Craig is our Senior Litigation Partner and is based in our Glasgow and Edinburgh offices. He is qualified in Scotland, England and Wales. As a solicitor-advocate in both jurisdictions he has rights of audience in all courts, civil and criminal, up to and including the House of Lords and Privy Council. Craig is the firms UK Head of Advocacy. He was the first solicitor-advocate in Scotland to be appointed to the rank of Q.C. (Queens Counsel) and is Convener of the Law Society of Scotland Supreme Courts Training Course (Civil).
A regular contributor on the conference circuit, Craig has addressed audiences on a wide range of topics. He was a contributor to the Stair Memorial Encyclopedia and author of many articles in professional and specialist journals. He was an external examiner at the University of Aberdeen 2001-2005. He sits as an arbitrator.
Expertise
Described by Chambers as "hugely revered " and "adding another dimension" Craig has almost 30 years experience of appearing in high profile and complex litigation in a wide variety of courts, inquiries and tribunals. He is regularly called upon to advise fellow professionals on matters of difficulty.
Craig appears regularly in the Supreme Courts both at first instance and on appeal.
Craig is also a recognised expert in planning law. A "polished performer", he has appeared in many planning inquiries over the years as well as in appeals to the Courts and in judicial review cases in the Court of Session.
Cases include:
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appearing in a ground-breaking litigation on pension scheme equalisation
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conducting a trial for a major oil company in an environmental prosecution raising novel issues
- advising on proposals for two of Europe's largest energy projects
- appearing in litigation over recovery of contaminated land clean-up costs
- advising on major property litigation issues including litigation over lease break options; obtaining a ground-breaking ruling over railway level-crossings;major litigation over a property Joint Venture
- advising on and appearing in litigation over 'grey market' pharmaceuticals
- appearing in complex litigation over responsibilities of Banks
- advising on professional discipline proceedings and appearing in judicial review of regulatory bodies' rulings
- appearing in a major "whistleblowing" tribunal case overturning two significant unfair dismissal rulings in the EAT
- advising clients on objections to private Bills before the Scottish Parliament and responses to Parliamentary Inquiries; appearing before Parliamentary Committees
- appearing in litigation over large and contentious building projects
- advising on and appearing in many cases involving novel issues of insolvency law
- appearing in a multi-million pound claim over alleged fraud, deception and negligence in the winding up of an estate
- advising on major personal injury cases
- advising on and appearing in significant health and safety prosecutions; successfully overturning prohibition notices at tribunal
- acting as Senior Counsel to a statutory disciplinary inquiry into judicial misconduct
Pragmatism
Every client will have a different attitude to risk so it's pointless to give advice in black and white. We work with each client to give advice that reflects the level of risk they are willing to take.