Vikki Melville

Profil complet

Vikki has particular expertise acting for insurance and self-insured commercial entities and acts as the sole Scottish panel solicitor for a number of the firm's clients. Vikki handles a wide range of claims raised in both the Sheriff Courts and the Court of Session, including litigation in the Commercial Court Division. Her dispute resolution portfolio extends to aviation claims arising north of the border - acting on behalf of a large number of airports throughout Scotland, as well as on behalf of various airline companies.  She also receives instructions from our London arbitration team. A number of her clients also instruct Vikki to handle their high profile regulatory Health & Safety cases.

Consistently highly ranked in Chambers – the 2022 edition states that "She is very good - very responsive, knowledgeable and direct in her advice." She is ranked band 1 for Personal Injury Defender litigation in Scotland.

Vikki also takes a keen interest in Scottish Government reforms, legislative and lobbying processes, and has contributed to several working party consultation responses.Vikki has served previously as a Council Member of the Law Society of Scotland and most recently, she was appointed as a member of the Scottish Civil Justice Council’s Personal Injury Committee for a 3 year tenure from July 2022 - 2025.

Expérience

• ICL Tech Ltd v Johnston Oils.  Vikki successfully defended a test case raised in the Commercial Court following an attempt by a factory owner seeking to recover their costs from LPG gas suppliers, which had been paid out to the injured and relatives of those killed in an explosion in 2004. The overall liability avoided amounted to approx £12m.

•  First Scotrail v Network Rail. Vikki acts for First Scotrail in a complex property damage claim proceeding in the commercial division of the Court of Session. A train was derailed after striking a boulder which fell onto the track from an area under Network Rail's control. The dispute focuses on the contractual position between the parties in terms of the Track Access Agreement and the extent to which Network Rail subcontracted inspection obligations to a third party. The applicability of an arbitration clause is a key issue. The value of the claim is around £1 million.

• Vikki is presently instructed to represent a large local insured company who was subject to intense scrutiny and HSE investigation and prosecution (subsequently dropped by the Crown)  following the Legionella outbreak, Edinburgh in 2012. A large number of civil claims are ongoing.

• Vikki was instructed to act on behalf First Group with an interest in the Glasgow bin lorry accident.

• Vikki represented the insurers of a door security provider in connection with the death of a nightclub patron, in a dispute about the interpretation of 'deliberate acts' and 'wrongful arrest' exclusion clauses, which was heard by the UK Supreme Court in February 2021.

• Acting for the defender in a large loss claim where the pursuer claimed approximately £20 million damages on behalf of her son, Scott Droy, in respect of injuries sustained in utero as a result of a RTA in 2001. Scott, who is now an adult, suffered cerebral palsy as a result. Liability was admitted.