Education & Professional Qualifications
BA (MA) Jurisprudence 1st class Hons, M.St, Oxford University (1991, 1993)
Law Society Final Examinations 1st class hons, Guildford College
of Law
Intra-UK Transfer Test, Law Society of Scotland
Faculty of Advocates: Examinations in Scots law
Accredited Mediator (Dublin) (2006)
Advocate (July 1998)
Solicitor in Scotland (April 1997)
Solicitor in England and Wales (May 1996)
Professional Career to date
Devil Masters: Susan O'Brien QC, Paul McBride QC, Robert Howie QC, Morag Wise QC and Gillian Gibson.
Year of call: 1998
1997 - 2002: Tutor in Evidence, University of Edinburgh
1996 - 1997: Bar trainee and solicitor, Brodies, Edinburgh
1996: Research Assistant, University of Dundee
1995 - 1996: Secondment to Sedgwick Plc (now Marsh McLennan)
1994 - 1996: Trainee solicitor, Linklaters, London
Professional Experience
In recent years Anna has practised principally in public law. Her particular areas of interest are judicial review, human rights and EU law. She has acted for clients including local authorities, NHS Trusts, the Lord Advocate, the Scottish Ministers and the Keeper of the Registers. Anna has proved a flexible advocate, having worked in many fields of civil law in addition to public law. Her practice is a mixture of advisory work and court appearances. Anna has an interest in exploring avenues of dispute resolution other than the court process where appropriate, having trained as a mediator.
Courts & Tribunal Experience
European Court of Human Rights; Supreme Court; Court of Session (Inner and Outer House); Criminal Appeal Court; High Court of Justiciary; Sheriff Court; Scottish Land Court; Tribunals (Lands, Mental Health, Employment, CICA, CSA).
Appointments & Memberships
2010 (to date): First Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Government
2009-2010: Second Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Government
2009 (to date): Member of the Steering Group of the Scottish Public Law Group
2007 (to date): Clerk to the Clergy Disciplinary Tribunal
2006: Accredited Mediator (Dublin)
2006 (to date): Curator of the Advocates Library
2004 (to date): Member of Faculty of Advocates Disciplinary Rules: Investigating Committee
2002 (to date): Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Executive
1996 - 2004: Non-Executive Director, Suffolk Life Group Plc
2000 (advocate) and 2005 to date (sheriff): Mock and Mini Trials for schools
Within Axiom Advocates, co-ordinator of Third Thursday Series and Practice Groups
Cases
Scottish Ministers v Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland [2011] CSIH 76 (public law/mental health)
Levenseat v Scottish Ministers [2011] CSOH (procurement/interim orders)
G v Scottish Ministers [2011] CSIH 55 (public law/mental health)
Cunningham v East Lothian Council [2011] CSOH 113 (public law/JR and residential care home charges)
Eba v Advocate General for Scotland [2011] UKSC 29 (judicial review/tribunals)
LAM v A Scottish Local Authority [2011] CSOH 113 (human rights/recovery of documents)
Sinclair Collis v Scottish Ministers [2011] CSOH 80 (public law/human rights/EU law/legislative competence)
Hull v Campbell [2011] CSOH 24 (commercial law/human rights)
Imperial Tobacco v Scottish Ministers [2010] CSOH 134 (judicial review and legislative competence)
Lyons v SCRA 2010 ShCt (Glasgow, Sheriff Ross) (devolution issue/human rights)
Harazin v Lord Advocate 2010 HCJAC 65 (extradition/EU)
McGinty v Scottish Ministers [2010] CSOH 5 (judicial review/planning/EU/protective expenses orders)
DW v Scottish Ministers [2009] CSOH 151 (judicial review/human rights)
Scottish Ministers v Mental Health Tribunal (JK) 2009 SLT 273 (public law/mental health)
Scottish Ministers v Mental Health Tribunal (MM) [2009] CSIH 66 (public law/mental health)
Scottish Ministers v Doig and Cameron [2009] CSIH 34 (civil recovery/human rights)
SK v Paterson [2009] CSIH 76 (devolution issue/human rights)
Lerwick Port Authority v Scottish Ministers 2008 SLT 74 (planning)
Aberdeenshire Council v Scottish Ministers [2008] CSIH 28 (planning)
Fargie v Scottish Ministers [2008] CSOH 117 (judicial review/human rights)
Campbell Petitioner 2008 SLT 231 (judicial review/human rights)
Barkmann v Innova 2008 (EU/jurisdiction)
Stephen v Scottish Ministers SLC/32/07 (agricultural subsidies/EU)
Holmehill v Scottish Ministers 2006 SLT (Sh Ct) 79 (community right to buy)
Baker v Scottish Ministers [2006] CSOH 31 (judicial review/prisons)
Gray v Scottish Ministers 2006 2 SCLR 190 (agricultural subsidies/EU)
F & R v UK ECtHR Application 35748/05 (European Court of Human Rights/transsexual rights)
Anniston Farms v Scottish Ministers SLC/29/05 (agricultural subsidies/EU)
ABNA v Scottish Ministers 2004 SLT 176 (EU/validity of Scottish legislation)
King v Fife Council [2004] Rep LR 33 (reparation)
C, Petr [2002] Fam LR 42 (human rights/mother's rights)
Cross v HIE 2001 SLT 1060 (stress at work/EU)
GJ Van der Bent BV v Young & MacMillan Plc 2000 SLT (Sh Ct) 74 (commercial/contract)
Graham v Ubiquitous Chip [1999] Rep LR (Quantum) 75 (civil jury trial)
Publications
Court of Session Practice, ed. MacFadyen (contributor of 15 chapters).
Articles in SLT, SLPQ, Int ILR and IJPICL, the Scotsman and JLSS, most recently 2008 SLT (News) 51 (Remedies and Expenses in Judicial Review), 2008 SLT (News) 155 (Mediation Case Law), Scotsman 8 December 2008, 2008 JLSS Vol 53 No 12 58 and 2009 SLT (News) 23 (References to the European Court of Justice), 2009 SLT (News) 215 (EU Law Based Claims Against Public Authorities), 2011 SLT (News) 127 (Recent Legislative Competence Challenges).
Research assistant for 2nd edition of McBryde on Contract.
Directories
Recommended in Legal 500 for public and administrative law. “There isn’t a junior at the Scots Bar with a more impressive public law practice”.
Leader at the Bar and Band 1 in public and administrative law in Chambers 2012. "She is applauded for her "diligence in finding every possible argument to win a case" and grasp of EU law".
Additional Information
Speaker at conferences for Central Legal Training, Legal Services Agency, Government Legal Service, Scottish Government Legal Directorate, Axiom Advocates Third Thursday series, and Scottish Public Law Group.