Education & Professional Qualifications
LLM, Harvard Law School (2002)
Dip. LP, Edinburgh Law School (1996)
LLB (Hons), Edinburgh Law School (1995)
Professional Career to date
Devil Masters: Michael P. Howlin, QC, Chris Shead,
Louise J. Milligan.
2003: Called to the Bar
1999 - 2002: Solicitor, Dundas & Wilson CS 1998: Legal & Transactions Manager, Hodgson Martin Ltd
1996 - 1998: Trainee Solicitor, McGrigor Donald Various dates: Part-time Tutor (constitutional law, international private law) and Lecturer (international private law, international finance) at Edinburgh Law School.
Professional Experience
Almira regularly advises on insolvency and corporate matters. She has experience in complex evidential hearings in commercial disputes, conducting legal debates either on her own or with Senior Counsel, whether at first instance or at appeal stage.
Courts & Tribunal Experience
Supreme Court; Court of Session; Sheriff Court.
Cases
Kivuwatt Ltd v Dane Associated Limited [2011] CSOH 118 (international)
The action concerns parties involved in contracts with the government of Rwanda relating to gas extraction from Lake Kivu.
Inveresk plc v Tullis Russell Papermakers Ltd 2010 SC (UKSC) 106(commercial contracts)
In this and the connected case between the same parties, Almira acted for Tullis Russell, in successfully claiming at the Supreme Court level that the payment of deferred consideration under an asset purchase agreement was not as yet due and that, in any event, Tullis had right to retain any sums due pending the resolution of their claim for damages against Inveresk. A complex factual hearing on the damages claim concluded after the Supreme Court case and Tullis were awarded significant damages against Inveresk.
Farstad Supply AS v Enviroco Ltd 2010 SC (UKSC) 87 (commercial contracts)
The case concerned a claim for damages and repair costs in relation to damage caused by a fire on board an oil supply vessel. The main issue in the case was whether the terms of a contract between the pursuers and the third party resulted in the defenders being unable to claim relief from the third party.
Martin v Most 2010 SC (UKSC) 40 (public law)
This was the first judgement by the Supreme Court dealing with the challenge to the extent of legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament on grounds other than compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights. The judgment contains important considerations of section 29 of the Scotland Act, which lies at the heart of the division between matters reserved for the UK Parliament and matters within the powers of the devolved legislature.
Scottish Lion Insurance Co Ltd v First Goodrich Corp 2010 SC 349 (company, schemes of arrangement)
Acted for Scottish Lion, a solvent insurance company, in their successful appeal relating to a scheme of arrangement under s. 899 of the Companies Act 2006. The court held that the existence of an adverse situation facing both the company and its creditors might be a factor in favour of granting sanction of the scheme, but was not a precondition thereto, whether the company was solvent or otherwise. The fact that insured with long tail policies were asked to accept current estimated values in lieu of their contingent claims was not so overwhelming a factor against the granting of sanction that Scottish Lion could be denied the opportunity of establishing the positive benefits of the scheme and robustness of its valuation procedures.
Anderson v Dickens 2009 SCLR 609 (insolvency)
Successful challenge of two transactions as 'unfair preferences' on behalf of the liquidator against the company's director and sole shareholder.
Arrow Generics Ltd, Petitioners 2008 SC 518 (intellectual property)
In this challenge to a European patent, acted for Akzo Nobel in successfully overturning on appeal the first instance finding that the patent lacked novelty, while also successfully defending the first instance finding that the patent was not obvious.
Calor Gas Ltd v Express Fuels (Scotland) Ltd 2008 SLT 123 (commercial contracts; competition law)
Acted for Express Fuels, who were successful in defending an action for damages for breach of contracts by showing that the relevant contracts were void due to breach of European competition law.
Directories
Recommended in Chambers & Partners (Commercial Dispute Resolution and Restructing/Insolvency): 'combines 'superb academic understanding with a practical and commercial approach'. She has a strong background in corporate finance.'
Recommended in Legal 500 (Company and insolvency): 'should be seen very much as the rising star in commercial law in Scotland'