e: clerks@terrafirmachambers.com
t: +44 (0)131 260 5830

'Scotland's leading planning silk' Chambers UK, 2026
'Go-to for planning and public law' Chambers UK, 2026
'Exceptional levels of advocacy and a master tactician' Chambers UK, 2026
James Findlay KC

James Findlay KC

Year of Call - 2008
Year of Silk - 2017
Devil Master - Mark S.H. Lindsay KC

James specialises in local government, planning, environment, administrative and licensing law. A highly regarded 'double silk', he has a busy practice both in the Court of Session and at Inquiry whilst maintaining his English practice. He is ranked under Administrative & Public Law, Licensing, Planning & Environment and Real Estate Litigation in the latest edition of Chambers & Partners UK for his work at the Scottish Bar: -

“James is top of the field and my go-to for planning and public law. He can cut through to the heart of the matter.”
“James always has the ear of the court and is a very assured advocate.”
“James is Scotland's leading planning silk. He has exceptional levels of advocacy and is a master tactician.”
“It's a delight to work with James Findlay KC. He is user-friendly and cooperative.”
“James Findlay is very experienced and a safe pair of hands who is extremely skilled on his feet in court.”
“James is the preeminent environmental lawyer in Scotland; he has an incredible depth of knowledge, and his advocacy skills are outstanding.”
“James Findlay is tactically and strategically very astute”
Chambers UK, 2026

He is also ranked under Local Government and Planning for his work at the English Bar: “ James has a superb legal brain combined with an easy-going manner, which makes for incredibly effective advocacy.” Chambers UK, 2026

James is also recognised in the latest edition of the Legal 500 for his work at the Bars of Scotland and England & Wales: “James is hugely responsive and supportive. Clients love him - he's practical and commercial, and they know he is fighting for them. He's very persuasive on his feet.” Legal 500, 2026

James is Chair of the Scottish Planning, Local Government and Environmental Bar Group (SPLGEBG) and regularly lectures and writes articles on a wide variety of planning and environmental matters.

Biography

Planning and environment

James acts for a large number of both private and public clients at inquiry and in the courts at all levels. With respect to Scottish cases he has appeared in the Supreme Court for Dundee City Council in Tesco v Dundee. He acted for Mrs Uprichard in March 2013 on her ultimately unsuccessful appeal against the decision of the Inner House dismissing her challenge to the Fife Structure Plan, but for which she obtained a Protective Expenses Order. He appeared in Trump v Scottish Ministers for Trump and most recently he obtained permission to appeal to the Supreme Court in the Elsick challenge but did not subsequently appear.


Private client

  • Retail: He has advised on or acted in several "supermarket battles" for landowners and/or developers. He acted for British Land in an Inquiry concerning Fort Kinnaird and obtained permission for retail development adjacent to Inshes roundabout in Inverness.  He has recently advised Tesco on a number of possible Judicial Review challenges to permissions for rival operators.
  • Housing: He has represented a number of housing developers, including Gladman, Taylor Wimpey, Mactaggart and Mickel and Graham's Dairy in various legal challenges. He has also acted for and advised many other private clients including Hallam Land and the Lamberkin Trust in respect of major housing developments in central Scotland.  He successfully challenged the amendment to SPP, which sought to remove the tilted balance, and is currently advising a wide variety of parties as to the implications of NPF4.
  • Windfarms & quarries: He acted for Cemex at their inquiries into their promotion of an expansion of their quarry close to the New Lanark World Heritage Site and is acting for an operator in Perthshire seeking to appeal a refusal of an application to expand its operation. He has acted for a number of applicants for windfarms, including Fauch Hill and Ecotricity, and for third parties in seeking to resist new windfarms.
  • CPO: He is currently advising a number of clients on a wide variety of CPO matters, including Electricity Act claims. He acted for Auquhirie Land Company in the Inner House, successfully resisting an appeal against a decision in their favour by the Lands Tribunal. More recently he has had involvement in a number of claims before the Lands Tribunal arising out of the AWPR and  represented Countesswells in its claim under the Electricity Act.
  • Environment: He acted for the RSPB in their challenges concerning offshore windfarms, and he acted for Mr Gibson in his appeal in the Inner House against a refusal for a PEO. He is currently acting and advising in respect of several other environmental judicial reviews.
  • Other: He acted for Aberdeen Football Club in the Judicial Review of the planning permission for a new stadium and acted for HIE in both the Land Court and Outer House in support of its proposal for a Spaceport in Caithness. He has advised a number of private clients as to roads matters, including extent of roads and rights of access.


Local planning authorities

  • Wind farms: He has appeared for Highland Council at many inquiries over a number of years and continues to do so. He also acted for PKC and recently for Aberdeenshire Council. He has advised a number of other authorities on wind and mining issues, including East Ayrshire. He has also appeared for NatureScot (formerly SNH) both with Highland Council and South Lanarkshire and Dumfriess & Galloway Councils and most recently Aberdeenshire Council.
  • Quarries and waste: He appeared for Highland Council in respect of a proposed quarry near Muir of Ord and at the WTE application at Invergordon and has appeared at a further WTE inquiry for PKC (appeal dismissed).
  • Historic Buildings: He is acting for East Ayrshire Council in the Loudoun inquiry, which concerned the extent of enabling development to stabilise a ruined castle. and acted for Argyle and Bute Council in their defence against a Judicial Review based on impact on listed buildings.


General local government

He has considerable general local government expertise in nearly all areas of such work.

He has successfully appeared in the Outer House for Clackmannanshire Council resisting a claim for damages by Sidey Limited following a flawed procurement exercise. He appeared as Junior Counsel with James Mure Q.C. in the Inner House and Supreme Court in an appeal on the interpretation of an option in a lease - Multilink v North Lanarkshire Council - successfully on both occasions. He appeared with Roy Martin Q.C in Portobello Park Residents appeal to the Inner House concerning the Council's attempt to appropriate inalienable common good land and more recently in East Renfrewshire Petitioner. He appeared for Angus Council initially resisting a judicial review as to their handling of the disposal of a sports hall, a case also involving common good land, which was overturned on appeal. He recently advised North Lanarkshire Council in respect of various drainage matters and the responsibility of SEPA for public drains. In terms of advice work, James has advised on numerous other planning and other matters, including the impact of a SPA on peat extraction permissions, vires and Councillor conduct.


Licensing

Amongst various licensing matters he appeared throughout for BP, led by Sir Menzies Campbell Q.C., in its appeals relating to the sale of alcohol in shops on garage forecourts. He also subsequently acted for BP against Falkirk and recently succeeded in a challenge against Stirling's licensing board. He represented Corinthian Clubs in the review of their casino premises licence and acted for MAB bookmakers in their appeal against a refusal of a betting office in Orkney. He has acted in a number of licensing challenges - from disputes under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to road traffic regulation orders and to vehicle licensing and to the proposed licensing legislation for AirBnB.


Commercial

He acted for Disclosure Scotland in a £5M plus breach of contract claim which settled during proof and acted for North Lanarkshire Council on a similar high value contract claim, which was settled by mediation. He has advised in a contentious cross border dispute between three professional bodies and appeared at arbitration and on appeal in the Court of Session on a valuation dispute of property acquired under an option. He acted in a partnership dispute involving Shore Porters, which ultimately settled following mediation.

Appointments

  • Chairman, Terra Firma Chambers, 2023 to date
  • Vice-Chairman, Terra-Firma Chambers, 2017 to 2023
  • Standing Junior to the Scottish Government, 2013 to 2017
  • Joint Head of Cornerstone Chambers, July 2025

Memberships

  • Chairman of the Scottish Planning, Local Government and Environmental Bar Group (SPLGEBG), 2014 to date

Articles & Commentary

Recent Cases

House of Lords/Supreme Court cases:


Scottish Cases:


English & Welsh cases:

See Cornerstone Barristers website


Contact Info

Address: Parliament House, Edinburgh, EH1 1RF
Telephone: 0131 260 5830

Recent Articles & Commentary

  • Common Good Law - The Basics

    The is the text of a talk delivered at the recent Common Good Conference hosted by Terra Firma Chambers in conjunctio...

Follow Us

© Copyright Terra Firma Chambers. All Rights Reserved. Site by Koder.
Home Clerks Links Joining Us