compensation claims for CPOs and Housing Associations in relation to consequences of Abolition of Feudal Tenure Legislation.