United Kingdom > Scotland > Corporate and commercial
Corporate and commercial Edinburgh and Glasgow:
Corporate and commercial: Edinburgh and Glasgow
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- Dickson Minto WS Edinburgh
- Dundas & Wilson CS LLP Edinburgh, Glasgow
- Maclay Murray & Spens LLP Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh
- McGrigors LLP Glasgow, Edinburgh
- Shepherd and Wedderburn Edinburgh, Glasgow
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- Brodies LLP Edinburgh, Glasgow
- Burness LLP Edinburgh, Glasgow
- DLA Piper Scotland LLP Edinburgh, Glasgow
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- MacRoberts LLP Glasgow, Edinburgh
- Tods Murray LLP Edinburgh, Glasgow
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- Anderson Strathern Edinburgh
- Biggart Baillie LLP Edinburgh
- HBJ Gateley Edinburgh
- Harper Macleod LLP Glasgow
- Lindsays Edinburgh, Glasgow
- McClure Naismith LLP Glasgow
- Morton Fraser Edinburgh
- Semple Fraser LLP Edinburgh
Dickson Minto WS fields a ‘top-notch’ team of corporate finance experts, and remains pre-eminent in the transactional market. In 2010, it advised F&C Commercial Property Trust on its £1.6bn merger with UK Commercial Property Trust. The group is ‘thorough, practical, and therefore able to successfully navigate any snags that arise over the course of a deal’. Bruce Minto heads the team, which includes Douglas Armstrong, Andrew Todd, Kevan McDonald and commercial property specialist Ewan Gilchrist.
Dundas & Wilson CS LLP’s broad corporate and commercial team provides ‘good, sound commercial advice’, and is a significant presence in the market. It advised RBS on all aspects of the unwinding of its joint ventures with Aviva, including the sale by RBS of its 50% stake in a life insurance joint venture, and attracted new clients including AEGON and Caird Capital. Practice head Douglas Crawford, Graeme Bruce, Michael Polson and David Hardie are recommended. Graham Sibbald retired in 2010.
Kenneth Shand was appointed to head Maclay Murray & Spens LLP’s corporate practice following former practice head Alastair Wyper’s departure to establish his own Aberdeen-based practice (Blackwood Partners LLP). The practice remains well respected for its ‘deep understanding of business and industry’. In 2010, it acted on standout transactions such as Aberdeen Asset Management’s acquisition of RBS Asset Management’s fund management assets and contracts. Brian Moore ‘never complicates things and provides outstanding industry knowledge’.
McGrigors LLP’s strong oil and gas capability ensures that it attracts upper-end deal mandates, and in 2010 the team acted on 35 transactions with a combined value exceeding £2.1bn, including acting for the vendors on the £600m disposal of Production Services Network (PSN) Limited to John Wood Group plc. Practice head and renewable energy expert Barry McCaig and Alan Diamond are recommended.
Shepherd and Wedderburn’s corporate practice worked on £7.9bn-worth of completed transactions in 2010, in line with the firm’s reputation as being ‘up there with the best’. Highlights included acting as principal adviser to FTSE 100 company Cairn Energy on the £5.65bn sale of 51% of its Indian subsidiary to Vedanta Resources. It also has a growing funds capability, and recently advised Aberdeen Latin American Income Fund Limited on its LSE listing. Danny Lee is ‘energetic and bright’, and Stephen Trombala is ‘dedicated and responsive’.
Julian Voge heads Brodies LLP’s corporate/commercial practice, which expanded significantly in 2010, adding Catherine Feechan and former corporate head David Allan from Biggart Baillie LLP to its Glasgow team, and also hiring Will McIntosh, who joined the Edinburgh office from Lindsays. Demonstrating its cross-border capability, it advised Hong Kong-based Shanghai Huanuan Boiler Vessel Corporation on the purchase of Cochran Group. New clients include Maven Capital Partners and GKN plc.
Burness LLP’s clients recommend practice head Peter Lawson for his ‘clarity of advice, commercial acumen and first-class service to clients’. Recent highlights include advising BlueGem LP on its £42m public takeover of Liberty plc. Jonathan Heaney, Mark Ellis and Grant Stevenson are also recommended. The firm recruited Tony Byrne from Dickson Minto WS, and promoted the ‘always well-prepared’ Walter Clark to partner.
DLA Piper Scotland LLP’s corporate clients consider there to be ‘no better firm for the UK market’. The Scottish corporate group completed some 50 transactions in 2010, with an aggregate value over $10bn, including advising Capita Group on its acquisition of NB Real Estate Group. Managing partner Simon Rae heads the practice, and is supported by Paul Pignatelli and Neil Burgess. Keith Dinsmore recently left to join local legal services company Vialex.
MacRoberts LLP’s corporate team is ‘very professional, responds in a quick and pointed manner, and always asks the right questions’. It is a frequent presence on high-value transactions, increasingly on those with a cross-border element; recent work includes advising the shareholders of BCW Group on its sale to Norway-based Gothia Financial Group. The ‘very bright, experienced’ Alan Kelly heads the team, which ‘makes others of a similar size or larger look expensive and incompetent’. Robert Burns is ‘fantastic at putting complex legal jargon into layman’s terms’.
The team at Tods Murray LLP provides a level of service that clients consider ‘exceptional’, and has ‘an ability to meet deadlines with an unexpectedly cheerful attitude, and a level of expertise that is respected by its counterparts in the negotiation process’. It completed 35 transactions in 2010, including restructuring a financial services LLP. Malcolm Holmes leads the team, and is supported by Granger Brash and the ‘detail-oriented and focused’ Stephen Chan. Glasgow-based Jack Gardiner has ‘a clear view on legal matters’.
Anderson Strathern’s corporate team ‘consistently delivers good response times, and exhibits a good understanding of broad commercial issues’. Bruce Farquhar is recommended along with practice head Simon Brown.
Biggart Baillie LLP advised ScottishPower on selling its industrial and commercial gas business to Total Gas & Power. Wayne Lawrence heads the practice.
Andrew Ley’s corporate team at HBJ Gateley has developed a strong practice in the high-growth start-up and entrepreneurs market, with 2010 seeing it gain new instructions from Scottish Resources and Sunseeker International.
The ‘highly professional’ Donald Munro heads Harper Macleod LLP’s team, which continues to grow in stature in the family-owned business sector, and is valued for its ‘strong understanding of co-operative and employee ownership models’, with Christopher Kerr ‘one of a small handful of lawyers with deep expertise in this area’.
Lindsays enters the rankings this year. David Wood heads the team, which was strengthened by the addition of former Brodies LLP corporate partner Jamie Millar in the Glasgow office, and is noted for its ‘fast response times and good, appropriate and useable advice’.
McClure Naismith LLP’s corporate team is ‘excellent value for money’. Practice head George Frier and his team advise clients such as Scottish Sea Farms and Babcock Rail.
Morton Fraser’s ‘professional yet approachable’ corporate team advised Begbies Traynor, as administrators of video game company Realtime Worlds, on the sale of assets arising from its insolvency. Adrian Bell heads the team, and Austin Flynn exhibits ‘great knowledge and professionalism’.
Semple Fraser LLP’s ‘major strengths are its coherent strategic thinking and fantastic response times’. Corporate head Bill Fowler has a particular focus on renewable energy, and Scott Kerr is an ‘all-round great performer’.
Elsewhere in Scotland
Corporate and commercial: Elsewhere in Scotland
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- Paull & Williamsons LLP Aberdeen
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- Ledingham Chalmers LLP Aberdeen, Inverness
- McGrigors LLP Aberdeen
- Stronachs LLP Aberdeen
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- Blackadders LLP Dundee
- CMS Cameron McKenna LLP Aberdeen
- Harper Macleod LLP Inverness
- Maclay Murray & Spens LLP Aberdeen
- Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace Aberdeen
- The Commercial Law Practice Aberdeen
- Thorntons Law LLP Dundee
Paull & Williamsons LLP dominates the transactional market in Aberdeen and is ‘greatly valued’ by clients. It further strengthened its offshore oil and gas capability by hiring Helen Dickson from Shepherd and Wedderburn’s Aberdeen office. In 2010, the corporate team advised Lime Rock Partners on its NOK50m investment into Reelwell AS, a Norwegian technology company. Kenneth Gordon heads the practice, in which Scott Allan is a ‘very strong performer’.
Ledingham Chalmers LLP’s corporate team displays ‘strong legal knowledge’ and ‘good overall service levels’. Jody Mitchell was promoted to partner in 2010 as part of Malcolm Laing’s six-partner team in Aberdeen and Inverness. Highlights included advising Flexlife Group regarding a £5.5m equity and debt investment from Maven Capital Partners and Simmons Parallel Energy Fund.
McGrigors LLP’s corporate offering in Aberdeen remains a prominent presence in the oil and gas sector, and in 2010 the team hired David McEwing from Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace. The group advised Superior Energy Services on its £103.5m takeover of AIM-traded Hallin Marine Subsea International. UK-wide corporate head John Rutherford is recommended.
Stronachs LLP’s primary focus is on the oil and gas sector, with recent highlights including advising Petrofac Energy Developments International Limited on its equity investment in Gateway Storage Company Limited. Other clients include Global Energy and Nautronix Limited.
Blackadders LLP has ‘sufficient strength and depth within the team to advise on issues of complexity’, with practice head Campbell Clark highlighted for his ‘great attention to detail’. In 2010, the practice advised CJ Lang & Son Limited on the sale of its retail, food and catering equipment operations in Aberdeen, Dundee and Perth to a large London-based company.
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP’s clients appreciate ‘the level of service and global offering’ that the firm provides. With a strong energy sector focus, it acts for clients such as BP, most recently on its $7bn sale of international assets to Apache Corporation. Practice head Frank Fowlie offers ‘solid support throughout industry deals’. The team was recently joined by Gregor Kennedy from Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace.
Harper Macleod LLP’s Christopher Kerr splits his time between Glasgow and Inverness, and is recommended for his specialist advice to family-owned and employee-owned businesses – clients appreciate his ‘amiable approach’.
Maclay Murray & Spens LLP maintains an active presence in Aberdeen through a three-partner team, which recently advised on PTI Group’s sale of Production Testers International. Roy Roxburgh is recommended. Former head of the firm’s corporate group Alastair Wyper left to set up his own firm in 2010.
Keith Napier heads the corporate team at Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace.
The Commercial Law Practice’s Keir Willox has a focus on the oil services sector.
Dundee-based Michael Royden heads Thorntons Law LLP’s corporate group, and has a particular focus on corporate and commercial matters in the healthcare sector.
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
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- Maclay Murray & Spens LLP Glasgow
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- Brodies LLP Edinburgh
- MacRoberts LLP Edinburgh
- McGrigors LLP Glasgow
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- Biggart Baillie LLP Glasgow
- Burness LLP Edinburgh
- Shepherd and Wedderburn Edinburgh
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- Dundas & Wilson CS LLP Edinburgh
Maclay Murray & Spens LLP’s ten-strong corporate tax practice combines legal and accounting expertise (including four chartered accountants): an attractive proposition for clients, taken in conjunction with the firm’s share schemes expertise. Recent highlights include advising Orkney Islands Council and NHS Orkney regarding a proposed joint venture for the procurement of public infrastructure projects. Gwen Souter leads a ‘helpful, professional and responsive team’, with dual-qualified lawyer and chartered tax adviser Lorna Tutty highlighted for her ‘pragmatic and common-sense approach’.
Brodies LLP’s ‘one-stop-shop’ corporate tax practice continues to impress clients with its combined legal and chartered accountancy expertise spanning restructuring, transactional tax advice, employment-related tax matters, as well as tax planning for vendors and companies. Recent highlights include advising the shareholders of Memex Group on the tax implications of selling the group to SAS Institute. Isobel d’Inverno and Alan Barr jointly head the team, and were joined in 2010 by senior tax manager Neil Ritchie.
Ainsley MacLaren’s ‘client-focused, commercially oriented’ corporate tax group benefited from MacRoberts LLP’s above-average flow of corporate and employment-related instructions in 2010. The team advised on the sale of Botterills Convenience Stores Limited to the Scotmid Group, and worked alongside KPMG to provide Tillicoultry Quarries with SDLT, VAT and capital allowances tax advice regarding the acquisition of a Scottish aggregates quarrying business.
McGrigors LLP’s team ‘delivers timely and accurate advice, while taking the time to explain key issues’. Its strength on the corporate front translated into an impressive slate of corporate tax mandates in 2010, spanning M&A, investments, joint ventures, real estate transactions and employee incentive arrangements. Practice head Karen Davidson is ‘timely and excellent’, and advised the shareholders of PSN Limited on the tax aspects of its sale to John Wood Group. Senior associate Christine Yuill – ‘a very good and responsive deputy’ – advised Nevis Capital in relation to its investment in Dieselec Generators Limited.
At Biggart Baillie LLP, Ronnie Brown handles contentious and transactional tax matters. In 2010, he acted for Grays Timber Products on the first-ever tax appeal to the UK Supreme Court, and advised Hammerson plc and Canadian Police Pension Board on the Scottish tax and corporate aspects of their £300m acquisition of Silverburn Shopping Centre.
Burness LLP’s tax practice continues to receive a healthy flow of transactional tax work from private and voluntary sector clients. John Finnick advised STV Group on the tax aspects of the share sale of Pearl & Dean Cinemas Limited in 2010. Walter Clark was promoted to partner.
Shepherd and Wedderburn’s four-partner team provides corporate and real estate tax advice to major corporate clients including Cairn Energy and Heineken UK. Practice head Stephen Miller advised Biocompatibles International on its proposed acquisition by BTG plc.
Dundas & Wilson CS LLP fields three fee-earners in Edinburgh as part of its UK-wide tax advisory practice, headed by London-based corporate tax partner Jim Hillan.
EU and competition
EU and competition
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- Maclay Murray & Spens LLP Glasgow
- Shepherd and Wedderburn Edinburgh, Glasgow
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- Biggart Baillie LLP Glasgow
- Brodies LLP Edinburgh
- Burness LLP Edinburgh, Glasgow
- Dundas & Wilson CS LLP Edinburgh
- MacRoberts LLP Glasgow
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- Anderson Strathern Edinburgh
- McClure Naismith LLP Glasgow
- McGrigors LLP Edinburgh
The service provided by Maclay Murray & Spens LLP’s EU and competition team in Glasgow is ‘as good as that which would be obtained from one of the larger practices in London’. Cartel and merger clearance work are key areas of strength, and in 2010 the team advised Stagecoach plc on the Competition Commission’s investigation into the supply of local bus services in the UK. Practice head Michael Dean is recommended, along with the ‘in-depth and attentive’ Catriona Munro.
Shepherd and Wedderburn’s breadth of capability is matched by few other firms. Recent highlights include advising Shell UK on it successful application for an exemption from EU procurement rules on behalf of the UK oil and gas industry. Gordon Downie heads the practice. Aberdeen-based Richard Cockburn has recently moved to Maclay Murray & Spens LLP.
Biggart Baillie LLP’s four-partner competition team acts for clients such as McDonald’s and Babcock International in investigatory proceedings and court challenges. In 2010, the team advised the latter on a potential interdict/injunction and claim for damages against a port authority for abuse of a dominant position. Colin Miller heads the practice.
Brodies LLP recruited former Addleshaw Goddard LLP solicitor-advocate Mark Clough QC to head its competition practice following the departure of former practice head Rodger Murray to Anderson Strathern. Clough has made a considerable impact, and advised new client Nippon Cargo Airlines on resisting BA’s application to recover from other investigated parties part of any damages arising from the European Commission investigation into price-fixing allegations in the air cargo market.
David Goodbrand heads the competition law team at Burness LLP. It handles both contentious and non-contentious matters, and in 2010 experienced growth in its procurement and state aid workload for public sector clients. Recent highlights include representing BSA International, a Belgian company, in a substantial warranty claim against the vendors of a Scottish company at the Court of Session.
Dundas & Wilson CS LLP’s competition team is ‘easy to work with, quick to respond, and adaptive to clients ’ needs’. The team advised RBS in relation to merger clearance issues and the competition-compliant structuring of commercial agreements related to the swap of respective interests of RBS and Aviva in life insurance and collective investment joint ventures. Practice head Peter Willis has ‘extensive knowledge and a thorough grasp of detail’.
MacRoberts LLP’s competition law practice spans merger clearance and other regulatory matters, including advising clients on the OFT’s whistleblowing/leniency policy and obligations thereunder. David Flint heads the practice, which also has notable expertise in public procurement through Duncan Osler.
Anderson Strathern handles EU procurement issues for clients such as Glasgow School of Art and Pihl UK Limited. Rodger Murray recently joined the team from his former role as head of competition at Brodies LLP.
Colin Millar at McClure Naismith LLP handles competition law matters arising from the firm’s M&A work.
At McGrigors LLP, Jim Cormack in Edinburgh is noted for his competition and regulatory expertise. The firm also has competition law capability in London and Belfast.