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Areas of expertise

Professional information

  • 2021 to date: Convenor of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland
  • 2015 to date: Standing junior counsel to the Scottish Government
  • 2010: Called to the Bar
  • Devilmasters: Alastair Duncan QC; Lord Weir; Sheriff Matthew Jackson QC
  • 2000 – 2009: Solicitor at Dundas & Wilson
  • 2007: CEDR Accredited Mediator
  • 1997: LLB (Hons) University of Edinburgh
Professional experience

Chris has a broad commercial practice with a particular expertise in professional liability litigation. He is recognised by Chambers as a leading junior (Band 1) in commercial dispute resolution, professional liability and product liability. Additionally, Chris has significant experience in contract, company and property litigations.

In the professional liability and regulatory sphere, Chris has extensive experience in acting for solicitors, advocates, surveyors, accountants, construction professionals, dentists and clinicians. He also represents healthcare professionals and Health Boards at fatal accident inquiries.

Chris also advises in relation to professional disciplinary proceedings, and has a keen interest in public law with experience of judicial reviews, administrative law, and disciplinary and regulatory issues. He is a standing junior to the Scottish Government.

Chris has appeared in the Courts at all levels. He is also instructed in arbitrations, and is a CEDR accredited mediator.

In December 2021 Chris was appointed a Convenor (i.e. Chair) of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland.

Notable cases

Professional Liability

  • Joint Liquidators of RFC 2012 Plc, Noters 2022 SLT 9. The noters alleged that the former administrators of Rangers had breached their duties which resulted in them failing to manage costs and / or obtain maximum value for the now liquidated company.
  • Kidd v Paull & Williamsons LLP 2018 SC 193. The pursuer sued his former legal advisers seeking $210m in respect of an alleged breach of fiduciary duty.
  • NRAM Ltd v Steel 2018 SC (UKSC) 141. The UKSC restored the Lord Ordinary’s determination that the defender solicitor owed no duty of care to a third party bank
  • Clark v Turnbull [2017] CSOH 4. A claim against a firm of accountants relative to allegedly negligent tax advice. The Lord Ordinary determined that the majority of the pursuer’s claims had prescribed.
  • Frank Houlgate Investment Co Ltd v Biggart Baillie LLP [2014] SLT 1001. The defenders were sued as accessories to a fraud committed by their client.

Commercial

  • Kidd v Lime Rock Management LLP & ors 2021 SLT 1499. The pursuer seeks to recover $210m from investors and their solicitors in respect of an alleged fraudulent conspiracy. The reported case relates to whether an earlier settlement agreement precludes the pursuer from proceeding with this action.
  • 3639 Limited v Renfrewshire Council [2020] CSOH 86. The parties were in dispute as to the proper construction of their lease, and in particular the definition of “rack rental income” therein.
  • Heart of Midlothian plc v SPFL Ltd 2020 SLT 736. Hearts and Partick Thistle sought to challenge the decision of the SPFL to relegate them prior to the season being concluded and during the C-19 pandemic.
  • Heather Capital Limited (in liquidation v Levy & McRae) 2017 SLT 376. Multi-million pound claims against two firms of solicitors for breach of trust in the context of a third party fraud.

Clinical Negligence and Product Liability

  • Taylor v Dailly Health Centre 2018 SLT 1324. The pursuers’ failed in their claims that the defenders had misdiagnosed the deceased’s acute coronary syndrome, and were in breach of a Montgomery duty.
  • AH v Greater Glasgow Health Board & Anor 2018 SLT 535. The transvaginal mesh litigations. The pursuers sought damages from the Health Boards and the product manufacturers.
  • J v C [2017] CSIH 8. The pursuer sought damages from the defender in respect of allegedly negligent plastic surgery. The pursuer’s attempt to invoke section 19A of the 1973 Act was unsuccessful.
  • Sellar v Greater Glasgow Health Board [2017] CSOH 56. The pursuer sought damages from the defender in respect of allegedly negligent cystoscopy procedure.

Public and Administrative Law

  • Desmond Dinnell v Scottish Ministers 2015 SC 429. The petitioner successfully challenged the Scottish Ministers’ decision to refuse him compensation for a miscarriage of justice.
  • Poor Sisters of Nazareth v Scottish Ministers 2015 SLT 445. The petitioners challenged the Scottish Ministers’ decision to appoint an advocate as chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.
  • Mirza v Salim & Mellicks 2014 SLT 875. The Court required to interpret the legislative provisions for rectification of documents, and the extent to which they had retrospective effect.
  • Comhairle nan Eilean Siar v Scottish Ministers 2013 SC 286; 2013 SC 548
    The Comhairle successfully challenged call-in notices issued by the Ministers in terms of the Schools (Consultation) Act 2010.
Directories
  • Chambers UK Bar – Recommended as leading junior in Commercial Dispute Resolution (Band 1);  Professional Negligence (Band 1); Clinical Negligence (Band 3); and Product Liability (Band 1)
  • Legal 500 – Recommended as leading junior in Commercial Disputes (Tier 1)
  • Who’s Who Legal – Recommended in Professional Liability

Quotes

‘He is diligent and great on his feet in court. Judges listen to him. An extremely persuasive advocate.’ Legal 500 2022