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Anderson Strathern LLP acts for some of the biggest landowners in Scotland, including the Buccleuch Group, The Crown Estate and the National Trust for Scotland. Led by the ‘unflappable‘ Alasdair Fox, the ‘outstanding‘ team advises on the full range of issues, including renewable energy projects, forestry, leasing, and sales and purchases. James Drysdale is recommended.

Boasting leading names such as Jon Robertson and Niall Stringer, Turcan Connell remains a market leader. It advised new client National Trust for Scotland on the acquisition of a site for the new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum site in Alloway, and continues to advise clients such as the RSPB and John Muir Trust on environmental protection.

The ‘level of service is excellent‘ from Brodies LLP’s team, which covers salmon fishing, forestry, wind farms and quarries. The firm advised PD Hook Group on its sale of a number of farms in Scotland, and also advises the Atholl Estates on property matters. Odell Milne is singled out for her ‘ability to solve problems by thinking laterally‘. Hew Dalrymple has retired.

John Fulton heads the top-notch team at Tods Murray LLP, which recently advised the Forestry Commission on a review of byelaws and the introduction of its Pilot Access Behaviour Code. Clients include the Westminster Family Trusts, the Ellesmere Estate and the Woodland Trust.

Gillespie Macandrew LLP acted on the £9m acquisition of the Tullybeagles Estate in Perthshire; Ullapool’s purchase of the Langwell Estate; and the restructuring of three forestry investment partnerships worth £30m into one combined LLP. The highly experienced Robert Scott-Dempster heads the team.

James Rust’s team at Morton Fraser advised Sir Henry Wade’s Piillmuir Trust on its negotiations with agricultural tenants for the purchase of part of the farm. Other clients include Balmoral Estates and the Scottish Agricultural College.

‘The personal service offered is exceptional‘ at HBJ Gateley Wareing LLP, where the ‘extremely competent, honourable and dependable‘ Alastair Shepherd heads the team. Catherine Taylor and Lord Christopher Kinross are also highly recommended.

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP recently acted on the multimillion-pound purchase of a Highland sporting estate that involved significant crofters’ rights issues. Gregor Mitchell heads the team.

Colin Clark heads a strong five-lawyer team at Pagan Osborne, which recently advised a client on a potentially contentious exit from a family farming partnership over a very short period of time.

Thorntons Law LLP’s practice is headed by Mike Blair and has recently advised on the acquisition of a number of Highland sporting estates, as well as on wind farm schemes and salmon fishing interests.

Alistair Anderson heads the agricultural, rural and sporting property team at Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP, which represents estate owners, farmers and rural landowners.

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Legal Developments in the UK

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