Michael Ballantyne

Solicitor (Scottish Qualified)

Michael is a Scottish qualified solicitor with experience in the trade union sector where they advised Unite and Unison, the two largest trade unions in the UK, and represented their members in claims of unfair dismissal, whistleblowing, trade union detriment, discrimination, harassment, and victimisation.

Michael is proud to be state school educated. In 2014, Michael began representing employees through the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic, and more widely advised people as a volunteer at the Citizens Advice Bureau. Michael also studied, and was involved with outreach projects in America, the Netherlands, China, South Korea and Taiwan, there latterly focusing on a comparative analysis of judicial independence and impartiality.

Michael completed a traineeship and practiced as an employment solicitor from 2019 to 2023 with Thompsons Solicitors Scotland and joins James and West Law with a speciality in discrimination law.

Having exclusively represented employees, Michael knows it’s not easy for people to blow the whistle on wrongdoing in their work. Michael is an experienced adviser, who explores legal and non-legal resolutions to empower clients with a professional but pragmatic approach.

Michael acknowledges the privileged position they are in to affect and implement social and legal change. They have consistently campaigned and amplified the voice of others, for sexual and gender equality, such as the right to self ID, increasing the amount of parental leave, and providing free period products in Scotland. Michael believes in social mobility, open justice, flexible working, and an eco-centric approach to litigation.