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Areas of expertise

Professional information

  • 2020-2021: Devil (Faculty Scholar), Faculty of Advocates
    Devilmasters: Usman Tariq, Jonathan Broome, Tony Lenehan
  • 2018-2020: Associate, Brodies LLP
  • 2014-2018: Solicitor, Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP
  • 2019 – present: Lecturer and tutor on the Intellectual Property in Business and Company and Commercial courses on the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, and lecturer on the Legal Challenges of Information Technology LLM course, University of Edinburgh
  • LLB (Hons), First Class, University of Edinburgh (2011) and Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, University of Edinburgh (2012)
Professional experience

Andrew’s practice focuses on commercial disputes including contractual, intellectual property, and professional negligence disputes. He is frequently involved in high-value cases with complex legal, scientific and technical subject matter. He is particularly adept at handling large scale and document heavy litigations and arbitrations, including international arbitration.

Andrew has particular expertise in intellectual property, technology and media law. He has built up a substantial knowledge of the law in relation to intellectual property rights and has advised many well-known brands on infringement, validity and ownership of intellectual property. He lectures and tutors on the Intellectual Property in Business course at the University of Edinburgh and has written a number of articles on intellectual property law.

Andrew was called to the Bar in 2021 as Faculty Scholar. Prior to joining the Bar, Andrew gained over 6 years’ experience as a commercial litigator. He was qualified as a solicitor in both Scotland and in England & Wales.

Notable cases

Andrew is best known for his work in commercial matters, with a particular interest in intellectual property, technology, and media.

  • Sapphire 16 SARL v Marks and Spencer PLC [2021] CSOH 13. Junior counsel (to the Dean of Faculty) acting for the defender, Marks and Spencer PLC, in an action raised by their landlord alleging breach of a “keep open” clause in the lease. The action concerns the interpretation of the lease provisions, enforceability of the clause and whether the trading position complies with the terms of the lease.
  • Incremental Group Ltd v. HiETA Technologies Ltd [2021] CSOH 13. Instructing solicitor in a claim for payment by an IT developer in connection with the installation of a business management solution (ERP system) for a customer and counterclaim by the customer for breach of contract due to alleged implementation failures. The claim involved evidence from IT experts in relation to the degree of skill and care expected of an IT contractor.
  • RSPB v Scottish Ministers and others [2017] CSIH 31. Instructing solicitor for the second interested party in a judicial review brought by the RSPB arising from the granting of consent to develop large offshore windfarms in the Firth of Forth. The case involved consideration and analysis of complex scientific, technical, and mathematical evidence.
  • Heather Capital Limited (in Liquidation) v Levy & McRae and Burness Paull LLP [2017] CSIH 19.
    Solicitor acting in complex professional negligence claims against firms of solicitors arising from the collapse of an investment company with investments exceeding $400 million. The case raised issues of prescription in connection with breach of trust and sections 6(4) and 11(3) of the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973
Directories
  • World Trademark Review 1000 (2021 & 2020) – recommended for enforcement and litigation – 
  • IP Stars “Rising Star” 2020/2021

Quotes

“[He] has a flair for resolving spats both in and out of court for players in the food and drink, technology, oil and gas and luxury industries.”

“He has an excellent technical knowledge of trade mark law, which he is able to explain well to non-lawyers. Deadline-oriented and quick to grasp issues, he is also very personable.”

Select publications
  • 2019 – present: Member of editorial board for European Trade Mark Reports (Sweet and Maxwell)
  • Communication to the public online: protecting copyright or breaking the Internet? 2020 Journal of Intellectual Property Law and Practice Vol. 15, No.5, 390-398
  • Arbitration section in Enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards in Scotland Practical Law, Thomson Reuters
  • Protecting your brand: The Scottish Option In-House Lawyer, Spring 2019
  • Data breaches and the damages test JLSS Dec 2018
  • Changing Sides JLSS June 2017