Our People

We have 19 partners, 47 other professional staff and 44 support staff, working together in offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh. From here you can put faces to names.

Our relationship with each other and with WJM's clients is built on trust and respect. We enjoy learning new ideas and striving to apply our knowledge to help you to achieve what you want for yourself, your loved ones, your business and your community.

Fraser Gillies

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practice area
I help clients prevent and resolve disputes in a variety of different contexts.

core skills
My work is focused on two areas - Renewable Energy and Commercial Litigation

As a member of the Renewable Energy team
I advise clients on a wide range of planning matters, particularly in the renewable energy sector. I have acted in judicial reviews for both developers and planning authorities, planning Appeals to the Court of Session, and planning Inquiries.

I also have also advised extensively on the changes to the planning regime introduced by the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006, in particular in relation to procedural matters such as the new ‘hierarchy of developments’ and the changes to the Appeal procedures.

I have considerable experience of wind farm Inquiries, having been involved in five Inquiries to date, including a large multi-party Inquiry in the Ochils, and more recently a successful appeal in Aberdeenshire involving a challenge to key renewable energy policies in the Council’s development plan.

I have advised a range of developers on a variety of wind farms from small sub-20MW schemes up larger s.36 schemes, on matters such as

  • The application of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994
  • The requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment process and the content of Environmental Statements
  • Pre-application reviews and strategic planning advice
  • Planning agreements
  • Planning conditions, and in particular suspensive conditions in relation to radar mitigation solutions

I am also member of the Scottish Renewables Forum’s planning sub-group.

In Commercial Litigation
I act for clients in disputes in a number of different forums and types of work. Principally my focus is on the Court of Session, including the Commercial Court, but I also regularly appear in the Sheriff Courts. I have appeared before the Employment Tribunal in both Scotland and England. I also have experience of using mediation as a successful means of resolving often very contentious disputes and often advise clients on alternative means of resolving disputes other than through the courts.

I undertake a broad spectrum of work including complex commercial litigations, judicial review, property disputes, and high value personal injury claims. I have also acted for both employers and employees in a range of Employment matters including unfair/constructive dismissal, discrimination cases, and TUPE matters. I also have experience of representing clients before the Traffic Commissioner, the regulatory authority for the haulage industry.

career highlights
Securing a successful result for a client is always a highlight.

Being shortlisted as a finalist in the RJ Cuthbert Scottish Legal Awards 2006 in the ‘Rising Star of the Year’ category.

credentials
LLM in Human Rights.

I have been published in the Law Society of Scotland’s Journal, Holyrood Magazine and the Scotsman.

there’s more to me:
Being a solicitor earns you kudos in some circles - it does not, however, entitle you to entry on the VIP list to a club, regardless of one’s ability to argue - as I have discovered on more than one occasion at no small cost to my credibility.