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Areas of expertise

Professional information

  • 2000-2001: Solicitor General for Scotland
  • 2006-2010: Advocate General for Scotland
  • 1984-1993: Standing junior to various UK government departments
Professional experience

Lord Davidson has over 40 years’ experience which has involved him in many of the major commercial and public law cases in both Scotland, the Supreme Court of the UK and the Privy Council. In addition he has been instructed in international and maritime arbitration, proceedings about defamation, procurement, patents, state aids, M&A, banking, public inquiry and national security. He has been instructed in cases and advisory matters concerning jurisdictions including the US, China, EU recently covering Latvia and Bulgaria, Uzbekistan, India, Nigeria, Thailand, UAE and East Caribbean.

Chambers 2020 ‘Highlighted for his strong tactical sense and formidable cross-examination abilities. He is well known for acting in large international disputes covering a range of commercial matters.’

Notable cases

Shareholder disputes

  • Cheyne v Balmoral [2021] CSOH 17
  • Gray v Braid Group [2016] CSIH 68

Asset recovery

  • Petroceltic Resources v Archer [2019] CSOH 15
  • Heather Capital v Levy and Macrae [2017] CSIH 19

Contested schemes of arrangement

  • Premier Oil v ARCM [2020] CSOH 39
  • Scottish Lion v Goodrich [2011] CSIH 18

Procurement

  • Dem-Master v Renfrewshire Council [2016] CSOH 150
  • Street Lighting Supplies v Scotland Excel [2014] CSOH 145

Commercial

  • Andrew Marr International v Tait [2021] CSOH 121
  • Prickly Bay v British American Insurance Co. 2020/0001 JCPC
  • DNO Oman v Clouston [2019] CSIH 1
  • MacDonald v Carnbroe Estates [2019] UKSC 57
  • SI 2016 v AMA [2019] CSOH 99
  • Zahid v Duthus Group [2018] CSOH 59
  • Henderson v Foxworth Investments [2014] UKSC 41

Construction

  • Prospect Healthcare v Kier Build [2018] CSIH 43

Public law

  • Smith v Scottish Legal Complaints Commission [2020] CSIH 19