Biography

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.