The Legal 500

United Kingdom > Scotland > Finance > Insolvency and corporate recovery

Editorial sections

Other

All countries

Brodies LLP’s corporate restructuring practice consistently delivers ‘a highly personalised and focused service that provides not only a great knowledge of the law but also the sense to apply that law in a commercial way’. The four-partner team acted for KPMG as joint administrators of Peter Scott & Company. Practice head Colin McIntosh is ‘highly respected in the Scottish restructuring and insolvency community’; Rachel Grant is ‘one of the pre-eminent insolvency lawyers in Scotland’; and Robin Macpherson is ‘a highly experienced litigator who brings a breadth of knowledge and experience to the table’.

Burness LLP’s restructuring and insolvency practice delivers ‘all-round first-class service’, with an integrated approach that makes it ‘particularly adept at handling large, voluminous, complex cases’. In 2010, the team was appointed to the corporate real estate and corporate and commercial panels for Lloyds Banking Group Business Support Unit, advising it and Grant Thornton on the administration and liquidation of companies within the Kenmore Property Group. ‘Committed, resourceful and commercial’ practice head Gary Moffat is ‘great at identifying the nub of an issue almost immediately, and is never flummoxed by a problem’.

DLA Piper Scotland LLP’s ‘excellent, proactive and forward-thinking’ insolvency practice is ‘one of the strongest in Scotland’. Yvonne Brady heads the group, and is ‘a leader in her field in Scotland’. The team advised Ernst & Young on disposing of the Slumberdown group of companies. Fiona McKerrell is ‘an innovative thinker, and shows a very high commitment to client service’. John Gallacher, ‘a highly experienced property lawyer’, joined from Bell & Scott in 2010.

Dundas & Wilson CS LLP’s ‘experienced’ corporate restructuring team remains ‘one of the leaders in the market’. Headed by ‘articulate’ insolvency expert Claire Massie, the team in 2010 acted as UK legal adviser to PwC as administrator of Scottish-headquartered airline The Globespan Group. Other clients include Ernst & Young and KPMG.

Shepherd and Wedderburn is ‘at the top of the pack’ when it comes to restructuring and insolvency, with ‘a pragmatic and sensible approach, and excellent client-facing skills’. Practice head Paul Hally is ‘well respected and very experienced’, and is supported by six other Scotland-based partners, including Fiona Paterson and Gillian Carty, who ‘have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law’. Key instructions included acting for PwC as administrator of Sovereign Oilfield Group.

HBJ Gateley has ‘built a solid team in the last few years, and is making an impact thanks to its depth of experience’. The firm expanded further in 2010 by recruiting as a partner Jamie McIntosh, formerly a senior associate at Dundas & Wilson CS LLP, who ‘works tirelessly to bring restructurings to conclusion’. Practice head Graeme Henry ‘demonstrates a hunger and drive which is not common among his competitors’.

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP’s corporate restructuring practice is ‘a quality brand’, and is able to leverage the firm’s broader banking and corporate experience, continuing to attract heavyweight instructions. In 2010, the team acted for Bank of Scotland on Cala Group’s restructuring and debt-to-equity swap. Practice head Michael Hughes is ‘a very competent and experienced operator’.

At McGrigors LLP, Kevin Devanny leads an eight-partner team which recently advised KPMG on the Scottish property aspects of a large retail insolvency.

Semple Fraser LLP provides ‘practical advice backed by a great deal of experience’, most notably through ‘reliable insolvency expert’ Gordon Hollerin, who ‘compares favourably with anyone’. Recent highlights include appointment to Clydesdale Bank’s panel to provide advice on restructuring and secured debt recovery and exit.

Anderson Strathern’s insolvency practice offers ‘strong service, with competitive costs, streamlined processes and good quality control’. Practice head Katrina Lumsdaine is valued for her ‘pragmatic approach, supported by technical expertise’.

At Biggart Baillie LLP, Derek Ellery leads a team that is ‘quick to respond, technically solid and cost effective’. Clients include KPMG and Baker Tilly.

Harper Macleod LLP’s practice head James Lloyd is recommended for his contentious insolvency work. In 2010, the team advised the administrators on the pure insolvency aspects of Dundee FC’s administration.

Alan Meek heads the insolvency practice at MacRoberts LLP, which advised PKF on the administration of a failed bridging lender with a £250m-plus loan portfolio.

Morton Fraser has a ‘strong team and high degree of technical knowledge’.

Tods Murray LLP fields a ‘solid, competent’ insolvency team. Alastair Burrows is ‘knowledgeable, and provides reasoned advice’.

Search News and Articles

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

Press Releases in the UK

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
© 2012 www.legal500.com