United Kingdom > Scotland > Projects, energy and natural resources
Energy (excluding oil and gas)
Energy (excluding oil and gas)
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- Dundas & Wilson CS LLP Edinburgh, Glasgow
- McGrigors LLP Aberdeen, Edinburgh
- Shepherd and Wedderburn Edinburgh, Glasgow
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- Biggart Baillie LLP Edinburgh
- Maclay Murray & Spens LLP Edinburgh
- Pinsent Masons LLP Glasgow
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3
- Anderson Strathern Edinburgh
- Brodies LLP Edinburgh
- Burness LLP Glasgow
- CMS Cameron McKenna LLP Edinburgh, Aberdeen
- Gillespie Macandrew LLP Edinburgh
- HBJ Gateley Edinburgh
- MacRoberts LLP Edinburgh
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- Brechin Tindal Oatts Glasgow
- DLA Piper Scotland LLP Edinburgh
- Harper Macleod LLP Edinburgh, Glasgow
- Ledingham Chalmers LLP Aberdeen
- Morton Fraser Edinburgh
- Tods Murray LLP Edinburgh
- Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP Glasgow
Dundas & Wilson CS LLP’s energy practice is ‘excellent at understanding what the client wants’, and has particular strength in wind farm financing. Mark Brumwell heads the team, which acted for Beatrice Offshore Wind on consent matters regarding its wind farm.
McGrigors LLP’s Bob Ruddiman leads an energy team of ‘true specialists who know the business and regulatory environment well and have an excellent client orientation’. In 2010, the team advised AES Wind Generation on its acquisition of Your Energy Limited from Mistral Energy. Euan McVicar is ‘a very talented, remarkable and reliable professional, with deep knowledge of the energy sector in general and of the renewables business in particular’.
Shepherd and Wedderburn’s cross-departmental energy practice ‘puts the client first, understands the industry and its specific requirements, has quick response times, and is very easy and uncomplicated to work with’. Highlights in 2010 included advising Cairn Energy on its $8.5bn proposed sale of shares in its Indian subsidiary to Vedanta Resources plc. Practice head James Saunders is recommended, as are Liz McRobb and Kevin McGrory, who ‘are extremely valuable due to their long industry experience’.
Biggart Baillie LLP’s renewables team is ‘very knowledgeable about government carbon reduction projects, and has good awareness of other issues which affect the energy industry’. In 2010, the firm advised ScottishPower on a £200m outsourcing partnership with Eaga plc. Practice head Wayne Lawrence has an ‘excellent manner (both with clients and third parties), and good awareness of commercial influences and interests’.
Maclay Murray & Spens LLP’s transactions-focused renewable energy practice is headed by David Cruickshank, who joined from Barclays Capital in 2010, while Michael Dean heads the energy regulatory group. The energy group as a whole exhibits ‘good industry knowledge, and seeks to be innovative while remaining commercial’. In 2010, it advised The Combination of Rothes Distillers on a biomass plant in Morayshire. Brian Moore has ‘a very user-friendly and commercial manner, and is an excellent sounding board on corporate M&A activity’.
Pinsent Masons LLP’s energy practice ‘consistently delivers very good levels of service’, and has an impressive record in renewables matters. In 2010, the team advised new client John Wood Group on its acquisition of a significant equity stake in SgurrEnergy Limited, a Glasgow-based renewable energy consultancy business. Paul Rice and Alastair Morrison co-head the practice.
Anderson Strathern’s practice head Bruce Farquhar in 2010 advised e-Gen on the establishment of a £50m renewable energy fund. Gavin Thain is acting as lead solicitor to the Crown Estate on the development of the world’s first commercial wave and tidal electricity project. Alastair McKie is recommended for his planning law expertise.
Neil Collar heads the team at Brodies LLP, which has displayed notable commitment to the renewable energy sector, and ‘inspires a strong degree of confidence’. The Co-operative Bank, which is the leading lender to the renewable sector in the UK for projects valued up to £25m, is a key client. Project finance specialist Keith Patterson is also recommended.
Burness LLP’s diverse practice covers wind and hydro energy, with energy from waste a particular strength. James Forbes heads the team, which in 2010 advised Bruichladdich Distillery Company on its combined heat and power biomass project, and Lloyds Banking Group and BNP Paribas as lenders for the £32m, 22MW Glenkerie Wind Farm development.
Penelope Warne heads the team at CMS Cameron McKenna LLP, which advised Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe on its acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Artemis Intelligent Power. Timothy Pitt is an expert in real estate and energy.
Gillespie Macandrew LLP’s energy team provides an ‘exemplary level of service’. The firm has formalised its renewable energy expertise under practice head Kirsty MacPherson, noted for her ability to ‘see the bigger picture and not get lost in the detail’. Derek McCulloch is also recommended, for his ‘years of experience in the field of hydro electricity development’.
Alan Shanks heads the energy practice at HBJ Gateley, which earned new instructions from Scottish Power Renewables, and advised Burcote Wind on the development of land to be used for renewable energy generating stations. Andrew Ley is also recommended.
Nick Jones’ energy practice at MacRoberts LLP has steadily built a reputation in the market, and has ‘good industry knowledge’. It has a strong onshore wind offering but has been developing its profile beyond that sector, and in 2010 it advised UK Hydro on several low head hydro schemes.
Brechin Tindal Oatts’ energy practice acts ‘professionally, swiftly and correctly at all times, and shows great knowledge and expertise’. It typically handles developer and funding mandates in the wind, hydro and biomass generation sectors for new projects with a build cost of up to £15m. Ralph Riddiough displays ‘exceptional knowledge and efficiency’ and co-heads the practice with the ‘personable and very capable’ James Dickson.
Gareth Parry joined DLA Piper Scotland LLP from McGrigors LLP in 2010 to head up the engineering and construction team. Project finance partner Andrew Fitchie advised EMEC on expanding its marine renewables offering.
David Bone was appointed as Harper Macleod LLP’s head of energy and natural resources in 2010, and provides a ‘high level of business knowledge and experience with a clear customer focus’, advising on real estate matters relating to wind farm developments; his clients include The Forestry Commission. Pamela Todd is also recommended.
Ledingham Chalmers LLP remains an active figure in renewable energy projects, and enjoys strong client relationships in the energy services sector across the north and northeast of Scotland. Clients include Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group.
Morton Fraser provides ‘sensible, not flashy’ advice, and has a niche focus on nuclear energy for clients such as the UKAEA. Litigation head Ewan McIntyre leads the energy team.
Richard Leslie leads Tods Murray LLP’s energy team, which has ‘impressive knowledge of the wind power market’.
Andy McFarlane leads the renewable energy team at Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP. Clients include RWE npower renewables.
Oil and gas
Oil and gas
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- CMS Cameron McKenna LLP Aberdeen, Edinburgh
- McGrigors LLP Aberdeen
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- Paull & Williamsons LLP Aberdeen
- Stronachs LLP Aberdeen
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- Bond Pearce LLP Aberdeen
- Maclay Murray & Spens LLP Aberdeen
- Shepherd and Wedderburn Abderdeen
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP is dominant in the Aberdeen oil and gas market, and its prominent client base reflects the cross-border nature of its practice. In 2010, Penelope Warne led the team in advising BP on its $7bn sale of international oil and gas assets in the US, Canada and Egypt to Apache Corporation.
McGrigors LLP stands out for its strength in depth in the area, and practice head Bob Ruddiman is valued for his ‘experience and industry knowledge’ and ‘strategic thinking’. Highlights in 2010 included advising PSN Limited on its £600m merger with John Wood Group, and acting for Dana Petroleum on the $650m financing and acquisition of Suncor’s UK business.
Paull & Williamsons LLP’s Bruce McLeod is ‘first class: he has very broad experience of the industry and a very sharp mind, and brings a good commercial perspective and understanding to bear’. The team welcomed Brian Hemming, previously head of legal and commercial at Maersk, in 2010, while Robin Clarkson left in April 2011 for an in-house position at Sterling Resources. Clients of the practice include Centrica and Dana Petroleum.
David Sheach heads Stronachs LLP’s oil and gas team, which advised Centrica Energy Upstream on integrating legacy assets from Centrica and the assets of Venture Production. The group also advised Petrofac Energy Developments International Limited on its equity investment in Gateway Storage Company Limited.
Bond Pearce LLP has ‘excellent experience in the UK upstream energy sector’, with Kenny Paton and Finlay Crossan handling oil and gas work from Aberdeen. Clients include Total UK.
Aberdeen-based Uisdean Vass heads Maclay Murray & Spens LLP’s oil and gas practice. His particular expertise in Latin American markets is supplemented by the oil and gas expertise of Richard Cockburn, who joined in March 2011 from Shepherd and Wedderburn.
Shepherd and Wedderburn’s Kevin McGrory is ‘practical, commercial and responsive’, and is developing a strong reputation in the upstream and downstream transactional market. Highlights included advising Septa Energy Nigeria Limited on the acquisition of a substantial package of Nigerian oil and gas assets. Energy partner and former Aberdeen office head Richard Cockburn left to join Maclay Murray & Spens LLP’s energy practice in March 2011.
Projects
Projects
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1
- DLA Piper Scotland LLP Edinburgh
- Dundas & Wilson CS LLP Glasgow, Edinburgh
- MacRoberts LLP Edinburgh, Glasgow
- McGrigors LLP Edinburgh
- Pinsent Masons LLP Edinburgh, Glasgow
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2
- Anderson Strathern Edinburgh
- Brodies LLP Edinburgh
- Maclay Murray & Spens LLP Edinburgh
- McClure Naismith LLP Edinburgh
- Shepherd and Wedderburn Glasgow
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3
- Biggart Baillie LLP Edinburgh, Glasgow
- Burness LLP Edinburgh
- Tods Murray LLP Edinburgh
DLA Piper Scotland LLP’s projects team provides a ‘first-class service, consistently meeting and exceeding expectations at all levels’. In 2010, the group advised Transport Scotland on all procurement and contract matters relating to the Forth Replacement Crossing. Sharon Fitzgerald heads the practice, and ‘offers first-class advice on procurement matters, with close attention to detail’.
Dundas & Wilson CS LLP is a ‘leading firm for projects work’, and provides a ‘great level of service and strong input at partner level’. Michael McAuley leads the team, which advised Moray Council on its £35m contract for the design, construction and provision of services to two schools. Keith Armstrong is an ‘exceptional lawyer who has an outstanding ability to get deals concluded efficiently without wandering off into theory and point-scoring’; and Paul Massie is ‘an impressive lawyer with a great work ethic’. Michael Stoneham left for Brodies LLP.
MacRoberts LLP’s infrastructure team advised Forthspan on the Forth replacement crossing, and acted for the preferred bidder on the Western Isles School PPP project. Andrew Orr heads the team, which advises clients in the public, private and banking sectors.
McGrigors LLP is ‘an extremely modern, responsive and forward-looking firm with an array of talent at senior and junior levels’. Highlights for 2010 included advising Barclays, RBS and The Co-operative Bank as the lenders to the Tayside Mental Health PFI project, which was the first PPP healthcare project procured by means of the Non-Profit Distributing structure. PPP practice head Drysdale Graham is ‘a founding figure in the PPP sector’, while Michael Watson leads on the project finance side.
Pinsent Masons LLP fields a team of ‘infrastructure industry experts who always seem to solve complex problems efficiently’. It continues to advise the Scottish Futures Trust on market preparation for the hub initiative, a long-term PPP programme. Practice head Stuart Barr is ‘a very talented lawyer, with a big presence in the projects sector’.
Karyn Watt’s team at Anderson Strathern is ‘excellent by all measures’. In 2010, it acted for the building contractors on the £120m Aberdeen Schools 3Rs PPP, and continues to advise on the Glasgow School of Art’s Garnethill redevelopment.
Brodies LLP made a significant move in 2010 by recruiting Michael Stoneham from Dundas & Wilson CS LLP. Keith Patterson heads the projects group, whose highlights included advising Scottish Borders Council on a £80m procurement project for long-term residual waste disposal. The team also advised The Co-operative Bank on the project financing of 22 renewables projects during 2010.
Highlights for Maclay Murray & Spens LLP’s projects practice included advising Aviva on financing the £50m Moray Schools project, as well as acting as Scottish counsel to Veolia Water on its acquisition of United Utilities’ unregulated water interests in the UK and Europe. Euan Wilson and Rod Munro are recommended.
McClure Naismith LLP advised the sponsor of the Aberdeen Schools PPP project, and represented Tayside Health Board on the £110m project for the construction of two mental health facilities. Steven Brown heads the practice.
Shepherd and Wedderburn’s sector expertise spans transport, health, waste, renewables, education and defence. Highlights for 2010 included advising Sgoiltean Ùra LLP as the SPV for the Western Isles Schools hybrid PPP project. Rhona Harper heads the practice.
Biggart Baillie LLP provides ‘well-considered and appropriately detailed advice’. The ‘pragmatic and sensible’ Martin Gallaher advised Ringway Infrastructure Services Limited, a leading provider in highway services, regarding negotiations for a new ten-year O&M agreement for the A92 DBFO roads project.
Chris Mackay heads the team at Burness LLP, which advised ten public sector bodies on the hub initiative.
Stephen Colliston has taken over at the helm of Tods Murray LLP’s projects practice following Ian McPake’s move to the Scottish Futures Trust. He ‘knows what he is talking about and has the ability to communicate well’, and the practice as a whole has ‘an engaging but unpatronising warmth to it’.