Profile description
Experience & Expertise
Angus has been in continual practice at the Bar since 1992. He spent his formative years in a mixed set of Chambers. Angus would say that his passion and strength lies in advocacy and specifically contentious cross examination.
Crime and regulatory offences
Angus is also frequently instructed on behalf of his commercial client base to defend them against criminal and quasi-criminal regulatory offences in the criminal courts, being prosecuted by the CPS, Local Authorities, HMRC and a number of other prosecuting authorities such as the HSE and EA. Examples of the regulatory offences Angus has dealt with include charges brought under the environmental, health and safety, trading standards and licensing regimes.
In addition to his core criminal and regulatory practice, Angus accepts instructions to deal with a number of related peripheral areas including Proceed of Crime Act (POCA) applications and Criminal Injuries Compensation Act (CICA) appeals.
Professional regulation
Angus is highly experienced in this area and undertakes a broad range of regulatory work before a variety of regulatory bodies including, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), General Medical Council (MPGS), The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), General Dental Council (GDC), Bar Standards Board (BSB), Solicitors' Regulatory Authority (SRA), and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). He also undertakes Coroners Inquests, Court of Protection work, VAT and Upper Tax Tribunal work.
Property & private client
Angus represents a number of high net worth individuals in relation to property, land and estates. He has significant experience of claims for possession and mortgage/rent arrears on behalf of both private and public authority landlords. He accepts instructions to advise and represent clients in relation to all manner of injunctive proceedings. Angus acts for both landlords and tenants and also advises on property ownership and ToLATA matters. This ranges from disrepair and unpaid rent to high value property claims, including boundary disputes, easements, riparian rights and claims under the Party Wall Act. Angus is routinely instructed to represent clients in proceedings before the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), including in relation to service charges and rent repayment orders (RROs). In addition to Angus' busy property law practice, he deals with disputes relating to contested probate, wills and inheritance.
Business and commercial
Angus' commercial practice is primarily focused on obtaining, or defending, injunctions on behalf of Companies. He appears frequently in the High Court and is instructed in Directors Disqualifications, Liquidations, Partnership and Shareholder disputes, contractual claims and professional negligence. Bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings (private and commercial) form a core element of Angus' commercial practice and he has experience of both applying for and defending high-value statutory demands. Angus is retained frequently by certain oil companies and by one of the largest retailers in the country. He has experience of commercial proceedings before the Abu Dhabi Commercial Court.
Employment
Angus has represented a number of national organisations including Dunelm Soft Furnishing [12,000 employees] and the British Footwear Association. For Claimant work, he has obtained the statutory maximum awards in cases of Unfair Dismissal. He has achieved success for lay clients in a wide variety of claims before the Employment Tribunal, including:
- Constructive and Unfair Dismissal
- TUPE
- Whistleblowing
- Discrimination
- Redundancy
Angus accepts instructions from lay clients to advise on merits and quantum of proposed claims at an early stage. He readily attends court hearings from preliminary hearings through to contested final hearings and has also appeared in the Employment Appeals Tribunal on numerous occasions.
Coronial law (Inquests)
Angus is frequently instructed to represent the full range of core participants at Coroner’s inquests including bereaved families, non-governmental organisations, health professionals and the police. In addition, he has advised Coroners in relation to publicly sensitive investigations. Angus has experience dealing with cases in which the determination of the cause of death are complex and involve the assessment of factual evidence and the opinions of a number of experts.
Crime and regulatory offences
Angus is also frequently instructed on behalf of his commercial client base to defend them against criminal and quasi-criminal regulatory offences in the criminal courts, being prosecuted by the CPS, Local Authorities, HMRC and a number of other prosecuting authorities such as the HSE and EA. Examples of the regulatory offences Angus has dealt with include charges brought under the environmental, health and safety, trading standards and licensing regimes.
