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Brodies LLP has long enjoyed an excellent reputation in disputes work. Joyce Cullen and Robin Macpherson jointly head the team, which has strengthened in areas such as insurance and insolvency. Recent highlights include advising Commonwealth Oil and Gas in the Court of Session on a £100m claim against a former non-executive director for damages for breach of fiduciary duties. Other clients include RBS, Norwich Union and Royal & Sun Alliance.

Headed by Lorna Sibbald, Dundas & Wilson CS LLP’s ‘value-for-money‘ group is praised for its ‘excellent‘ service and ability to ‘take a practical approach and outline all the issues‘. The firm is particularly recommended for financial services related disputes. Recently it advised Tullis Russell Papermakers in a case against Inveresk. Colin Hutton is considered an ‘outstanding individual‘.

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP’s six-partner team is headed by Tim Edward. 2008 highlights included successfully representing Arthur Simmers in a disputed joint venture agreement that went to the House of Lords. The firm also successfully advised Tesco in relation to a petition brought by West Coast Capital in the Court of Session in Scotland for unfair prejudice as a minority shareholder in Dobbies Garden Centres.

McGrigors LLP’s four-partner disputes team is headed by Laura Cameron and benefits from the expertise of Craig Connal QC, Jacqueline Harris, and the ‘very able‘ Jim Cormack. Recently it advised Inveresk in its dispute with Tullis Russell Papermakers, and Clydeport Properties in a multimillion-pound dispute with Shell UK.

Burness LLP’s ‘high-quality and very reasonably priced‘ team is headed by chairman Philip Rodney. The firm was involved in several major financial services cases, and represented Stokors and Middle Eastern investors in a multi-jurisdictional dispute following the collapse of Echelon Wealth Management. Alan McMillan, Gary Moffat and the ‘very pragmatic‘ Ian Anderson are recommended.

The highly experienced David Arnott heads MacRoberts LLP’s well-respected disputes team. Recently it represented RBS on a reference to the ECJ in connection with a VAT appeal, and the former directors of a company defending Court of Session proceedings brought by an administrator for alleged breach of directors’ duties. Julie Hamilton and Neil Kelly are recommended.

Shepherd And Wedderburn’s ‘approachable and helpful‘ team is headed by David Anderson. It was boosted by the arrival of banking litigation specialist Alasdair Frood from DLA Piper Scotland LLP, although the firm will miss Kenny Cumming, who became Auditor of the Court of Session. The firm advised on an urgent petition to place Landsbanki subsidiary Heritable Bank into administration.

Anderson Strathern LLP delivers a ‘first-class service‘ and ‘timely and pragmatic advice‘. Robert Fife’s team, which expanded through the firm’s merger with Glasgow’s Kerr & Co and the arrival of Alison Forsyth, acted on a range of major disputes for clients such as Kwik-Fit, Porsche and Wetrooms International.

‘The work is carried out quickly and efficiently and the solicitors clearly have an in-depth knowledge of their subject‘ at Morton Fraser. Ewan McIntyre’s team boasts a quality client base that includes Lloyds TSB, Scottish & Newcastle, and AMEC.

Kenneth Carruthers heads Semple Fraser LLP’s five-partner disputes team, which includes insolvency specialist Gordon Hollerin and partner Alison Gow. The firm represented one party in a high-profile £10m family dispute that entered the Commercial Court.

Led by Brent Hawyood, Biggart Baillie LLP advised Marine Harvest on two claims in the Court of Session, one involving a £3m claim against its insurers for their failure to indemnify fish losses.

Solicitor-advocate Simon Catto heads the team at HBJ Gateley Wareing LLP, which enjoys a steady stream of work from BT.

Harper Macleod LLP acts for a range of clients, including Clydesdale Bank, Optical Express and BDO Stoy Hawyard, and offers an in-house advocacy service. Rod McKenzie heads the team.

Simpson & Marwick’s disputes team is headed by Peter Anderson and includes highly rated partners Charles McGregor and Douglas Russell.

Joan Devine heads the practice at DLA Piper Scotland LLP, which recently represented H Morris & Company in a significant £3.2m dispute in the Court of Session.

McClure Naismith LLP successfully represented the liquidator of Scottish Coal (Deep Mine) in proceedings against Royal and Sun Alliance. Ewen Brown heads the team.

Peter Paterson’s team at Tods Murray LLP acts for clients including Macdonald Resorts, Wyman Gordon and Melrose Resources.

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