Alasdair Sutherland principally practices in the areas of planning and environment, commercial property and leasing, commercial contract and professional negligence. He represent clients in all types of courts and forums, including Public Inquiries and ADR.
Ranked as a leading junior for Planning and Environment in the latest edition of Chambers UK (2019), Alasdair \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'often handles planning cases concerning renewable energy projects, compulsory purchase and land planning. He is frequently instructed by local authorities to defend controversial planning decisions and local development plans.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'
"A very clear thinker. He is approachable and excellent on his feet." (Chambers UK, 2019)
"Responsive, easy to work with and good with clients." (Chambers UK, 2019)
Previous editions have described him as "Diligent, helpful and knowledgeable" and "Extremely bright and conscientious." (Chambers UK, 2018) "Hugely impressive; he is thorough, quick, responsive and very approachable. He is a pleasure to work with." "He has a great breadth of knowledge and a very thorough approach." (Chambers UK, 2017)
He is also ranked Tier 1 for Property, Construction and Agriculture in the latest edition of The Legal 500 (2019): \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'Very bright and analytical; clients like him\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'. The previous edition described him as \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'a very safe pair of hands, who is excellent with clients.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'
Biography
Alasdair principally practices in the areas of planning and environment, commercial property and leasing, commercial contract, and professional negligence, and represent clients in all types of courts and forums, including ADR.
Alasdair has considerable experience appearing in actions, statutory appeals and judicial reviews at all levels, including the Sheriff Court, the Inner and Outer House of the Court of Session, the Lands Tribunal, and the Supreme Court. Alasdair regularly appears in the Commercial Court of the Court of Session, principally in relation to property and contractual disputes.
His broad range of experience includes dealing with commercial developments, wind farms, ports and harbours, challenges to Local Development Plans, claims for compensation on compulsory purchase, and devolution issues.
In addition to more traditional litigation, Alasdair has also appeared in hearings and public local inquiries before Reporters appointed by the Scottish Ministers.
Alasdair regularly speaks at conferences and training events on commercial, property and planning law.
Appointments
- Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Government
- Treasurer to the Scottish Planning, Local Government and Environmental Bar Group
- Treasurer, Terra Firma Chambers
- Clerk to the Faculty of Advocates’ Cost and Funding Committee
Memberships
- Member of Scottish Arbitration Centre
Articles & Commentary
Recent Cases
Planning and Environment
- Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Planning Authority v Elsick Development Co Ltd [2017] UKSC 66
Instructed by the Strategic Development Planning Authority in an appeal to the Supreme Court against a decision of the Inner House quashing the Authority's Strategic Transport Fund Supplementary Guidance. - Wildland Ltd v Scottish Ministers [2017] CSOH 113
Instructed by the petitioner in a challenge to the Scottish Ministers decision to grant consent for a windfarm on Wild Land. - Fife Council v Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Plc [2017] CSOH 28 and [2017] CSOH 115
- North Lanarkshire Council v Scottish Ministers [2016] CSIH 69
- Christine Hunt and others v Moray Council
Instructed by Moray Council in opposing a petition for the judicial review of a decision to grant planning permission for beach huts at Findhorn. - Gibson v Scottish Ministers [2015] CSOH 41 and [2016] CSIH 10 and [2016] CSIH 31
Instructed for the interested party in opposing a motion for a protective expenses order in a wind farm judicial review. - Stephen Carter v Scottish Ministers
Instructed for the interested party in an appeal against the decision of a reporter granting planning permission for student accommodation in Edinburgh city centre. - John Burke and Another v Renfrewshire Council
Instructed for the appellants in an appeal against a decision of the Council's Local Review Body refusing planning permission; grounds of appeal include the incompatibility of the Local Review Body scheme with the appellants' Convention rights. - Argyll and Bute Council v Gallanach Green Generation Limited
Instructed for the defender in recalling an order interdicting it from carrying out works required to implement planning permission for the erection of a wind turbine.
Commercial Property
- David Douglas Ernest Kenwright v Stewart Milne Group Limited [2015] CSOH 86
Commercial Court proceedings relating to the interpretation of a contract and indemnity relating to the sale of development land. - Beatsons Building Supplies Limited v The Trustees of the Alex F Noble & Son Limited Executive Benefits Scheme [2015] G.W.D. 15-271
Sheriff Court Commercial Court proceedings relating to the interpretation of the extent of premises under a commercial lease, and whether or not it included the solum. - WPC Truff 18-7 B.V. v Alex Nangle (Electrical) Limited
Commercial Court proceedings relating to the assignation of a dilapidations claim.
Commercial
- SSE Generation Limited v Hochtief Solutions Ag & Another [2016] CSOH 177
Instructed for the defender in a multi-million pound contractual dispute concerning the Glendoe hydro scheme. - Sky PLC v Black Cat Liquor Co. Ltd and others
Interdicting tenants of licenced premises from showing Sky Sports without the necessary commercial subscription agreement. - Louise Witter, Applicant
Instructed by the objecting company in an application for derivative proceedings under section 266 of the Companies Act 2006.
Other
- HMA v Angus Sinclair
Second junior counsel for the defence.
