JOANNA Cherry has returned to her legal career with a leading Scottish law firm.
The KC and former SNP MP for Edinburgh South West, serving from 2015 until earlier this year, will join Ampersand Advocates in Edinburgh.
She served as the SNP’s justice spokesperson for six years and also ran to lead the Westminster group in 2017 – but lost to Ian Blackford.
Cherry was called to the bar in 1995 and took silk in 2009, regularly appearing before the UK Supreme Court as well as handling complex medical-legal cases and fatal accident inquiries.
During her time as MP, she also led the Scottish litigation that resulted in Boris Johnson’s prorogation of Parliament being ruled unlawful.
Ampersand’s Practice Manager, Alan Moffat, said: “We are delighted to welcome Joanna to Ampersand. Her expertise in human rights and public law, combined with her recent experience in high-level constitutional matters, along with her medical and FAI experience, will be an invaluable asset to our stable. Joanna’s addition reinforces our commitment to providing the highest calibre of legal representation to those instructing counsel.”
Cherry first announced her plans to "step back" from frontline politics in a column with The National.
The KC expressed frustration with receiving "pelters" for expressing her views during her time as MP – opinions now backed up by former colleagues who she argues should have "spoken up sooner".
Cherry also cast doubt on plans to run for a Scottish Parliament seat in 2026. The former MP argued she doesn't always want to be in opposition, but senses the SNP could lose power at Holyrood at the next election based on recent polling.
She added that the SNP must first tackle what she described as a "culture of bullying and harassment of those who dare to put forward ideas or question policy" before she could consider putting forward a bid to become an MSP.
