Simpson & Marwick are today delighted to announce the
appointment of Michael Jones QC to set up and head a new Dispute
Resolution Department.
He will join the firm as a Senior Partner on 1st January 2008
and will lead a team pioneering the use of technology in the
preparation and presentation of claims, for the purposes of
litigation, arbitration, mediation and negotiation.
Mr Jones will be the first QC to become head of a Scottish
litigation practice. He has worked closely with the firm throughout
his career at the Scots Bar. He has appeared for our clients in a
number of high profile cases, including the Mull of Kintyre Chinook
helicopter crash Inquiry, the Dunblane Inquiry and, more recently,
the prosecution arising out of the Larkhall gas explosion, where he
successfully argued that Transco could not be tried for corporate
culpable homicide.
Mr Jones is one of Scotland's most experienced specialists in
advocacy and litigation, and is a trained mediator. He will be
joining the largest team of claims experts in Scotland, and his
appointment will enable Simpson & Marwick to offer our clients
an unrivalled standard of advice and support in the resolution of
their cases.
In his new position, he will be available to be instructed by
solicitors in other firms.
Speaking today, Mr Jones said:
"I have always been impressed by Simpson & Marwick's
willingness to innovate in their efforts to deliver the best
possible outcome to their clients. In the Transco case, for
example, they broke entirely new ground in the use of computer
graphics in Court. I am looking forward to leading a team of
talented professionals committed to providing services at the
cutting edge."
Peter Anderson, Senior Litigation Partner at Simpson &
Marwick welcomed Mr Jones to the firm. He said: "Michael Jones
is a great contributor to and innovator in litigation and dispute
solving. We are highly delighted that he has agreed to join us to
do more of that. We see our job as problem solvers for clients with
Court as a last resort. Early preparation in detail in bigger
disputes has become crucial. That means a team and the best
systems. The clients and the Court get best value when there is
immediate, easy involvement and direction of the lead lawyer who
may well have to argue the case. Michael Jones, and Simpson &
Marwick have ideas for techniques to do just that in these changing
times for practice of the law in Scotland - and to help us respond
to the Justice Minister's wish to promote Scotland as a centre for
international arbitration.
We are not supplanting Counsel - far from it. We greatly
value working with members of the Faculty of Advocates for whom we
have a very high regard, and we will continue to do so. What we are
doing is modifying part of Scots practice to help this firm meet
the needs of clients and the Court in the 21st Century."