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Eleven new King's Counsel and three new Honorary King’s Counsel appointed
Sep 4, 2025
The new King’s Counsel appointees are:
Gordon Balfour, Advocate;
Leigh Lawrie, Advocate;
Ceit-Anna MacLeod, Advocate;
Drew McKenzie, Advocate;
David McLean, Advocate;
Rachel Shewan, Advocate;
Emma Toner, Advocate;
David Turner, Advocate;
Yvonne Waugh, Advocate;
David Dickson, Solicitor Advocate; and
Gordon Martin, Solicitor Advocate.
The new Honorary King’s Counsel appointees are: Dr Alastair Brown; Professor Lorne Crerar; and Judge Norman McFadyen.
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 Pentland and approval from the First Minister. Mr Connal provided the First Minster with a report on his findings, which is available here: Independent Observer Report - King's Counsel 2025