NEWS

Sheriff:

Summary Sheriff:

Her Majesty the Queen appointed eighteen sheriffs and fourteen summary sheriffs on the recommendation of the First Minister.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, made her recommendations for appointment on the basis of a report by the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.

The Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland is an independent advisory public body with the role of recommending individuals for appointment to judicial offices within the Board’s remit including judge of the Court of Session, sheriff principal, sheriff, and summary sheriff.

The First Minister has statutory responsibility for making recommendations to Her Majesty the Queen and is required by statute to consult the Lord President of the Court of Session before making her recommendation.

The salary of a sheriff is £143,095 per annum.

The salary of a summary sheriff is £114,793 per annum.

Sheriff: 

Barry Divers called to the Bar in 1999 becoming an advocate at the Faculty of Advocates. He was appointed a summary sheriff at Glasgow Sheriff Court in 2017.

Matthew Jackson QC graduated from the University of Edinburgh, obtaining an LLB Honours in 1987 and a Diploma in LPP in 1988. He joined the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in 1992, working as a Depute Procurator Fiscal before becoming an Assistant Solicitor at Sinclairs SSC in 1993. In 1996, he became a Sole Partner and in 2019, was appointed Queens Counsel.

Daniel Kelly studied at the University of Glasgow. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws Honours and Diploma in Legal Practice, following which he was appointed as a Reporter to the Children’s Hearing. In 2000 he joined the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service where he in worked in a variety of roles including appointments as the National Deputy Head of the Scottish Fatalities and Investigations Unit and as an Assistant Procurator Fiscal in the Policy Division. In 2017 he was appointed Summary Sheriff.

Ian Wallace studied at the University of Glasgow and the Free University of Berlin. He graduated with first class honours in Scots Law and German Language. He started his traineeship with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in 2003. He then worked as a Procurator Fiscal Depute in Dumfries, Edinburgh, and Crown Office. In 2014, he qualified as a Solicitor Advocate and was appointed an Advocate Depute. He was appointed as a Summary Sheriff in 2018.

Jane Farquharson QC graduated in law from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1993. After practising in Chambers in London, she returned home to Scotland and was admitted into the Faculty of Advocates in 2002. In 2010 she became an Advocate Depute, latterly the Assistant Principal Crown Counsel. She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2019.

H Eoin McGinty obtained an LLB Law degree from Queen’s University Belfast, before attending at Exeter University, gaining a post graduate Certificate in Legal Practice. He completed his traineeship with Ewings & Co in south London where he worked for 10 years, ultimately heading the Criminal Department. He undertook Intra-UK legal examinations in 2008 and upon relocating to Scotland joined the Procurator Fiscal Service. Having served 2 years in the jury unit at Glasgow, he became the senior depute responsible for the fiscal offices in Oban and Campbeltown. He became a Solicitor Advocate in 2017 and a Summary Sheriff in 2019.

Gillian Craig obtained an LLB Honours Degree from the University of Glasgow before qualifying in 2001; having trained with Dickson Minto WS she joined the reparation team of the Anderson Partnership (now DAC Beachcroft) before joining MacRoberts LLP in 2002. She was made partner in the commercial disputes team in 2012 and elected to the management board in 2019. She has been senior tutor in civil litigation for the Diploma in LPP at the University of Glasgow since 2010 and is the Scottish Chair of the Property Litigation Association.

Murdoch Mactaggart obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree and Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Strathclyde. He began his career at his father’s firm, HW Nimmo &Co in Wishaw. In 1995, Mr Mactaggart joined the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service working in Kilmarnock, Glasgow, Hamilton and the Crown Office. From 2012 to 2021 he was an Advocate Depute/Crown Counsel, prosecuting in the High Court throughout Scotland.

Colin Bissett is a double graduate of Dundee University, graduating with an LLB in 2000 and a Diploma in Legal Practice in 2003. In the period of 2003-2005, he was a Trainee Solicitor with Ian McCarry Solicitors, Glasgow before joining Bell, Russell & Company, Airdrie in late 2005. He spent seven years there before establishing his own practice in 2012. In 2015, he joined DAC Beachcroft Scotland LLP as Head of Regulatory, where he practised in the areas of health and safety and environmental law and general regulatory compliance.

Michael Higgins graduated from Strathclyde University in 1988. He completed his traineeship with Pacitti Jones, Solicitors, Glasgow in 1990. He was then a Solicitor, and latterly a Partner, with T G Bradshaw & Co, Bellshill until 2013 when, as one of the founder members, he joined Lanarkshire Law Practice Limited. He is a former Dean of the Society of Solicitors of Hamilton and Districts and for several years he was a Tutor in the Diploma in Legal Practice at Glasgow University. He became a Summary Sheriff in 2019.

Liam Murphy is a graduate of the University of Dundee. He undertook his traineeship with Cumnock and Doon Valley District Council and East Ayrshire Council. In 1997 he became an assistant with Finlayson Wise, Solicitors before joining Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service in 1998. As a prosecutor, he undertook a number of different roles across Scotland including the Procurator Fiscal for Hamilton and for the North of Scotland. Since June 2016 he has been the Procurator Fiscal for Specialist Casework. He was appointed a Summary Sheriff in 2018.

John Speir is a law graduate from the University of Edinburgh. Prior to his admission to the Bar in 1993 he was a solicitor specialising in commercial litigation. As an Advocate he practised in a number of areas of civil law and appeared at all levels of courts and tribunals including the House of Lords and Supreme Court. Latterly his practice was primarily in family law in which he was a recognised expert. In addition he served as an ad hoc Advocate Depute. He is General Editor of Butterworths Family Law Service.

Adrian Cottam is a graduate of Dundee University. He joined the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in 1996, starting as a Depute in Inverness and worked in various roles in Aberdeen and Edinburgh thereafter, including a period as District Procurator Fiscal for West Lothian at Livingston. He was an Advocate Depute, then Senior Advocate Depute over two periods totalling 6 and a half years. He was appointed as a Summary Sheriff in Lothian & Borders in 2017.

Maryam Labaki holds a BA (Hons) in Business Management. She is also a graduate of Edinburgh University having obtained an accelerated LLB in 2004. After completing her traineeship, Ms Labaki was a solicitor for 2 years specialising in criminal law. Ms Labaki called to the Bar in 2010 where she practiced principally in the area of criminal law until she was appointed as a full time Advocate Depute in 2017. Having served a three year commission with Crown office she returned to the defence Bar in 2020.

Susan Duff was educated at Kirkcaldy High School and the Universities of Dundee and Glasgow. She joined Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service in 1992 as a Procurator Fiscal Depute before becoming a Principal Depute in 1996. She was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 2003 where she specialised in defending in the High Court of Justiciary and Sheriff Court at solemn level, and in representing organisations and individuals in regulatory criminal proceedings, enforcement proceedings and fatal accident inquiries. Until her appointment, she served on the Faculty Council.

Craig Harris studied law at the University of Edinburgh. He joined the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service as a trainee solicitor in 2001. During his career as a prosecutor he undertook a number of specialist roles in Crown Office and was the District Procurator Fiscal for several offices. Mr Harris left his role in COPFS in early 2017 when he was appointed as a Summary Sheriff in North Strathclyde. He took up post as the resident summary sheriff in Alloa at the beginning of 2020.

Paul Brown is a graduate of the University of Glasgow. He trained with Davidson Chalmers in Edinburgh. From 2003 until 2009, he was a solicitor in private practice latterly with JC Hughes in Glasgow. He became an Advocate in 2009 specialising in criminal trials and appeals. In 2015, he was appointed as an Advocate Depute going on to work in the Crown Office National Sex Crimes Unit before being allocated predominantly to the prosecution of Serious and Organised Crime. In 2018, Mr Brown became a Summary Sheriff.

C Euan Duthie QC graduated from the University of St Andrews in 1998 and the University of Edinburgh in 2000.  He practised with Burness Solicitors until 2005.  He was the Lord Reid Scholar, calling to the Bar in 2006.  In 2010, as a Royal Naval Reserve officer, he worked in Kenya on Somali piracy trials.  He was appointed Standing Junior Counsel to the Advocate General in 2012; Fee-paid judge of the First-tier Tribunal in 2014; and Queen’s Counsel in 2019.  He is Scottish Editor of Mithani: Directors Disqualification. 

Summary Sheriff:  

Bernard Ablett graduated with an LLB Honours Degree from Glasgow University. He spent five years in private practice with Gallen & Co., before joining COPFS in 1993. In 2001 and 2002 he was seconded to the Home Office, London as an EU Proceeds of Crime Judicial Expert. Mr Ablett subsequently returned to Crown Office and joined the extradition unit. He gained rights of audience in 2003 and became an Advocate Depute in 2004. Mr Ablett was appointed for a second term as an Advocate Depute in 2016.

Amel Elfallah graduated from the University of Glasgow with an LLB Honours degree in 1997 and obtained her Diploma in Legal Practice in 1998.  She trained and qualified as a solicitor with Thompsons, focusing on personal injury litigation, before joining the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in 2003.  She became a Senior Procurator Fiscal Depute in 2008 and has held this role in various departments within COPFS, undertaking summary, solemn and appellate criminal work.  She has also specialised in equalities and training work, and has been a NITA-accredited Advocacy Trainer since 2008.

Vincent Lunny graduated from the University of Glasgow with an LLB (Hons) degree in 1995.  He obtained a Diploma in Legal Practice in 1996, and a LLM from the University of British Columbia in 1997.  He started as a Trainee Solicitor with Ballantyne and Copland before becoming a Solicitor at Levy and McRae in 1999.  In 2001, he joined the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service as a Senior Depute.  From 2005, he has held the positions of Legal Officer in the United Nations, Compliance Office for the SFA before becoming an Advocate in 2015.  He is currently a working as a Solicitor for Le Pine & Co in New Zealand

Mark McGuire graduated from the University of Dundee with a Bachelor of Laws with honours degree in 2001 and the Diploma in Legal Practice in 2002.  He joined the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service in 2002, with whom he trained as a solicitor and served as a prosecutor across Scotland for nearly twenty years.  Qualifying as a solicitor advocate in 2011, Mr McGuire became the High Court Sitting Manager at Edinburgh the following year.  He was appointed an Advocate Depute in 2014 and has served in that capacity until now.

Simone Sweeney qualified as a solicitor in 2003 and became a solicitor advocate in 2010.  In 2012, Ms Sweeney was appointed as a fee paid judge of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland.

Lesley Johnston graduated from the University of Aberdeen with a LLB (Hons) in 2007; obtained a Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Edinburgh in 2008; and an LLM (By Research) from the University of Glasgow in 2014.  She trained with Anderson Strathern, qualifying as a solicitor in 2010 into the Litigation Department, where she was latterly an Associate.  In 2013 she became Law Clerk to the Lord President, returning to Anderson Strathern in 2015 on completion of her post.  She qualified as a Solicitor Advocate and joined Kennedys in 2016.  Ms Johnston also sits as a Legal Member of the First-tier Tribunal (Housing and Property Chamber), and is a part-time tutor at the University of Edinburgh.

Matthew Auchincloss graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1993 with a Master of Arts Ordinary Degree and a LLB Scots Law (concurrent with MA) Ordinary Degree in 1995.  He obtained a Diploma in Legal Practice in 1996.  He was a partner at Gordon McBain between 2000 and 2003 before joining the Public Defence Solicitors’ Office in 2003 as Deputy Director.  In 2005, Mr Auchincloss was appointed Director of the PDSO.  In the same year he was granted extended rights of audience (criminal).  He has remained at PDSO since then.

Sheena Fraser graduated in law from the University of Glasgow in 1984.  She joined Messrs. Hannay, Fraser and Co as a trainee, and after qualifying as a solicitor, became an associate there.  Ms Fraser remained in private practice until becoming a Reporter to the Children’s Panel in Glasgow.  She joined the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in 1991 and was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 2003.  She was appointed as an Advocate Depute in 2010, becoming a Senior Advocate Depute in 2016.  Since 2015 Ms Fraser has been Depute Head of the National Sexual Crimes Unit in Crown Office.

Laura Mundell (formerly Laura McPherson) graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1997 with a First Class LLB (Hons) degree, obtaining a Diploma in Legal Practice in 1998.  She joined the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service as a Trainee Solicitor in 1998 where she has worked ever since, holding a number of senior posts as a District PF across the West and East of Scotland.  In 2016, Mrs Mundell was appointed Sheriffdom Procurator Fiscal for North Strathclyde.  In 2019 she was appointed Head of the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit and Deputy PF, Specialist Casework.  She has been an Advocacy Trainer for COPFS since 2007.

Louise Gallacher graduated from the University of Strathclyde in 1995 with a LLB (Hons) degree, obtaining a Diploma in Legal Practice in 1996.  She joined Trainer Alston as a Trainee Solicitor, before moving to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in 1998, where she has held a number of senior roles, including Head of Victim and Equalities Policy; Assistant PF, Summary Proceedings for the West of Scotland; Assistant PF High Court Sexual Offences; Assistant PF, National Homicide Team; and latterly as Head of EU Exit Coordination and International Crime.  She has been an Advocacy Trainer for COPFS since 2015.

Joanna McDonald graduated from the University of Dundee in 1993, completing her Diploma in Legal Practice the following year.  In 1994 she worked at McCourts Solicitors Edinburgh starting as a trainee and becoming an Associate of the firm in 2001.  On leaving McCourts in 2004, she worked with the PDSO in Inverness as a Senior Solicitor and became a Solicitor Advocate in 2007.  In 2013 she was appointed as an Advocate Depute and was made a Senior Advocate Depute in 2017.

Diane Turner graduated from the University of Strathclyde in 1990 with a LLB degree.  She obtained a Diploma in Legal Practice in 1992 and a Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Medicine in 1998.  In 1992, she joined McArthur Stanton as a trainee solicitor and as a solicitor before joining the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in 1995 as a Procurator Fiscal Depute.  Between 2002 and 2008, she was a solicitor with DLA Piper before becoming a Director with Burness Paull in 2008.  Ms Turner is currently the Location Head for rradar (Scotland) Limited.

Timothy Niven-Smith graduated in 1991 with a BA in Accounting.  He studied law at the University of Dundee obtaining a bachelor of Laws in 1993 and the Diploma in Legal Practice in 1994.  He was a trainee solicitor then an assistant for four years with criminal law firm Cunningham Paterson before calling to the Bar in 2000.  At the Bar until 2010 he was primarily engaged in criminal defence work.  Between 2010 and 2013 he served as an advocate depute and from 2013 to 2018 he served as a senior advocate depute.

Francis Gill graduated from the University of Strathclyde with an LLB in 1998.  He obtained a Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Edinburgh in 1999 and an LLM in Human Rights Law from the University of Strathclyde in 2006.  He undertook his traineeship with Drummond Miller before joining Anderson Strathern where he was a partner between 2006 and 2011. He started his own firm in 2011 before joining Kennedys Scotland as partner in 2015.  Mr Gill is currently the Director of Corporate & Legal Services at Castle Craig Hospital and is a Lawyer Member of the SLCC.