Iain Clark blue L website
Partner, Solicitor Advocate

Iain Clark

Iain is a Solicitor Advocate and Partner in our Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team.  He specialises in commercial litigation, especially resolution of disputes within the oil & gas, engineering, and construction sectors, often with an international element; and has a particular expertise in international arbitration.  

Expertise

With a wealth of practical experience and knowledge gained over more than 25 years,  more than 12 of them qualified as a Solicitor Advocate, he is regularly instructed in relation to domestic and transnational disputes, advising on and conducting complex and high value litigations, arbitrations, and mediations in Scotland, the UK and internationally.

Iain has particular expertise in International Arbitration, with significant experience of conducting international arbitrations (both pleadings and advocacy) Worldwide, under both institutional and ad hoc rules.  He is also co-author of a leading textbook, Pleading in Arbitration: A Practitioner’s Guide – An Essential Guide to International Arbitration, published in its 2nd Edition in 2017.

He regularly appears as Solicitor Advocate in the Commercial Courts of the Court of Session and Sheriff Courts, attracting referral work from other English and Scottish Firms; and frequently undertakes cases with an international dimension, often in foreign jurisdictions.

Iain became an Accredited Commercial Arbitrator in 2011 and is a member of the Law Society of Scotland’s Specialist Accreditation Panel on Arbitration.  He is an Honorary Lecturer and member of the Global Academic Faculty on Mediation and International Arbitration Issues at the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP) at the University of Dundee.

Iain is well-known for being a highly motivated and proactive specialist, who adopts a highly detailed and skilled forensic analysis when representing clients.  His thoroughness and exceptional attention to detail is second to none.  Iain is also adept at finding innovative ways of resolving disputes; and always with a wider commercial awareness.

Highlights

  • Over 25 years’ experience in all aspects of commercial dispute resolution
  • Qualified as a Solicitor Advocate since 2009
  • An Accredited Commercial Arbitrator since 2011
  • Member of the Law Society of Scotland Specialist Accreditation Panel on Arbitration
  • Member of Gilson Gray’s Oil & Gas Team
  • What clients say:
  • “Whilst it is often said that "experience is something you don't get until just after you need it",  lain is someone who is able to pick up the salient points very quickly, and his practical experience of how to present the issues to the best advantage of his client brings clear extra value to our company.”
  •  “Thank you once again for bringing the matter to a speedy conclusion with the perfect outcome…we prefer not to get bogged down in long / lengthy court cases, which can be costly and time consuming and therefore I was very impressed with your professionalism and efficiency in dealing with this case without having to incur huge costs.  So much so that I have already passed your company details to our business contacts as a recommendation should they require legal services in Scotland.”
  • Professional knowledge of the highest order"
  •  "Strategic thinking of the highest order"
  • " Inter-personal skills of the highest order"
  • "Strong work ethic – any extra mile was never a problem"
  • "Attention to detail was never in question – strong client confidence throughout"
  • "Iain adds value!!”

Specialisms

  • Commercial litigation
  • International arbitration
  • High value, complex disputes in the oil & gas, construction and engineering sectors
  • Disputes with an international dimension
  • Contract disputes
  • Shareholder disputes
  • Intellectual property disputes
  • Interim interdicts

See links below for blogs written by Iain:

https://gilsongray.co.uk/blog/a-trio-of-successes-in-court-part-1-when-enough-is-enough-on-court-costs/

https://gilsongray.co.uk/blog/a-trio-of-successes-in-court-part-2-when-is-a-partnership-agreement-not-clear-and-unambiguous/

https://gilsongray.co.uk/blog/a-trio-of-successes-in-court-part-3-when-a-distribution-agreement-is-not-a-contract-for-sale-of-goods/