The Legal 500

Dickson Minto WS’ prowess is such that it prompts one client to declare it ‘by far and away the best corporate firm in Scotland‘. Led by experienced and highly regarded managing partner Bruce Minto, the team advised Tullow Oil on its cash box placing; HBOS on the Scottish aspects of its merger with Lloyds TSB; and the shareholders of Artemis on its sale to Fortis. Colin MacNeill, Andrew Todd and Ewan Gilchrist are all recommended.

Dundas & Wilson CS LLP’s corporate practice, which many consider to be ‘the standout best in Scotland‘, is led by Michael Polson. The ‘commercial and practical‘ team advised Clyde Blowers on its US$1bn acquisition of the pumps, gears and hydraulics business from Textron; RBS on the £950m disposal of its interest in Tesco Personal Finance to Tesco; and Resolution on the Scottish aspects of its £5bn takeover by Pearl, working alongside Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP. Clients find the ‘tremendously dedicated and professional‘ Graeme Bruce to be ‘a most capable lawyer‘, while Graham Sibbald also receives glowing feedback. Stuart MacLean and Greig Williamson have been promoted to the partnership.

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP’s ‘sharp and focused‘ corporate practice is led by Aberdeen-based Alastair Wyper. The central belt team advised Leisurecorp on its £55m acquisition of the Turnberry Hotel and Golf Resort in Ayrshire; The Erdington Group on its acquisition of Brugal & Co; and Weir Group on the £65m sale of its Weir Strachan & Henshaw division to Babcock International Group. Ian Lumsden and the ‘sound, commercial and value-adding‘ Kenneth Shand are recommended.

Led by Barry McCaig, McGrigors LLP advised longstanding client iomart on its £20m sale of Ufindus to BT; Leopard No.2 Investments on its £52m acquisition of Petrol Express; and BDL Select Hotels on its £45m acquisition of the Paten & Co. hotel chain. The firm is also well regarded in the oil and gas sector, and ‘ever-reliable‘ capital markets head Alan Diamond and private equity specialist Gary Anderson are also recommended.

Shepherd And Wedderburn’s ‘high-quality‘ practice is led by James Will, who is ‘hugely experienced and appropriately cautious‘. The team advised new client the Nuclear Liabilities Fund on EDF’s £12.5bn acquisition of British Energy, in which NLF held a 35.6% stake; and was appointed court reporter by the Court of Session on the £12.2bn takeover of HBOS by Lloyds TSB. The firm also operates one of the leading Scottish capital markets practices, acting for clients such as Bank of Scotland, Numis Securities and Merrill Lynch. ‘It’s one of the few Scottish practices capable of taking on an equivalent City firm‘, say clients, who also single out Paul Hally and Glasgow corporate finance head George Boyle for praise.

Headed by the highly regarded Simon Rae, DLA Piper Scotland LLP’s ‘small yet formidable‘ corporate team was boosted by the arrival of Dickson Minto WS senior associate Keith Dinsmore, who joined the firm as partner. The firm recently advised the shareholders of MTEM on its £275m sale to Petroleum Geo-Services, and Vespa Capital on the £30m buyout of James Villas. Paul Pignatelli shows ‘attention to detail, tenacity, a proactive approach and limitless energy‘, and Neil Burgess ‘gets the job done and doesn’t let ego get in the way of a deal‘.

Brodies LLP’s corporate team is now led by Julian Voge. Highlights for 2008 included advice to the shareholders of Loch Duart in relation to an investment by private equity firm Capricorn Investment Group, while the firm worked alongside King & Spalding on the Scottish aspects of Arcapita’s shari’ah-compliant acquisition of Downhole Products. Iain Young, Alistair Campbell and Shuna Stirling are all recommended.

Burness LLP is noted for its abilities on complex transactions. Led by Peter Lawson, the ‘personable, experienced and commercial‘ team advised key client Standard Life on its £24.2m takeover of Vebnet and subsequent acquisition of a 20% stake in BJFM, and Uberior Ventures on its £27.5m acquisition of a 40% stake in Tulloch Homes Group. Mark Ellis and the ‘technically excellent yet commercially minded‘ Grant Stevenson are also recommended.

MacRoberts LLP’s ‘diligent, competent and flexible‘ corporate team is led by ‘shrewd and calm‘ chairman Ian Dickson. Recent highlights include advice to the vendor shareholders on the sale of The Essentia Group, and Tennant on its US$68m acquisition of Applied Sweepers. Clients find the ‘smart, knowledgeable, hard working‘ Neil Kennedy able to ‘offer practical solutions to complex problems while staying cool under pressure‘, and are also quick to praise Alan Kelly and Robert Burns.

2008 saw Tods Murray LLP act on corporate deals with an aggregate value exceeding £4.75bn, receiving first-time instructions from Applecross Properties, Mansford Holdings and Mountgrange Capital. Led by Malcolm Holmes, Granger Brash and Alistair Burrow, the team advised HBOS on the Scottish aspects of both its £4bn rights offering and a £750m offering of securities by HBOS Capital Funding. The plaudits rain in thick and fast for the ‘succinct and intelligible‘ Jack Gardiner, whose ‘top-notch‘ advice is ‘always bang on the button‘.

Anderson Strathern LLP’s Simon Brown is ‘excellent‘.

Biggart Baillie LLP has the ‘experienced, knowledgeable, hardworking, conscientious and friendly‘ David Allan.

Fraser Jackson at HBJ Gateley Wareing LLP is recommended.

Harper Macleod LLP’s senior partner Donald Munro is ‘experienced and highly commercial‘.

George Frier is recommended at McClure Naismith LLP.

Christian Hook and Austin Flynn at Morton Fraser are recommended.

Semple Fraser LLP’s new team head Bill Fowler is ‘approachable, balanced and plain-speaking‘.