Iain called to the Bar in 2022 after practicing as a solicitor for 5 years. He specialises in public law and inquiries. He is regularly instructed in immigration and asylum appeals, judicial reviews, Fatal Accident Inquiries, and public inquiries. In March 2024, Iain was appointed as Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Government.

Iain has acted in judicial reviews challenging decisions rejecting further submissions, certifying asylum and human rights claims as clearly unfounded, refusing visit visa applications, and cancelling leave to enter or remain. He has also acted in judicial reviews challenging decision-making delays, imminent removal directions, the adequacy of asylum accommodation, and local authority age assessments.  He is regularly instructed to represent clients in statutory appeals to the Upper Tribunal (Immigration & Asylum Chamber).

As a solicitor, Iain’s practice focused primarily on British citizenship and business migration. He has continued to provide advice in relation to these specialised areas as Counsel, drafting opinions on interpretation and application of the immigration rules and nationality legislation. He regularly provides advice in relation to applications for British citizenship on the basis of historical legislative unfairness and has been instructed in cases involving deprivation of citizenship.

Iain’s wider public law practice includes judicial reviews relating to prisoners’ rights, homelessness, local authority obligations towards children, and environmental impact assessments. He has also been instructed to appear in social security appeals before the Upper Tribunal for Scotland (Social Security Chamber).

Iain has been instructed as Crown Junior in several lengthy and complex Fatal Accident Inquiries following deaths in custody. He has also assisted with the prosecution of serious crimes in the High Court.

Since June 2024 Iain has been part of the Scottish Government’s Counsel team for the Scottish and UK Covid-19 Inquiries. He has provided advice, reviewed statements and documents, and attended hearings in relation to the impact on the healthcare system, vaccines, equalities and human rights, the impact on children and young people, and the test, trace, and isolate strategy.

Iain has delivered guest lectures to students at Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities and seminars for the Citizens’ Rights Project. He regularly writes for the Free Movement blog, writing both case law summaries and courses. In 2024, he wrote a course on age assessments and updated courses on immigration appeals and immigration bail. Iain also wrote, and continues to update, the immigration and citizenship section of Butterworths Scottish Family Law Service. He has a particular interest in inter-country adoptions and surrogacy, which invariably involve elements of both family and immigration and nationality law.

Appointments
April 2022 to February 2024: Nominated Presenting Officer for the Office of the Advocate General.

March 2024 to present: Standing Junior to the Scottish Government

Devilmasters
David Massaro; Tim Haddow; Janice Green