Year of Call: 1992
Year of Silk: 2007

Areas of Practice:
- Commercial
- Employment
- Professional Negligence
- Construction
- Intellectual Property

Calum H S MacNeill QC

 

Calum has been with the Westwater stable since he called to the Bar in 1992. In that time he has developed a practice in a wide range of civil litigation with emphases on commercial law, professional negligence, employment law and construction.

 

For three years (1998 - 2001) he was an Advocate Depute prosecuting serious crime in the High Court, a stage in his career which provided him with an invaluable store of trial experience. For another three years he was Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Ministers, giving him substantial experience in public law matters.

 

He is named as one of the “leaders at the bar” in commercial dispute resolution work by Chambers Directory.  The 2011 edition describes him as, "a very modern and responsive barrister who appreciates the commercial imperatives behind cases and is consequently well-liked by clients." The 2009 edition described him as, "a well-known figure across the commercial spectrum;  he elicits praise from peers and solicitors for his 'fantastic analysis and opinions.'" The 2011 edition of the Legal 500 describes him as "a 'real all-rounder', who is 'very bright, thorough in his research and preparation and good on his feet.'" The 2010 edition described him as "recommended for paper-heavy cases in which he 'drills down to essentials with impressive ease.'" His cross examination of a claimant was recently described by an Employment Tribunal as, "one of consummate skill."

 

He is also a mediator accredited with the London-based Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR).  His ability as a mediator in contentious matters has been employed in cases including a high value solicitors' negligence claim, a tripartite employers-contractors-structural engineers dispute and a boundary dispute between neighbours.  He is a member of the panel of mediators of Core Solutions, Edinburgh and has addressed the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Scottish Branch) on the topic "Mediation in professional negligence claims."

 

His ability in teaching advocacy skills has long been recognised by the Faculty of Advocates. For several years now he has been an instructor on the Foundation Course for Intrants to the Faculty and has been an Assessor for eligibility for entrance to the Faculty.  He has also accepted invitations to lead courses for litigators in firms of solicitors in Scotland and England.

 

He took silk in 2007.

 

Address: 14 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6LB
Mobile: 07801 257878
Email Calum H S MacNeill