About us

Northern Chapter off to a flying start in Scotland

The Northern Chapter, which was launched in February 2009, aims to provide continuing professional development, education and training news on dispute resolution for the North of Scotland. Our geographical remit covers the following postcode areas:

AB Aberdeen, Grampian;
DD Dundee, Tayside;
HS Hebrides;
IV Inverness, Highland;
KW Orkney;
ZE Shetland;
PH Perthshire.

Our main aim is to organise events for those in the Chapter area on topical dispute resolution subjects. We regularly invite high profile local, national and international experts to provide updates in the main areas in which the Institute operates.

We are the only Chapter in the UK and we are part of the Scottish Branch.

Our activities reflect the vibrant diverse commercial and consumer sectors represented across the cities of the North of Scotland, and our work is supported by a group of North East professinals who form the Northern Chapter Committee - see below for their details.

The Scottish Branch has set up a chapter based in Aberdeen to provide a more responsive service to members.

The inaugural meeting was held on 26th February 2009 at the Aberdeen Business School of The Robert Gordon University preceded by the first interim committee meeting chaired by Derek Auchie, (chair of the interim committee) and Brandon Nolan (Vice Chair of the Scottish Branch).

The interim committee has consulted members in the North of Scotland about the make up of the committee and the programme of events.

Members of the Northern Chapter Committee

Chris Arnold
Paull & Williamsons, Union Plaza, 1 Union Wynd, Aberdeen AB10 1DQ CJArnold@paull-williamson.co.uk, 01224 618 586
Chris Arnold FCIArb is a Consultant with Paull &Williamsons LLP www.paull-williamsons.co.uk/ based in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. He is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Construction Law and has many years' experience in England and Scotland of advising developers, contractors, tenants and funders. He is also a practising Adjudicator.

Derek Auchie
Law Department, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen Business School, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen AB10 7QE d.p.auchie@rgu.ac.uk, 01224 263 425
Derek is the Chair of the Chapter. He is a Senior Lecturer in Law for Robert Gordon University and was formerly in private practice. He teaches evidence and procedure (including the law of arbitration). He has published books and articles in these areas. He sits on a Scottish tribunal and on a UK disciplinary body. www.rgu.ac.uk

Doug Fiddes
Baxter Dunn & Gray, 29 Braeside Terrace, Aberdeen AB1 7TS dfiddes@bdandy.co.uk, 01224 637 667
Douglas Fiddes has been a fellow of the Institute since 1995. He has acted as arbiter and adjudicator on numerous disputes; he also acts as an Expert Witness. Douglas is a member of the Working Party that advises the Scottish Executive on changes to legislation affecting the construction industry. He is a former member of SBCC and is a member of the RICS Dispute Resolution Board, and has responsibility for the training of the RICS Panel.

Lili Hunter
Lili Hunter Consulting Ltd, 499-501 Union St, Aberdeen AB11 6DB lili@lilihunter.com, 01224 228 100
Lili Hunter is an employment lawyer and Director of both Lili Hunter Legal Limited and Lili Hunter Consulting Limited. Having worked in private practice exclusively in employment law up to partner level, she now practices employment law as a director of her own practice. Lili also practices as a consultant via a limited company set up to deliver mainly training and mediation services. Lili holds an honours degree in Psychology, an LLb and an LLM in Employment Law and Practice as well as a qualification in HR and she is a trained mediator. Lili is a member of the CIPD, ELA and ELG and www.lilihunter.com

Richard Noble
FG Burnett, 33 Albyn Place, Aberdeen AB10 1YL rjn@fgburnett.co.uk, 01224 572 661
Richard is a Director at Chartered Surveyors and Property Consultants FG Burnett. A specialist in all aspects of the retail property sector be it High Street, Shopping Centre or Out of Town locations. As well as lettings and sales Richard undertakes rent reviews for Landlords and Tenants. Richard is Deputy Chair of the Aberdeen City Centre Association and sits on the Aberdeen City Centre BID Steering Group. Richard is a member of the Chairman of the RICS's panel of Arbiters and Independent Experts in Scotland and sits on the RICS Scottish Dispute Resolution Faculty Board. An Honours Graduate of Heriot Watt University Edinburgh (1983), Richard obtained a PG Cert in Construction Law and Arbitration from The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen (2003)

Sarah Stuart (Chair)
Ledingham Chalmers, 52-54 Rose Street, Aberdeen AB10 1HA sarah.stuart@ledinghamchalmers.com, 01224 408449
Sarah is a partner at Ledingham Chalmers LLP, based in Aberdeen. Her practice includes contentious and non-contentious construction work drawing on her understanding of the reasons why clients end up in disputes to assist in the drafting and negotiating of contracts and advising on resolving disputes before resorting to litigation. In 2005 Sarah was admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales and is dual qualified in English and Scots Law. Sarah represents clients in the construction industry and service companies in the oil and gas industry. She is well acquainted with alternative methods of dispute resolution including adjudication particular to the construction industry, expert determination and mediation

Cherly McRae, Contracts Engineer, T-MOS, Business Services, Technip UK Limited, Enterprise Drive, Westhill, Aberdeenshire AB32 6TQ; Telephone 01224 271532; Email: Ch.McRae@technip.com.

Simpson Buglass, Partner, Graham & Sibbald, 21 Carden Place, Aberdeen, AB10 1UQ: Telephone 01224 625024; Email: sbuglass@g-s.co.uk. To view my CV click here.

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