Angus McCullough QC - One Crown Office Row

Barristers

Our privacy policy explains how we use cookies. By using this site, we have assumed your agreement to their use.

Angus McCullough QC

Call: 1990
QC: 2010

angus.mccullough@1cor.com

Profile

Angus McCullough QC has a practice which covers public law (including human rights and civil liberties), professional negligence, and regulatory and disciplinary law. He has particular expertise in the fields of health and the environment, and frequently appears in inquests. In 1997 he was appointed by the Attorney General to the panel of Counsel to the Crown and in 2002 was appointed to the 'A' List of this panel. Before turning to law, he read Zoology at Oxford (where he was President of the Oxford Union), and then worked as a safari guide in Zambia. He maintains his interest in natural history, including under water, and has published a number of papers about hoverflies and butterflies.

In 2011 Angus was instructed by the Attorney General in the ‘Facebook juror’ contempt case (AG v. Fraill & Sewart), and in committal proceedings against the Sun and the Mail in the first contempt case relating to publication by the press on the internet (AG v. Associated Newspapers & NGN). In June 2011 he appeared in the Supreme Court for the Home Secretary in an appeal relating to the Government’s strategy to combat forced marriages, raising the marriage visa age from 18 to 21 (SSHD v. Quila). This October, he acted as the lead special advocate for Ekaterina Zatuliveter, the former researcher for an MP who was accused of spying for the Russian Intelligence Services, in her appeal against deportation before SIAC (judgment pending). He also continues to act in a variety of high value clinical negligence cases.

In 2009 Angus was named Personal Injury / Clinical Negligence Junior of the year at the Chambers Bar Awards, and healthcare work remains a core area of his practice in silk. Since its launch, he has been an editor of the UK Human Rights blog (ukhmanrightsblog.com), which was set up and is maintained by members of 1 Crown Office Row. In demand as a speaker, during 2010 he has been invited to speak at the UKELA annual conference and the Justice / Sweet & Maxwell Human Rights Law conference.

As a leading special advocate, he has appeared in some of the most prominent and significant cases involving national security in recent years, including: Abu Qatada; Zatuliveter (alleged Russian spy whose appeal against deportation was allowed); Shaker Aamer (Guantanamo inmate bringing Norwich Pharmacal application); Al Jedda; AF (No.3) (House of Lords case considering requiremements of fairness in control order proceedings); Al Rawi (civil claim of Guantanamo detainees against the UK Government); and Bhutta (asset-freezing case to determine requirements of fairness in asset-freezing cases).

Directories

In the current edition of Chambers Guide to the Bar he is recognised in silk as a leading expert in six fields: Administrative & Public Law; Civil Liberties & Human Rights; Clinical Negligence; Environment; Immigration; and Professional Discipline. The following appear among the recommendations in this edition: "He is unflappable and fantastic on his feet, helpful, constructive and engaging." very sharp and effective" and "able to negotiate very cleverly.” Solicitors praise his "exemplary attention to detail" and his "ability to stay calm and reassure clients in difficult situations. "He is your classic example of a good, clever barrister who straddles public, environmental and civil liberties law." "has an incredible eye for detail" alongside a "really easy, relaxed approach" and approachable manner.”.

Directory entries from previous years include (see printable version of the CV for a more detailed list)

ADMINISTRATIVE & PUBLIC LAW

Angus McCullough is hailed as “the perfect administrative and public law barrister.” Aside from having an “extraordinarily clever, analytical brain,” his written work is first-rate and his advocacy is “exceptionally smooth." (Chambers UK, 2009)

Angus McCullough "really is a top-class administrative lawyer," according to peers. His caseload has ranged across environment, mental health, asylum and terrorist cases. (Chambers UK, 2007)

CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE

Angus was named Personal Injury/ Clinical Negligence Junior of the Year at the Chambers Bar Awards 2009.

“extremely impressive, in that he provides heavyweight technical advice and support.” He proves invaluable to those instructing him, as he “manages difficult clients with consummate charm.” (Chambers UK, 2010)

..the “brilliant and popular” Angus McCullough, enjoys notable success with both claimant and defendant clients. McCullough takes a “logical approach to difficult issues and is one of the most trusted pairs of hands around.” (Chambers UK, 2009)

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Angus McCullough often undertakes environmental cases with unusual scientific elements. His “comprehensive, thorough and to-the-point research” combined with his “considered advocacy” make him a pleasure to work with, say clients. (Chambers UK, 2010)

“Excellent all-rounder” Angus McCullough, “a man of forward-thinking views,” is often instructed on cases with an ecological or unusual scientific background. Clients affirm that he has “great dedication to the cause and a fine future ahead of him.” Recently, he acted in a challenge brought by the WWF over the government’s financial assistance to a gas and oil pipeline project. (Chambers UK, 2009)

REGULATORY LAW

Angus McCullough QC, who took silk in 2010, stands out for being ‘exceptionally bright, able, independent-minded and thorough’. (Legal 500, 2010)

Angus McCullough is “engagingly unpretentious” and wins praise for his careful analysis of cases and great courtroom manner. Cases he has handled include GDC v Dr Sheikh, an important case on interim suspension powers. (Chambers UK, 2010)

Publications

Contributor, Burnett-Hall on Environmental Law, Second Edition, 2008 (chapter on Nature Conservation)

Papers

The Thundering Tide: Contempt in the age of the Internet

Appointments

Attorney General's Civil Panel of Counsel to the Crown 1997 - 2010 (A-list 2002-2010)

Trustee of the Barristers' Benevolent Association

Trustee of the International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, 2003 - present

Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society

Trustee of the Kasanka Trust, 1999 - present (see full cv printable version for more details)

Trustee of Buglife, 2010 - present

Fellow of the Linnean Society, 2011 - present

Significant cases include the following

Please click on the printable version of the CV for a more detailed list

HUMAN RIGHTS (in various contexts)

Secretary of State for the Home Department v AF, AN and AE [2009] UKHL 28

R (Baiai and others) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department [2009] 1 AC 287, House of Lords

Savage v. South Essex Partnership NHS Trust [2009] 2 WLR 115, House of Lords

OO (Jordan) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department [2009] 2 WLR 512, House of Lords

R (Quila) v. SSHD [2010] EWCA Civ 1482, appeal to SC pending

ENVIRONMENTAL

Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee: 5 cases - 2009/10

United Utilities Water plc v. Environment Agency [2007] 1 WLR 2707, House of Lords

R (Greenpeace) v. Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2006] Env LR 19

Environment Agency v. Inglenorth Ltd [2009] EWHC 670 (Admin), Divisional Court

Redfern Inquiry into human tissue analysis in UK nuclear facilities: With David Hart QC, represented one of the principal nuclear industry bodies.

REGULATORY

R (Shiekh) v General Dental Council [2007] EWHC 2972 (Admin)

Dad v General Dental Council [2000] 1 WLR 1538, Privy Council

MENTAL HEALTH / HUMAN RIGHTS

R (K) v. West London Mental Health NHS Trust [2006] 1 WLR 1865, CA

R (N) v. Mental Health Review Tribunal (Northern Region) [2006] QB 468, CA