Stable director Isla Davie KC said: “We are delighted that Sarah and Tony are joining Ampersand. They are already highly regarded as lawyers, and this is the start of incredibly promising careers for both at the Bar. Not only does their considerable experience lend itself well to our existing practice areas, but they are also lovely people and we look forward to welcoming them into the stable.”

Ampersand’s practice manager Alan Moffat added: “I am delighted to welcome our newest members of Ampersand. Their addition to our set brings the membership to 61 and the experience which each of them brings is a fantastic fit for Ampersand’s core areas of practice. They will be a real asset to those looking to instruct counsel. I am sure that joining Ampersand will offer them rewarding opportunities and collaborative support.”

The new advocates featured in Ampersand’s “& the Devils in the Detail” Hey Legal Live chat in May. You can watch clips of Sarah and Tony discussing their practice areas here.

Ms McWhirter specialises in clinical negligence and personal injury actions. She has extensive experience in complex and high-value claims. She has particular expertise in birth injury, spinal injury, amputation and fatal claims.

Prior to calling to the bar, she specialised in clinical negligence and personal injury work for over 10 years. Latterly, Sarah was head of clinical negligence (Scotland) and a principal lawyer (partner) at a large UK-wide firm. She was ranked ‘Band 1’ in Chambers and Partners for Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant (2025). She has experience of representing both pursuers and defenders.

As a solicitor, she appeared in the All-Scotland Sheriff Personal Injury Court and regularly dealt with cases raised in the Court of Session.

During devilling, Ms McWhirter enhanced her existing experience in clinical negligence and personal injury work. She expanded her knowledge of specialist personal injury claims, including industrial disease and historical child abuse. She also gained experience in other areas of law, most notably mental health, professional regulation and public law.

She is the course organiser for the personal injury elective course on the diploma in professional legal practice at the University of Edinburgh.

Mr Convery specialises in commercial litigation and public law. He calls to the bar as the Lord Reid Scholar. He previously worked at a leading commercial law firm.

He has considerable commercial litigation experience, including in professional negligence, company and property law disputes. He also has experience of group proceedings, procurement litigation and proceedings before the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

Mr Convery has a broad public law practice. As well as core constitutional and administrative law, he has experience in: (i) equality and human rights, (ii) planning and (iii) information law (including data protection and freedom of information). He has a wealth of experience in advising on legislative competence challenges.

He also has experience of acting in environmental, regulatory, education and media law disputes, as well as inquiries. He provides advice on trade/financial sanctions and related regulatory schemes.

Mr Convery was a research assistant to Professor Jim Murdoch CBE in relation to the fourth edition of the leading textbook, Human Rights Law in Scotland. He has also published in his own right and is a tutor at the University of Glasgow.

For further information about their practices view their profiles on the Ampersand Advocates website.

To instruct either of them, please contact the Ampersand Clerking Team: ampersandclerks@advocates.org.uk.