Back to Our Advocates

Areas of expertise

Professional information

• 2024: Appointed Junior Counsel to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry • 2023: Called to the bar• 2023: Devil: Lord Hope Scholar. Devilmasters: Scott Manson, Denis Garrity and Gillian Ross• 2023: Member of the Lothian Valuation Appeal Panel• 2012 to 2022: Trainee Solicitor and latterly Senior Associate at MacRoberts LLP• Education:o University of California at Berkeley – BA Political Science (High Hons) (2003)o University of St Andrews – MLitt International Security Studies (2005)o University of Edinburgh – Accelerated LLB (Ord) with Distinction (2011)o University of Edinburgh – Dip LP (2012)• Awards: Lorimer Scholarship in International Law and Munkman Prize in International Law (University of Edinburgh – 2010).

Professional experience

Graham called to the bar in 2023 as a Lord Hope Scholar after 8 years as a solicitor in private practice.

Graham specialises in commercial dispute resolution, including contract, insolvency, company, construction, and property, and professional negligence matters.

Graham also has a keen interest in public law having advised on Article 50 challenges and high-profile NHS decisions regarding the treatment of infants. He has also written numerous articles on public law matters, written guidance notes for judicial reviews in Scotland for LexisNexis, and contributed to the Law Society of Scotland’s response to the Independent Review of Administrative Law.

Prior to calling to the bar, Graham was routinely involved in commercial disputes in the Sheriff Court and the Outer House of the Court of Session, the Lands Tribunal, and in appeals to the Sheriff Appeal Court and Inner House of the Court of Session.

Notable cases

Commercial

• John Glare v Clydesdale Bank Plc [2023] CSOH 67; [2024] CSIH 67 (led by the Dean of Faculty, Roddy Dunlop KC): Successfully acted for the Defenders at first instance and on appeal in an action for reduction of a decree of absolvitor granted in the Defender’s favour.

Company

• Davidson v Pinz Bowling Ltd (also Davidson, Petitioners) [2024] CSOH 42 (led by Susan Ower KC): Successfully acted for the Respondents in a petition in terms of sections 994 and 996 of the Companies Act 2006.

Construction

• ICC Arbitration which formed a part of various disputes between international parties concerning waste to energy projects. The issues involved complex allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation, deliberate breach, defects, delay and prescription.

Directories

Select publications
  • “Judicial review in Scotland—grounds of challenge” – LexisNexis Practice Notes – Dispute Resolution (2021)
  • “Judicial review in Scotland—remedies” – LexisNexis Practice Notes – Dispute Resolution (2021)
  • “Judicial review in Scotland—protective expenses orders” – LexisNexis Practice Notes – Dispute Resolution (2021)
  • “Judicial review in Scotland—raising a claim” – LexisNexis Practice Notes – Dispute Resolution (2021)
  • “Judicial review in Scotland” – LexisNexis Practice Notes – Dispute Resolution (2021)
  • “MPs and Lords fail to stop prorogation of Parliament (Joanna Cherry QC MP and others, Petitioners)” – LexisNexis (5 September 2019)
  • “Prime Minister’s prorogation advice to the Queen deemed unlawful by Court of Session” – LexisNexis (11 September 2019)
  • “Court of Session challenge brought to force extension of Article 50” – LexisNexis (13 September 2019)
  • “Supreme Court rules prorogation of Parliament unlawful (R (on the application of Miller) v The PM and Joanna Cherry QC MP & others v The AG for Scotland)” – LexisNexis (25 September 2019)
  • “Justifying Alcohol Minimum Unit Pricing” – Strathclyde Law Review – Volume 3, Issue I – pp 102 to 117 – September 2017