Scott has had a long standing interest in public law, having graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Public Law in 1991. He worked as a solicitor in private practice before calling in 2000 alongside of which he found the time to tutor public law at Glasgow University and to publish a textbook on administrative law. Since coming to the Bar, Scott has developed a public law practice. He covers a wide range of public law issues with particular emphasis on all aspects of licensing law, public and business/professional regulation including the alleged negligence of public officials and local authorities, general local government law, education, social work and mental health law, human rights and local authority land use including public rights of access to land and common good law, taxation, the administrative law aspects of crofting and agricultural law. He has been instructed in cases in the European Court of Human Rights, Supreme Court, House of Lords, Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, both the Inner and Outer House of the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary at first instance and on appeal, the Sheriff Court and before various tribunals, licensing boards and local authority regulatory committees. His public law and human rights expertise has been recognised in his appointment as panel counsel to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

He has been listed in Legal 500 for his work in licensing law for a number of years and has substantial experience in acting in all aspects of licensing law including liquor, civic government, betting and gaming, transport licensing (including PSV and HGV work),  firearms and miscellaneous licensing matters such as caravan site licensing. Scott has considerable experience of HMO licensing and private landlord registration appeals.

Scott has appeared in the majority of the appeals and judicial reviews decided under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

Scott handles licensing hearings as well as appeals and judicial reviews. He has a strong local authority following but also acts for the trade, including national names. Scott is a regular speaker or chairman at licensing law and training events and has contributed to licensing law literature both north and south of the border. Scott has been a member of the Licensing Law Sub Committee of the Law Society of Scotland from 2007 to date.

Apart from his public law practice Scott has acted in matters arising from the winding up of estates, interpretation of wills and leases.

Scott is also the holder of a number of judicial appointments.

Scott has been instructed in cases in the European Court of Human Rights, Supreme Court, House of Lords, Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, both the Inner and Outer House of the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary at first instance and on appeal, the Sheriff Court and before various tribunals, licensing boards and local authority regulatory committees, public inquiries.

Recent Seminars/Events:

Numerous seminars and conferences organised by CLT, LSA, Law Society of Scotland, Faculty of Advocates on public law topics including judicial review, licensing law, human rights. This year Scott chaired the CLT licensing law conference at the Scots Law series in May 2013. He was the sole speaker at the  CLT Human Rights course in January 2013 and the LSA Mental Health Law update in June 2013.   He was co-speaker at the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow Private Client Conference in June 2013 where he spoke on Care Home Fees and Avoidance Issues.

Personal interests and hobbies:

Military history, painting  model soldiers, cycling, horse-riding, music, cooking, French.

• Equality and Human Rights Commission Approved Counsel (A-Panel), 2011 to date
• Judge of the First Tier Tribunal (Asylum and Immigration Chamber), 2006 to January 2019.
• Legal Member of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland, 2007 to date

• Member Licensing Law Sub Committee of the Law Society of Scotland, 2007 to date.
• Member of Institute of Licensing
• Member of the Bar Planning, Local Government and Environmental Law Group
• Member of UKELA
• Member of the Crofting Law Group
• Member of Association of Lawyers for Animal Welfare
• External Examiner in Public Administration, Human Rights and Media Law, Degree and Diploma in Legal Practice 2011 to date
• Tutor and sometime lecturer in administrative law, University of Glasgow, 1991 to 2005

• Scots Administrative Law: Cases and Materials (W Green/ Sweet & Maxwell, 1999)
• A Practical Guide to Human Rights in Scotland, The Hon. Lord Reed (ed)  (W Green/ Sweet and Maxwell, 2001), (chapter on public law and human rights)
• Scottish Human Rights Service, The Hon. Lord Reed and Prof. A Miller (eds),  (looseleaf, W Green/ Sweet and Maxwell), (chapter on constitutional and administrative law)
• Numerous articles on licensing law, human rights and public law in Scots Law Times, Scottish Licensing Law & Practice, Civil Practice Bulletin,  Scottish Human Rights Journal, Scottish Constitutional and Administrative Law & Practice, Scottish Parliament Law Review
• Online Guide to the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005

• Common Good Property - Some Fundamentals
• Guidance on THE Guidance: SLLP Journal
• Licensing ''Uber'' in Scotland - Nothing to See Here?
• Recovery of Social Care Costs by Local Authorities - Weaving a Tangled Web?
• Care home fees avoidance - the limits of legal privilege?
• Buzzworks v South Ayrshire and Tesco v Glasgow - the Implications for Overprovision
• Care Home Fees - Avoidance and Anti-Avoidance Issues
• Capacity, Consent and the Provision of Care - An Analysis of Recent & Relevant Caselaw
• Licensing - Minimum Pricing and Other Statutory Controls
• Liquor Licensing Caselaw in Scotland - A Review of Emerging Themes & Issues
• Judicial Review - Scope and Grounds
• Common Good and the Law
• Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005
• IHT Meets the ECHR
• Judicial Review of Community Care Decisions - An Overview of the Caselaw
• Article 8 ECHR An Overview Of Recent Decisions (2006)
• Taking A Case To Strasbourg Aspects Of Practice And Procedure In The European Court Of Human Rights
• Licensing, Local Authority Objections And Compatibility With The ECHR
• Should Licensees Be Obliged To Seek Out Better Information From Objectors?
• Video Evidence - A Fuzzy Picture

European Court of Human Rights:

• E and others v United Kingdom (2003) 36 EHRR 31 - local government law-duties of social work -professional negligence-human rights-established breaches of Articles 3 and 13  arising from negligent failure of social workers to protect children from sexual abuse.

Supreme Court:

• Anwar v Advocate General for Scotland [2021] UKSC 44, 2021 SLT 1453 - judicial review of lack of enforcement mechanicism   for Employment Tribunal award.
• Davies and Mowat v Scottish Commission for Regulation of Care [2013] UKSC 12 - constitutional and administrative law-business regulation-effect of transitional provisions on ongoing appeals against decision to close nursery.   

House of Lords:

• Helow v Advocate General for Scotland and Lord Advocate [2008] UKHL 62 (constitutional law-asylum appeal and whether decision of judge in refusing petition for statutory review of refusal of that appeal flawed for alleged bias arising from membership of association objectionable to the appellant). 

 Judicial Committee of the Privy Council:

• R v HM Advocate and Advocate General for Scotland, 2003 SC (PC) 21 (constitutional law and human rights-breach of reasonable time requirement under Article 6 ECHR led to dismissal of prosecution due to Scotland Act 1998 and also defined scope of many key provisions of that Act).  
• Flynn and others v HM Advocate, 2004 SC (PC) 1 (constitutional law-human rights and sentencing-established that existing life prisoners should not be prejudiced by the imposition of mandatory punishment parts). 

Inner House: 

• Bruce v Moray Council [2023] CSIH 11, 2023 SC 197 - successful appeal against grant of planning permission.
• K v Argyll and Bute Council [2022] CSIH 23, 2022 SC 235 - successful defence of appointment of AWI guardian.
• MH v Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland [2019] CSIH 14, 2019 SC 432 - test for anonymity of appellant in the MHTS.
• Smith v North Lanarkshire Licensing Board, 2005 SLT 544  (licensing law- successful appeal against suspension of licence).  
• Cannell v Scottish Ministers, 2003 SLT (planning and human rights). 
•  Koca v. Secretary of State for the Home Department, 2005 SLT 838 (administrative law -tribunal hearing-immigration appeal hearing held to be unfair).  
• Wright v. Scottish Ministers, 2005 SLT 613 (administrative law-extradition and human rights).  
• Torabi v. Secretary of State for the Home Department 2006 SC 567 (administrative law-decision to return woman to Iran to face prosecution and possible execution by stoning for alleged adultery legally flawed).  
• Dumfries and Galloway Council v. Scottish Information Commissioner 2008 SC 327 (local government law-freedom of information-request for exempt information). 
• Donaldson v Renfrewshire Council [2011] CSIH 66 (licensing law-successful appeal against the decision to refuse renewal of a late hours catering licence as an exception to policy). 
• Freddy Williams Ltd v. William Hill (Scotland) and North Ayrshire Licensing Board 2013 SC  62 (licensing law-Gambling Act 2005-competency of appeal against grant of gambling premises licence). 
• Thomas Coyle v. Glasgow City Council [2012] CSIH 33 (licensing law-housing law-successful defence of appeal against refusal of licence for landlord of home in multiple occupation).
• Anderson v. Glasgow City Council, 10 October 2012 (licensing law-Inner House procedural judge decision that time limits for appeal under the 1982 Act mandatory and cannot be waived).
• Pairc Crofters and Pairc Renewables v. Scottish Ministers, 2013 SLT 308 (crofting law-whether right to buy legislation breached human rights of landowner). 
• Lidl (UK) GmbH v. City of Glasgow Licensing Board  [2013] CSIH 25 (licensing law-suspension of premises licence for failure of test purchase).  

 Outer House:

• Helensburgh Community Council v Argyll and Bute Council [2025] CSOH 105 - successful defence of decision to approve preferred bidder for commercial retail site.
• Averbuch and Others v City of Edinburgh Council [2023] CSOH 35, 2023 SLT 665 - defence of judicial review of short term let licensing policy. 
• Kaagobot Ltd and Others v City of Edinburgh  Council  [2023] CSOH, 2023 SLT 243 - defence of judicial review of decision of Board to set nil cap for sexual entertainment venues.
• Aberdeen City Council, petitioners, 30 April 2018 - successful common good petition for Union Street Gardens.
• Sharma v Renfrewshire Council [2023] CSOH 40, 2023 SLT 801 - judicial review of revocation of private landlord registration on basis of fit and proper test.
• Trees for Life v NatureScot [2021] CSOH 108 - successful judicial review of lethal control licence for beavers.
• Catscratch Ltd (No2)  v. City of Glasgow Licensing Board, 2002 SLT 503  (licensing law-human rights-fair hearing and peaceful possession rights under ECHR applied to licensing boards) 
• Spirit Group plc and Mitchells and Butlers Limited v. City of Aberdeen Licensing Board, 2005 SLT 13 (licensing law-attempt to impose minimum pricing on sale of alcohol unlawful); 
• London and Edinburgh Inns Ltd v. North Ayrshire Licensing Board, 2004 SLT 848 ( licensing law-consideration of effect of transfer of licence); 
• Phipps v. Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, 2005 CSOH 78 (administrative law-professional regulation and administrative law-decision to remove professional accreditation of surgeon unreasonable); 
• Beggs v. Scottish Ministers, 2004 SLT 755 (constitutional and administrative law-Crown proceedings-prison transfer- interim declarator against the  Crown competent notwithstanding Crown Proceedings Act 1947);
• Khairandish v. Secretary of State for the Home Department, 2003 SLT 1358 (administrative law-asylum-international treaties and legitimate expectation)
• Buzzworks Leisure Limited v South Ayrshire Board and J.D. Wetherspoon Plc [2011] CSOH 146 (licensing law -successful judicial review challenge to decision to grant provisional premises licence to J.D. Wetherspoon).
• Greene King plc v Stirling Licensing Board and J.D. Wetherspoon Plc, 2 May 2013 ( licensing law-judicial review of decision to grant premises licence-bias) 
• City of Edinburgh Council, Petitioners ( Re Inch Park), 9 April 2011 (local government law-common good-petition to alienate park and playing fields by way of lease)
• Spring Radio Cars Ltd v Glasgow City Council, 2013 SLT 491 (licensing law-taxi licensing-whether policy on not licensing type of car as private hire because of possible confusion with taxi breached statute and EU law)
   

Sheriff Appeal Court: 

• K v Argyll and Bute Council [2021] SAC (Civ) 21 - successful defence of appointment of AWI guardian and confirmation that AWI legislation can authorise deprivation of liberty.

Sheriff Court

• Grantown on Spey and vicinity Community Council v Highland Council, 4 June 2025 - successful opposition to common good consent application.
• Clara House PHD Ltd v Aberdeenshire Licensing Board, 10 April 2025 - successful appeal against review of premises licence.
• Darossa v West Lothian Council, 1 June 2024 - successful defence of appeal against refusal of application for taxi driver licence.
• Bengal Dish Ltd v Aberdeenshire Licensing Board, 2024 SLT (Sh Ct) 7 - successful appeal against review of premises licence and settlement of meaning of “public nuisance” under Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
• Certas Energy UK Ltd v South Lanarkshire Licensing Board,  2023 SLT (Sh Ct) 201, 2023 SCLR 609 - successful appeal overturning liquor overprovision policy and securing premises licence.
• ALDI Stores Ltd v Dundee City Licensing Board , 30 March 2022 - appeal on liquor overprovision policy and role of minimum unit pricing.
• Motor Fuel Group Ltd v North Lanarkshire Licensing Board, 14 October 2021 - successful appeals against refusal of premises licences for garage style premises.
• South Ayrshire Council, Pursuers, 17 May 2021 - successful opposed common good consent application for Victory Park, Girvan.
• B v Scottish Borders Council, 11 December 2018 - successful appeal against revocation of taxi driver licence on fit and proper grounds.
• Aberdeen City Council, Pursuers, 12 December 2023, (successful common good consent application for Wallace Tower, Aberdeen).
• Shafiq v North Lanarkshire Licensing Board, 2009 GWD 16-265 (licensing law- failure of police test purchase - refusal of premises licence application on crime prevention grounds - decision of Board reversed on appeal). 
• O'Rea v Hagan, 2001 SLT (Sh Ct) 30 (local government law-education and human rights-prosecution of parent of alleged truant did not breach ECHR).
• BP Express Shopping Ltd v. West Fife Divisional Licensing Board [2007] 37 SLLP 29 (licensing law- licensing-test purchasing under Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005).
• Alldays Stores Ltd v. Central Fife Licensing Board [2007] 37 SLLP 34 ( licensing law-test purchasing under Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005).
• Anderson v Glasgow City Council, 10 May 2010 (licensing law-private hire licensing-meaning of incorrect material fact).
• Kaya v City of Glasgow Licensing Board, 10 July 2010 (licensing law-hearing for interim recall of suspension of premises licence-successful opposition).
• Scally and McGurk v. Glasgow City Council, 11 May 2011 (licensing law-successful defence of appeals against refusal to renew street trading licences on grounds of location).
• Kenmare v Glasgow City Council, 6 June 2012 (licensing law-successful defence of policy control over snack vans near schools).
• Donald v. City of Edinburgh Council, 6 May 2011 (licensing law successful appeal against refusal of grant of taxi licence on ground that policy limit on number of licences reached by allocation of plates to those on a waiting list - Sheriff holding that the waiting list was illegal);
• Lidl Gmbh v City of Glasgow Licensing Board, 4 November 2011 (licensing law- defence of decision of Board to suspend premises licence following upon single test purchase failure).
• Drinkcafe Ltd v City of Glasgow Licensing Board, 2011 SLT (Sh Ct) 50 (licensing law-successful defence of Board policy on differential closing hours).
• SM v Duffy and Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland, 14 November 2012 (local government law-duties of Mental Health Officer-application to remove Named Person-successful defence of appeal against decision to remove). 
• Tesco Stores Ltd v City of Glasgow Licensing Board, 2013 SLT (Sh Ct) 75 (licensing law-successful defence of overprovision decision on off sales application).
• BM Taverns Ltd v Perth & Kinross Licensing Board, 19 October 2012, (licensing law-successful defence of  appeal against refusal to vary premises licence conditions).
• Black v Dundee City Licensing Board, 6 February 2013, (licensing law-successful appeal against refusal to vary licensed hours).
• The Highland Council v The School Closure Review Panel [2016] SC POR 12 - the first appeal of a decision made by the Panel under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.