Michelle Young is a Partner in the Mass Litigation Team at Thompsons Solicitors Scotland.

Before joining Thompsons Scotland as a Partner in the Mass Litigation Team, Michelle built extensive experience across several legal and professional organisations, where she specialised in complex civil litigation, serious crime, and client advocacy at the highest levels of the Scottish legal system.

She specialised in representing vulnerable clients and pursuing high-value civil claims in both ASPIC and the Court of Session, with a particular focus on non-accidental injury and abuse cases.

Michelle developed significant expertise in Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) claims, regularly handling complex applications, reviews, and appeals. She frequently appeared at tribunals on behalf of clients in challenging legal cases and contributed to the development of legal precedent in Scotland. In addition to her casework, she supervised and mentored junior solicitors and paralegals, ensuring the highest standards of client care and advocacy.

Before joining Thompsons, Michelle spent over a decade with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), serving as a Procurator Fiscal Depute from 2008 to 2019. During this time, she worked within the High Court Unit preparing and prosecuting complex fraud, terrorism, sexual offences, homicide and major crime cases. She also gained extensive experience as a Sheriff and Jury trial depute, prosecuting over 100 jury trials.

Michelle represented COPFS on the Scottish Anti-Illicit Trade Group, advising on legislative and policy matters, and acted as a national on-call homicide depute, managing the early stages of homicide investigations and providing guidance to police and forensic teams. She also conducted a Fatal Accident Inquiry in a medically complex case.

Earlier in her career, Michelle worked in private practice, advising and representing clients in both civil and criminal matters before the Sheriff and District Courts, and instructing counsel in the High Court and Court of Session. She also gained valuable experience as an Indirect Tax Assistant, advising on VAT compliance and customs law, and at the European Commission in Brussels, where she worked as a Stagiaire in the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union.

Michelle maintains a strong interest in the development of group litigation in the Scottish courts and remains passionate about improving access to justice for individuals and communities affected by large-scale or systemic wrongdoing.