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Joan Cradden heads the department at Brodies LLP, which represents Standard Life and American Express, and has won new clients in the public sector including the City of Edinburgh Council. The firm recruited Paul McMahon, formerly of Harper Macleod LLP. Emma Bell remains a consultant after stepping down from the partnership.

Dundas & Wilson CS LLP has a ‘number of strong players’ in its employment team, including David Walker and practice head Eilidh Wiseman. The firm receives numerous instructions from higher education and public sector clients, and is the Scottish Prison Service’s sole employment law adviser.

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP ‘consistently has the right people in the right place when they ’re needed’. New practice head Amanda Jones has particular expertise in discrimination law.

McGrigors LLP offers a ‘good-sized, geographically spread team’ – with offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen – and has ‘extremely strong industry knowledge’. Diane Nicol heads the practice, which represents BP, Scottish Power and the Royal Mail. Peter Sharp has specialist knowledge of offshore employment matters.

Alan Masson and Alun Thomas are key figures for Anderson Strathern, which fields a ‘solid team’ notwithstanding the departure of Neil Maclean, who joined Shepherd and Wedderburn. Clients include the University of St Andrews and Harvey Nichols.

Burness LLP delivers ‘consistently high-quality’ and ‘exemplary’ service. Senior associate Morag Moffet is ‘highly impressive’, and David Morgan’s ‘advice is invaluable’. Practice head Ronald Mackay is also recommended.

The ‘exceptional’ Stephen Miller, head of MacRoberts LLP’s employment practice, is ‘an extremely knowledgeable and clearly highly respected individual’. The firm acts for around two-thirds of Scotland’s 32 local authorities regarding equal pay and other employment law issues.

Morton Fraser advises employers and employees, and has won new clients including HM Revenue & Customs, Spirit AeroSystems and the MoD. Lindsey Cartwright and the ‘meticulous’ Innes Clark are highly recommended.

Fielding ‘lawyers who know our business and understand the sector’, the Aberdeen-based team at Paull & Williamsons LLP provides ‘good advice backed by years of experience’. Sean Saluja and Tricia Walker are recommended.

Brechin Tindal Oatts provides ‘excellent service from general advice to tribunal representation’. Caroline Carr is ‘second to none’, and David Hoey is also recommended.

Following Russell Bradley’s departure in 2010, DLA Piper Scotland LLP’s employment practice is now led by the highly recommended Alan Strain, formerly of Biggart Baillie LLP. Clients include HBOS plc, Aberdeenshire Council, and Aggreko.

HBJ Gateley’s clients include BT, Allianz and DAS Legal Expenses Insurance. The team made several hires, including Kim Pattullo from Shepherd and Wedderburn. Jacqueline McCluskey heads the practice.

Iain Atack is a key figure at Lindsays, which provides ‘excellent advice within responsive timeframes’, and a ‘superb overall level of service’. The firm strengthened its Edinburgh practice with the addition of Frances McAulay.

McClure Naismith LLP’s employment team 
represents clients such as Whyte and Mackay, sportscotland and The Clyde Group. The group ‘can work in the grey world of employment law, and not simply keep to black and white’. Practice head Alan Thomson is recommended.

Pinsent Masons LLP represents Lloyds Banking Group, and won new clients such as Costco and Poundland. Senior associate Morag Hutchison has ‘a great ability to think on her feet’, and Kirsty Ayre is well respected.

Shepherd and Wedderburn saw several departures in 2010, including Kim Pattullo. Neil Maclean now heads the team, and provides ‘pragmatic, sensible and honest advice’. Recent client wins, such as Hutchesons Educational Trust and the Department for Transport, have increased the firm’s visibility in the public and educational sectors.

Simpson & Marwick’s team gives ‘prompt, clear and practical advice’. Aberdeen-based Sandy Kemp and David Hughes are ‘extremely knowledgeable, professional, thorough and committed’. Clients include Brit Insurance, Marathon Oil and Baker Hughes.

Turcan Connell stands out for its focus on representing senior executives. The ‘tremendous’ David Ogilvy is ‘a highly energetic individual who is creative in legal argument’, and ‘his performance in court is one which subtly but incisively produces the answers he requires’.

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