Ayla Iridag, Scott Clair, Sheana Campbell and Louise Cockburn join Ampersand Advocates
Ampersand has welcomed Ayla Iridag, Scott Clair, Sheana Campbell and Louise Cockburn to the stable, following their call to the bar today.
Stable director Euan Mackenzie QC, said: “I am delighted to welcome Ayla, Scott, Sheana and Louise to Ampersand. They have all demonstrated exceptional legal ability and skills before coming to the Bar and will be an asset to the Stable. I wish them all the best in their new careers as Advocates”. Ampersand’s Practice Manager, Alan Moffat added “I am delighted to welcome our newest members of Ampersand. Their addition to our set brings the membership to 60 and the experience which each brings is a fantastic fit for Ampersand’s core areas of practice. They will be a real asset to those looking to instruct counsel. I am sure that joining Ampersand will offer them rewarding opportunities and collaborative support”.
Ms Iridag called to the bar after a career in private practice. As a solicitor she specialised in defender personal injury litigation as well as public and administrative law, health and safety law, regulatory proceedings, firearms licensing, and orders under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. She frequently acted as Edinburgh agent to local authorities and companies across Scotland. During her devilling, she gained additional experience in clinical and professional liability, contractual disputes, fatal accident inquiries, and public inquiries.
She has significant experience of appearing in the Sheriff Appeal Court and in sheriff courts across Scotland, including the All Scotland Personal Injury Court. She has conducted numerous proofs, evidential hearings and debates as well as opposed motions and procedural hearings. Ayla has pre-qualification experience in pursuing personal injury claims and in regulation of social service workers. She was also the student director of the Dundee Student Law Clinic, where she co-ordinated the caseload and appeared in employment tribunals for clients.
Before calling to the bar, as a solicitor and then associate with a well-known litigation firm in Edinburgh, Mr Clair gained substantial experience of appearing in court and regularly conducted proofs, debates and complex opposed motions including for interdict. He also gained experience in fatal accident inquiries and various forms of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration, adjudication and mediation.
He has experience in a wide range of commercial, private and public law litigation and has particular interests in contract law, clinical and professional negligence, media law, private client litigation and judicial review. He also has an interest in legal education: since 2021, he has tutored in commercial law, public law and individual rights, and evidence at the University of Edinburgh.
Prior to calling, Ms Campbell was a litigation solicitor for 13 years. She trained and qualified in a large commercial firm before moving to a boutique firm in 2012, where she subsequently became a director. She obtained extended rights of audience in the civil courts in 2014.
She has significant experience of a broad range of commercial disputes, especially those arising out of insolvency situations. She has been regularly instructed in disputes involving contractual, partnership or company related issues. She also has experience in property disputes.
Ms Cockburn qualified as a solicitor in 2004 and was a partner in a mid-sized firm in Edinburgh and head of planning in Scotland for a global firm before setting up her own practice in 2014.
She specialised in planning and environmental law and regularly appeared at inquiries and hearings, many into large scale renewable energy and infrastructure projects including the proposed redevelopment of the former Royal High School in Edinburgh, the Trump Organisation’s golf course at Menie and the Rosyth international container terminal.
She was also the instructing solicitor in a successful legal challenge to a local plan. She is a member of the Scottish Planning, Local Government and Environmental Law Bar Group. Whilst devilling, she focused on clinical negligence. She was involved in complex and high value cases for pursuers and for defenders, often health boards.