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Areas of expertise

Professional information

  • Oct 2022: Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Government
  • March – Sep 2022: Counsel to the Scottish Covid Inquiry
  • 2018 – Feb 2022: Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Government
  • 2007: Called to the Bar
  • 2000 – 2006: Solicitor, Maclay Murray & Spens (including traineeship)
  • 2000: LLB Ordinary & Diploma in Legal Practice, University of Edinburgh
  • 1997: M.A. (Hons), Classics, University of St. Andrews
Professional experience

Miranda has extensive experience in the field of construction and engineering law. Her practice includes claims for and against construction professionals. In recent years, Miranda has undertaken a significant amount of public sector work. She has acted for the Lord Advocate in the Rangers cases and on behalf of Transport Scotland in relation to two major road disputes. In early 2022 Miranda was appointed as Counsel to the Scottish Covid Inquiry chaired by Lady Poole, where she worked up until September 2022.

Notable cases

Construction and Engineering

  • Leonardo Hotel Management (UK) Ltd v Galliford Try Building and Building Design Partnership Limited [2024] CSOH 43: Claim for alleged defects arising at the Leonardo Hotel in Aberdeen. Decision followed a debate in relation to prescription.
  • Loretto Housing Association Ltd v Cruden Building and Renewals Ltd and Others, [2019] CSOH 78; 2019 G.W.D. 35-556: Multi-party dispute arising from the refurbishment of an old hospital building in Glasgow, including Outer House decision in relation to prescription.
  • Loretto Housing Association Ltd v Zenith: Professional negligence claim arising from investigations into defects in a refurbished hospital building in Glasgow.
  • SP Power Systems Ltd v Prysmian Cables and Systems Ltd: Action for damages arising from the laying of electricity circuits and cables in Edinburgh.
  • Prospect Healthcare (Hairmyres) Ltd v Keir Build Ltd, 2018 S.C. 569 and [2017] CSOH 112: £10m dispute arising from the development of Hairmyres hospital, including Inner House decision relating to the application of expenses in third party proceedings.
  • Hochtief Solutions AG v Andritz Hydro GmbH: Commercial proceedings arising out of collapse of a tunnel forming part of a hydro-electric scheme.

Public Law

  • A, Petitioner [2024] CSOH 106: Petition for Judicial Review of a decision of the Children’s Hearing relating to the participation rights of the petitioner, the father.
  • Imran Ahmad v The Lord Advocate (No.2) 2024 S.L.T. 747; Imran Ahmad v The Lord Advocate [2024] CSOH 23; David Grier v The Lord Advocate 2021 S.L.T. 371, 2021 S.L.T. 833 and [2022] CSOH 2; David Whitehouse v Chief Constable and the Lord Advocate [2021] CSOH 33; Paul Clark v Chief Constable and the Lord Advocate (2020); Charles Green v Lord Advocate: Cases of malicious prosecution in relation to the arrest and prosecution of individuals in connection with the takeover of Rangers Football club
  • Duff & Phelps v Lord Advocate: Case of misfeasance in public office in relation to the arrest and prosecution of individuals in connection with the takeover or Rangers FC.
  • BDL Shetland Operations Ltd against a Decision of the Scottish Ministers: Statutory appeal in relation to a planning decision of the Scottish Ministers’ Reporter (2020)
  • Transport Scotland: Dispute with Aberdeen Roads Ltd arising out of a DBFO Agreement for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (2019)
  • Transport Scotland: Dispute with Scot Roads Ltd arising out of the expansion of the M8, M73 and M74 (2019)

Commercial Law

  • Transport Scotland: Dispute with Aberdeen Roads Ltd arising out of a DBFO Agreement for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (2019)
  • Transport Scotland: Dispute with Scot Roads Ltd arising out of the expansion of the M8, M73 and M74 (2019)

Inquiry work

  • Scottish Covid Inquiry: Counsel to the Inquiry.
Directories
  • Chambers UK Bar – Recommended as leading junior in Construction (Band 2)
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