Job Title

Equity Partner 

About Patrick

It is perhaps ironic that, despite Patrick McGuire having carved out a distinguished career as one of Scotland’s leading lawyers, he originally did not want to be lawyer at all.  Instead, he was drawn to career in politics.  The young, fresh faced and idealistic Patrick wanted to change the world.  He quickly realised that in the law he could change many peoples’ lives for the better and that is what he has dedicated his career to doing.   Patrick has spent his career handling some of the most significant and high-profile civil litigations in Scotland, championing the underdog and victims of mass wrongs.

Joining Thompsons as a trainee in 1997, Patrick quickly progressed through the ranks, becoming an Associate in 2003, a Partner in 2005, and an Equity Partner in 2008. He gained extended rights of audience in civil matters as a Solicitor Advocate in 2007.  

Patrick’s early career focussed on cases under the, then new, “Six Pack” Health and Safety Regulations. He was the lead solicitor in four pivotal Scottish appeal court cases that decided the extent and boundaries of the protection provided to workers under the Regulations: Davidson v Lothian and Borders Fire Service, Skinner v Scottish Ambulance Service, McFarlane v Scottish Borders Council, and McGowan v W & JR Watson.

In recent years, Patrick has focused on mass litigation and public inquiries, dealing with cases involving large groups of people affected by the actions of the state or large companies.  Patrick has led in a substantial number of, high profile, American style class actions against many organisations over the years including representing victims of the PIP breast Implant, Baby Ashes and Mesh scandals.  Patrick was the lead solicitor in Scotland’s first Group Proceedings arising from the Volkswagen ‘dieselgate’ emissions scandal and currently leads the Celtic Boys Club and James Finlay Tea litigations.

There are few solicitors in Scotland who can boast to have Patrick’s experience in Public Inquiry work.  Patrick has represented groups in the vast majority of Scottish Public Inquiries set up set since the Inquiries Act 2005.  He has acted as Recognised Legal Representative in the following Public Inquiries: ICL/Stockline Inquiry, Vale of Leven Inquiry, Penrose Inquiry, Infected Blood Inquiry, Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, and the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry.

Despite initially being drawn to politics, Patrick McGuire has become a formidable force in the law, consistently fighting for justice and achieving many successes in high-profile civil cases and Public Inquires.