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Ailsa Wilson QC

Queen's Counsel : 2007 Year Of Call : 1993 Areas of practice Administrative Law (Including Judicial Review) Commercial Law Compulsory Purchase Law Constitutional Law Fatal Accident Inquiry Human Rights Law Local Government Law Planning And Environmental Law Property Law And Conveyancing Transport And Works Law

Summary

Ailsa Wilson QC has practised widely in various areas of the law since calling to the Bar in 1993, as reflected by the range of areas of interest. More recently, the focus of her practice has been on land-related disputes that include planning, environmental and other statutory regimes. The cases in which she has been involved, either representing parties at hearings or providing advice, cover not only statutory consents procedures but also compulsory purchase and compensation claims. She has considerable experience with infrastructure proposals for both promoters and objectors. Her experience also includes the more detailed disputes that arise from the regulatory environmental protection regime, such as appeals against decisions by SEPA.

Ailsa Wilson's practice involves providing advice in relation to a broad range of issues that can arise from land ownership, such as property rights and contractual obligations associated with development of land. It also covers interference with property rights and recently she acted for the access authority in a test case under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 in respect of Kinfauns Estate owned by Ann Gloag.

These areas of practice often give rise to public inquiries, appeals to either the Sheriff Court or Court of Session, and applications for judicial review. Separately as a Standing Junior to the Advocate General, Ailsa Wilson has gained considerable experience in administrative and public law areas such education, immigration, human rights and competition law.

Experience

Ailsa Wilson has appeared in the Court of Session (both in the Outer and Inner House), the Sheriff Court, the Lands Tribunal, and various other tribunals such as the Traffic Commissioners.

Selected Cases

• Formal Investigation of FV Trident - Counsel to the Re-ordered Formal Investigation for the Advocate General and Department for Transport into the sinking of the Fishing Vessel Trident under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995
• Thomas Sneddon v Renfrewshire Council [2009] CSIH 40 - Acted for Mr Sneddon in test case taxi licensing appeal
• Public Inquiry in respect of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route for Transport Scotland
• The Beauly-Denny 400kV Overhead Line Inquiry, February 2007 to December 2007.
• Ann Gloag v Perth & Kinross Council and Anthr.
• Simson v Aberdeenshire Council and West Coast Energy [2006] CSOH 49 
• Standard Life & Land Securities v. Scottish Ministers and another [2005] CSIH 33
• Carlton Clubs v. Highland Council - acting for Carlton Clubs in both the planning appeal and related judicial review of a separate grant of planning permission
• Public Inquiry for Midlothian and West Lothian Councils in respect of objections to the Congestion Charging Scheme - promoted by City of Edinburgh Council.
• Public Inquiry for the harbour authority in respect of a Harbour Order for a new harbour on Raasay.
• Public Inquiry for Ayr Racecourse - to secure consent for major commercial and residential development associated with the re-development of Ayr Racecourse.

Professional appointments

• Standing Junior Counsel to the Department of Education and Employment: 1998 to 2007

Other information

• Treasurer of the Scottish Planning Local Government Environmental Bar Group

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