NEWS

Twenty-three new King’s Counsel have been appointed by His Majesty The King on the recommendation of First Minister John Swinney.

The new King’s Counsel appointees are: Desmond Cheyne, Advocate; Marie Clark, Advocate; Colin Edward, Advocate; Edith Forrest, Advocate; William Frain-Bell, Advocate; Scott McAlpine, Advocate; Ross McClelland, Advocate; James  McConnell, Advocate; David Moggach, Advocate; Craig Murray, Advocate; David Nicolson, Advocate; Lili Prais, Advocate; Gillian Ross, Advocate; Usman Tariq, Advocate; Laura Thomson, Advocate; Angela Gray, Solicitor Advocate; Kathleen Harper, Solicitor Advocate; and Iain Paterson, Solicitor Advocate.

The new Honorary King’s Counsel appointees are: Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar; Professor James Chalmers; Professor Alan Paterson; Professor Stephen Tierney; and Judge Susan Walker.

Background

The rank of King’s Counsel is generally reserved for those who have distinguished themselves in practice in the Supreme Courts. Advocates and Solicitors with Rights of Audience in the Supreme Courts are eligible to apply to the Lord Justice General, Scotland’s senior judge. Before making nominations to the First Minister, the Lord Justice General consults other judges, the Lord Advocate, the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates and the President of the Law Society of Scotland.

Honorary King’s Counsel is an honorary award unique to the legal profession. It recognises those in the profession who have made a major contribution to the law of Scotland or the legal profession and how it is advanced, outwith practice as an advocate or solicitor advocate.

The independent observer of the process, Keith Connal, was appointed with the agreement of the Lord Justice General, Lord Carloway and approval from the First Minister. Mr Connal provided the First Minster with a separate report on his findings, which is available here King's Counsel Independent Observer's Report 2024.