Gillian A Wade

Westwater Advocates > Advocates > Counsel of six or more years call > Gillian A Wade

Prior to her admission to the Faculty of Advocates, Gillian was a solicitor qualified to practise both north and south of the border. She specialised in media related matters including defamation, contempt of court and copyright. She was a partner of firms in Glasgow and London.

Since becoming an advocate she has kept a keen interest in media law but has also extensive experience in all aspects of Scottish private law including personal injury, wills, trusts and succession, family law, professional negligence and contract disputes. She has been involved in a number of recent reported cases in these areas. She has experience in the Sheriff Court, Court of Session, Inner House, Court of Criminal Appeal and the House of Lords.

In 2004 she was appointed a Legal Convenor to the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland and in 2007 she was appointed an ad hoc Advocate Depute.

In 2008 Gillian assumed a full time post in Crown Office and in 2010 she was appointed a Senior Advocate Depute and Deputy Head of the National Sexual Crimes Unit. In 2011 Gillian was appointed Head of the unit.

Publications

1988-1996 – Associate Editor Tolley’s Journal of Media law and Practice

1995 – Addressed International Bar Association on Defamation on the internet

1997 – Greens Weekly Digest “ The Defamation Act 1996”

Gillian is actively involved in training and education of devils. She regularly lectures law students, qualified lawyers and the police in the law and practice of prosecuting sexual crimes.

Examples of significant cases

J & H Ritchie Ltd v. Lloyd Ltd [2005] ScotCS CSIH_3 (11 January 2005)

Harwood, Re Petition for an order [2003] Scotcs 189 (04 July 2003)

Murray v. Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust [2003] ScotCS 26 (5 February 2003)

Montgomery Litho Ltd v Maxwell [1999] ScotCS 246 (21 October 1999)

McMahon & Ors, Re Petition of [2002] ScotCS 36 (12th February, 2002)

Mccann v. Mcgurran [2002] ScotCS 67 (14th March, 2002)

Free & Ors v. British Steel Plc & Anor [2003] ScotCS 205 (18 July 2003)

Carter v. Carter & Ors [2005] ScotCS CSOH_2 (11 January 2005)

Kennedy v. Aldington & Ors [2005] ScotCS CSOH_58 (06 May 2005)

Jarvie v. Greater Glasgow Primary Health Care Trust [2006] ScotCS CSOH_41

Urquhart v. Fife Primary Care NHS Trust [2007] ScotCS CSOH_2 (09 January 2007)