The Lord Advocate welcomes a number of new additions to the Principal Crown Counsel team. The team is responsible for leading Advocate Deputes in the prosecution of serious crime.
Joining the team as Assistant Principal Crown Counsel are Liam Ewing KC, Lorraine Glancy KC, John Keenan KC and Paul Harvey.
Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC said: “I am delighted to welcome Liam, Lorraine, John and Paul to the Principal Crown Counsel team. Their considerable experience across specialisms of criminal practice will provide a solid foundation for our work going forward.
“I would like to extend my grateful thanks to Richard Goddard KC, Susanne Tanner KC and Gavin Anderson KC who have either returned to private practice or will be returning in the near future. Richard, Susanne and Gavin have all been invaluable members of the Principal Crown Counsel team and have been significant drivers in our ongoing work to improve the way we deal with the prosecution of crime in the High Court and the standard of service we provide to the public. I have greatly valued their insightful work and professional support during their time in post and they leave with my very best wishes.”
The new appointments will assist the Principal Crown Counsel team led by Ashley Edwards KC in the management, guidance and continuing education of the 70 strong team of Advocate Deputes. All of the new appointees will continue to prosecute the most serious and complex trials and conduct Appeals in the High Court of Justiciary.
Lorraine Glancy KC joined COPFS as a Depute Fiscal in 1990, becoming a Principal Depute and High Court Indicter in 1997. She called to the Bar in 2005, where she enjoyed a busy defence practice until joining Crown Office as an Advocate Depute in January 2022. Ms Glancy was appointed to the Senior Advocate Depute team in February 2022. As part of her responsibilities in her new post Ms Glancy will take up the position of strategic lead for the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit.
John Keenan KC qualified as a solicitor in 1988 and from early in his career has focused on criminal practice. He has extensive experience in private practice working with a number of prominent firms including Gilfedder and McInnes, Capital Defence Lawyers and Paterson Bell. He was awarded extended rights of audience in 2002 and subsequently practiced as a solicitor advocate in the High Court and Appeal Courts, Mr Keenan was accredited as a Senior Solicitor Advocate in 2009 and took silk in 2022. He has served as an Ad Hoc Advocate Depute from 2015, a full time Advocate depute since 2021 and Senior Advocate Depute since 2022. Mr Keenan is also the course convenor of the Law Society of Scotland solicitor advocate criminal training course. As part of his new appointment, Mr Keenan will take on the responsibility for the strategic lead in cases involving serious and organised crime.
Liam Ewing KC was appointed an Advocate Depute in 2018. Since taking up his post, Mr Ewing has prosecuted a broad range of cases including the most serious sexual offending and those involving organised crime. As part of his portfolio of responsibilities Mr Ewing will be the strategic lead for health and safety investigations which will include the custody deaths unit. Mr Ewing will also continue in his role as lead Crown Counsel for the COVID-19 Deaths Investigation Team.
Paul Harvey has served as an Advocate Depute since 2021. He called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2013 and transferred to the Scottish Bar in 2017. He has extensive experience working at the European Court of Human Rights, specialising in cases involving criminal procedure and evidence, counter-terrorism and extradition. Mr Harvey’s work has focussed on the right to a fair trial and the rights of victims in the criminal justice system, particularly in the context of sexual offences and offences against children. He is one of the editors of Mason’s Forensic Medicine and the Law and the co-author of the forthcoming book, The Law of Sexual Offences in Scotland. As part of the Principal Crown Counsel team Mr Harvey will take on the newly created role of strategic lead for the prosecution of sexual and domestic abuse offences.
The Principal Crown Counsel Ashley Edwards KC will continue to be supported by Deputy Principal Crown Counsel Lisa Gillespie KC, who took up the post in March 2024. Alex Prentice KC continues as Lead Trial Counsel. As part of his portfolio Mr Prentice will take the strategic lead for cold cases and road traffic fatalities.