Prior to calling at the bar, Julian was a solicitor in private practice for 18 years specialising in family and child law cases. He was an accredited specialist in child law from 2003. He has extensive knowledge of the civil and children’s legal aid regulations.

He regularly conducted multi day proofs addressing complex issues of fact such as paediatric medical evidence, sexual and physical abuse allegations and systematic neglect of children. He has considerable experience of acting for birth families in cases involving the removal of children into care and has a specialist interest in cases involving the impact of article 8 of the ECHR in compulsory care, adoption and permanence order proceedings.

He also has many years of experience in cases concerning financial provision on divorce, cohabitant’s claims, applications to relocate abroad with children and, recently, forced marriage.

Donna is an established and experienced advocate and has a varied practice encompassing both criminal and civil cases.  She has a busy criminal practice and deals with all aspects of defence and appeal work.  Donna regularly conducts trials on her own in addition to junioring to senior in the most serious cases found in the High Court.   Her range of experience includes serious and organised crime, fraud, sex offences and regulatory crime.   She has been instructed in high profile and complex cases throughout her legal career spanning over 20 years.  This has gained her experience in both prosecution and defence work during that period.

Donna is adept at dealing with vulnerable witnesses and all evidential points that arise including S275 applications and commission hearings.

Donna also enjoys child law work and has conducted many adoption, permanence and referral proofs during her 6 years at the Bar.  Donna has significant experience in complex medical evidence including neuroradiology, paediatrics and radiology.

 

Patricia has practised exclusively in criminal defence work for over 20 years. She worked in a number of leading criminal defence firms before calling to the Bar in 2021.

She has extensive experience in all areas of criminal law. In particular, she was routinely instructed in the preparation and conduct of solemn trials, including firearms, sexual offences and crimes of violence.

Patricia has a particular interest in sexual offences and the application of expert medical and forensic evidence to such allegations.

Patricia holds a Master of Law degree in Criminal Justice and Penal Reform from the University of Strathclyde.

Joe Barr is a highly experienced criminal defence counsel who is regularly instructed in all kinds of High Court and Sheriff and Jury cases. He is no stranger to the Appeal Court and has appeared twice before the Privy Council. Prior to being called to the bar in 1999 he was a sole practitioner in a criminal law firm and an experienced Procurator Fiscal Depute before that. Joe believes that most cases are won and lost before any evidence is led and that excellent pre-trial preparation is the key to successful advocacy. Apart from his legal expertise, Joe brings a wealth of other life skills, interests and experiences to his practice which he believes allows him to develop excellent professional relationships and rapport with professional colleagues, clients, and decision makers alike.

I have a mixed practice of civil and criminal work and appear regularly in both the Court of Session and High Court of Justiciary. Perhaps one of an increasingly rare breed to have appeared in both civil and criminal jury trials.

On the civil side I have extensive experience of:

  • reparation, be it personal injury (such as RTA, workplace accidents, death cases to fibromyalgia) or medical negligence (faulty breast reconstruction; extravasation injury from chemotherapy; spinal surgery);
  • property (such as rights to light and “prospect”; boundary and access disputes);
  • trusts and executry work (interpretation of wills and partnership succession).

I have also done the occasion family dispute and given a wide range of advice on matters as diverse as choosing the sex of an embryo through to identity theft.

On the criminal side, I have appeared as leading junior over a number of years, both prosecuting as an advocate depute but now almost exclusively defending. Particular areas of expertise are in sexual offences; waste management, proceeds of crime. I also have a long history of interest in Contempt of Court both of journalists and participants and their treatment by the court: (e.g. Rattray Petitioner – Full Bench decision but extempore judgement of the Appeal Court; also Scottish Daily Record & another v PF(Edin) 2009 JC 175).

Occasional forays into Tribunal work have been to defend Care Home employees at risk of being struck off; and acting for both sides in various Employment Tribunals.

Prior to calling to the Bar in 2002, Frances practised as a commercial solicitor in private practice for ten years. As an advocate she has extensive experience of conducting trials and hearings in the High Court of Justiciary in all areas of criminal law

Frances is also regularly instructed on behalf of parents in Children’s Referral Proofs before the Sheriff in cases involving expert medical evidence in respect of brain injuries, retinal haemorrhages and fractures.

In addition to her busy criminal practice, Frances is also regularly instructed to appear at Fatal Accident Inquiries and to represent clients at professional disciplinary proceedings, including before the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

Prior to calling to the Bar, Wendy worked as a Senior Procurator Fiscal Depute with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. She dealt with a wide range of criminal cases – including the presentation of many solemn and summary cases as well as the procedural and policy aspects of the criminal justice system.

Wendy has a particular interest in forensic and physical evidence, partly following a large amount of time spent working on the recommendations from the Fingerprint Enquiry. She also has an interest in Health and Safety cases following time on secondment to the ICL Plastics (Stockline) investigation. Wendy has worked in Glasgow, Airdrie and Edinburgh gaining experience in a wide range of criminal offences.

Euan has gained a number of years of experience in both prosecution and defence work since he specialised in criminal law in 2000. As a Procurator Fiscal Depute in Glasgow (2000-06) he was involved in preparing a number of high profile High Court cases and personally conducted many cases on indictment in Glasgow Sheriff Court in relation to a full range of offences.

Since calling at the Bar in 2006 he has developed a busy and varied practice, appearing throughout the country, both as supporting junior counsel and junior counsel in his own right, in relation to a wide range of common law and statutory offences, in both the Sheriff and the High Court.

As the co-founder/part-owner and criminal law editor of Casecheck Limited, the UK’s leading free online case law resource, he has a keen interest in developing technology within the law.

Greg was a solicitor in private practice for 10 years before calling to the Bar. He specialised is criminal law practicing in criminal defence exclusively. He has worked at all levels of criminal law but was involved in a large number of High Court cases including murder, rape and drug trafficking as well as conducting a high number of Sheriff and Jury trials. He was also involved in defending a number of health and safety prosecutions as a solicitor as well as dealing with a large volume of road traffic matters and proceeds of crimes cases.