Neil initially joined BTO’s highly rated Regulatory and Criminal Defence Team in 2019.  Following some time away with a high profile criminal defence firm, he has returned to the team as an Associate.

In his time at BTO Neil has played a central role in the investigation, and preparation, of complex and high-profile Health and Safety cases, developing a keen understanding of the important issues at all stages of a Health and Safety investigation, from the outset to the conclusion.

Regularly appearing in Court from early in his career, Neil has proved himself to be an excellent trial lawyer having conducted multiple summary and Sheriff & Jury trials in Courts throughout Scotland, he has secured acquittals for clients against the odds in very difficult cases.  He has been instructed in cases ranging from minor offences to the most serious, including serious assaults, misuse of drugs matters, serious and organised crime, public order offences, offensive weapons, proceeds of crime and serious sexual offences.

He has provided expert advice and representation in a wide variety of road traffic matters ranging from fatal cases being prosecuted in the High Court and involving the instruction of Counsel, to offences such as careless driving or causing serious injury by dangerous driving in the Sheriff or JP Courts.

Neil has represented clients in complex multi-million pound proceeds of crime and fraud cases.

Neil has experience of acting in Fatal Accident Inquiries and in high profile Public Inquiries including the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry and the UK Covid Inquiry.

Peter has been working in the insurance industry since 1981 and qualified as an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute in 1984.

Peter joined BTO in 2005 as a Claims Investigator and works closely with our solicitors on a wide range of client interests usually associated with catastrophic claims but also where there is a dispute over matters of fact. In this regard, Peter’s work takes him all over Scotland and the North of England to ensure that our solicitors have the information they need to represent our client’s best interests.

In addition, Peter also works very closely with Angus Crawford and our Recoveries and Subrogation Unit which specialises in recovering Insurer outlays from responsible third parties.

Fraser is based in our Professional Discipline and Clinical Defence Team. Fraser joins BTO from the SSSC Fitness to Practice Department where he conducted Temporary Order and Final Sanction Hearings. Fraser initially started at the SSSC as a precognition assistant taking witness statements and progressed onto a two-year traineeship. During this he conducted complex investigations into health, conduct and criminal allegations. In addition, Fraser co-founded Disabling Barriers Scotland, the first and only support group for disabled solicitors.

Jennifer Mackenzie is an Associate within BTO’s Insurance Catastrophic Injury Team dealing with catastrophic injury and fatal claims. Jennifer works on catastrophic and high value road traffic, employers’ liability, product liability and public liability cases in both the sheriff court and Court of Session.

Jennifer joined the catastrophic team in 2011 after completing her traineeship with BTO. During her traineeship she spent 12 months working in BTO’s Insurance department and 12 months in their commercial property department. Jennifer has gained experience in both the Court of Session and Sheriff Court.

Prior to joining BTO, Jennifer obtained an honours degree in Accountancy studying in both Scotland and Canada before commencing her studies in Law.

Kirsteen has wide-ranging experience of handling litigation for businesses and individuals, not only at the Sheriff Courts and the Court of Session but also the Supreme Court of the UK.

Described in the Legal 500 as 'friendly and knowledgeable', she advises business and personal clients daily, on litigation issues and remedies arising out of a range of commercial contracts.

Kirsteen has a wealth of experience in debt recovery actions, including protective diligence and enforcement action, both in Scotland and in other jurisdictions.

Kirsteen regularly acts for Trustees under Trust Deeds and Sequestrations, Receivers, Administrators and Liquidators. She holds the Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency (Scotland) qualification, from the Insolvency Practitioners’ Association. The CPI is a most respected qualification, one which very few Scottish lawyers possess. The qualification provides added value and expertise to the clients who Kirsteen represents, fulfilling her aim in securing it.

Kirsteen is also an Affiliate member of the Insolvency Practitioners Association and of the Institute of Credit Management. She is also involved with the R3 Scottish Women in Insolvency Group, a networking forum to help business development challenges faced by women working in the industry.

After Hours

Kirsteen is a keen tennis player and runner but also enjoys taking part in and watching all sports. She has competed in the Edinburgh, New York (x2) and Belfast marathons for charity and has completed numerous half marathons. She also enjoys socialising, particularly eating out and trying new bars and restaurants, and travelling, especially city breaks.

Cat has built an outstanding reputation as a strong and determined commercial litigator across a number of sectors. Prior to joining BTO, Cat practised as an Advocate for ten years before leading and growing a Dispute Resolution team in a commercial law firm. 

Having undertaken cases in the Sheriff Court, the Court of Session and the Appeal Court, Cat applies her extensive litigation and courtroom experience to the work she now undertakes for her clients who include individuals, technology companies, property developers and entrepreneurs.

Described by her clients as “hard-working, tenacious and very commercially astute," Cat specialises in financial disputes, including financial claims against banks and other financial institutions, contract breaches, insolvency disputes, banking fraud and pension mis-selling.  Considered “a safe pair of hands” and someone who “deals with each and every referral to the highest of standards," Cat currently holds a band 1 ranking in Chambers UK for her banking litigation work.

She is a member of the Westminster All Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking's Professional Advisory Panel.  She was a Committee member of the House of Commons Parliamentary Inquiry into Financial Disputes, and in the summer of 2018, Cat was asked to provide expert testimony to the Treasury Select Committee on financial disputes. She is also a member of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.

In addition to her work in financial claims, Cat is a qualified mediator, and mediates regularly for her clients. She also has an established expertise in general commercial and contract disputes, inter-company disputes, and in professional negligence claims, advising clients with claims against a range of former professional advisers including solicitors, surveyors, financial advisors and financial institutions. 

Many of Cat’s cases are “David and Goliath” battles, but clients she represents are quick to say that she is “someone who knows how to throw a stone or two”.  She is renowned for taking ownership of problems as if they were her own, demonstrating real approachability and empathy. Cat is praised by her clients for going the extra mile to do the very best she can for them.

Memberships

Cat sits on the Lord President’s Consultative Committee on Commercial Actions, chaired by Lord Doherty; Appointed to the Law Society of Scotland’s Professional Conduct Committee, which sits monthly; Member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association; Writer to the Signet (WS).

After Hours

Cat is a road cyclist, skier and swimmer with varying degrees of success and ability. She particularly loves open water swimming and has swum across various stretches of water, including the Firth of Forth, Loch Tay and the Corryvreckan Whirlpool between Jura and Scarba.  She is also fluent in French, having gained a Diplome d’Etudes Juridiques Francaises from the Universite Robert Schumann in Strasbourg.

Lindsay joined BTO’s thriving Health and Safety, Regulatory and Criminal practice as a newly qualified solicitor in 2012 to specialise in defending regulatory prosecutions under the direction of Partner Vikki Watt. Following a period of time with an international firm, she returned to the team as an Associate.

Prior to joining BTO, Lindsay trained as a solicitor with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and worked on a number of high profile cases within the Proceeds of Crime Unit. Following her time in Crown Office, Lindsay worked in a busy Procurator Fiscals’ office and has prosecuted a wide range of criminal cases from statutory breaches to common law charges in Court, from early procedural hearings through to trial. Chambers and Partners UK 2014 commented on Lindsay’s appointment to the BTO team, noting that her recruitment from the Crown “has strengthened the firm's insight into prosecuting bodies”.

Now a dedicated criminal and regulatory defence solicitor, Lindsay has represented clients in a wide range of criminal proceedings. She has also appeared with clients, including medical professionals and companies, in Fatal Accident Inquiries involving both Health and Safety and medical treatment issues. 

Having gained experience of appearing as both prosecution and defence in Court, Lindsay is able to consider cases from each perspective and offer sound advice on the prospects of criminal matters at an early stage.

Lindsay is also a Notary Public.

External Appointments

Member of Health and Safety Lawyers Association (HSLA)

Kirstine has worked in the same firm for almost 30 years having joined as a Trainee in 1992.   She has practiced in civil and criminal roles within the firm but in recent years, focusing completely on family and child law.  The firm in which she was a Partner merged with BTO in 2019 to become BTO Raeburn Hope and since then, Kirstine has headed the Family Law Practice in the Helensburgh Branch Office where she is a well-known local solicitor, respected by the local bar and bench.

Kirstine is an experienced Child Welfare Reporter and has carried out this role in Dumbarton Sheriff Court for a number of years often receiving favourable comment from the Sheriffs presiding in cases where she has reported on many difficult family situations. Her wealth of experience as a Child Welfare Reporter feeds into her practice in matters of child law, in which she employs skill and wisdom to steer cases to an appropriate conclusion, whether by negotiated means or in court proceedings. Kirstine is a member of the Family Law Association and, mindful of the organisation’s principles of co-operation and civility, places considerable emphasis on negotiating matters of divorce, financial provision and co-habitation matters.   However, she is well practiced in employing litigation as a means of resolving matters when necessary. 

Kirstine is a former Secretary and Dean of the Faculty of Solicitors of West Dunbartonshire and remains a committed member, enjoying respectful and close working relationships with firms locally, and throughout Scotland .

Kirstine brings considerable experience to the Team as a practitioner in a high street firm with all of the variety and complexities which that can bring.