The Legal 500

Promoted to the top tier this year, Dundas & Wilson CS LLP’s practice ‘inspires confidence‘. The firm is particularly strong in nuclear, waste and renewables, while its European reach is reflected by instructions from Elia and Etso. Led by Andrew Renton, the team recently advised National Grid on the property and planning aspects of its £18bn upgrade and extension to its UK networks; Fred Olsen Renewables on the £304m refinancing of its UK wind farm portfolio; and EDF Energy Renewables on its joint venture with Energy Nouvelle. Donald Cumming and David McGowan are also recommended.

Shepherd And Wedderburn’s market-leading team is led by ‘responsive and knowledgeable‘ practice head James Saunders. Recent highlights include its advice to new client the Nuclear Liabilities Fund on EDF’s £12.5bn acquisition of British Energy, in which NLF held a 35.6% stake. It also advised both the Commission for Energy Regulation and the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation on the introduction of the Single Electricity Market in Ireland, and reports an increase in renewables instructions, including from key practice client ScottishPower. Planning and environment specialist Patricia Hawthorn (‘thorough, practical and personable‘) is also recommended.

The standout highlight for Biggart Baillie LLP’s energy practice was its advice to Scottish Power on its £200m outsourcing partnership with eaga in relation to its carbon emissions reduction target. Led by David Ross, the team also acted on a number of wind farm deals, advising Dumfries & Galloway Council on a proposed wind farm on Blackcraig Ridge, and Perth and Kinross Council on the Ninth Wind Farm Inquiry.

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP’s team is led by the ‘personable, extremely articulate‘ Alastair McEwan, who ‘demonstrates huge depth of knowledge‘ and ‘does a fantastic job of diffusing tension in difficult negotiations‘. The firm’s carbon trading and renewable energy work continues to develop, with recent highlights including advice to Aquamarine Power on a £100m financing for the development of its wave and tidal technologies, and to Rok Civil Engineering on the Dun Law and Edinbane wind farms. Other clients include Energetics Electricity, the Department of Energy and Climate Change, and Scottish Power.

Although McGrigors LLP is best known for its prowess in oil and gas, with Aberdeen-based team head Bob Ruddiman one of the market’s leading specialists, the practice also spans power generation and renewable energy. 2008 saw the firm advise the Scottish Power/Vattenfall consortium in the Round 3 Offshore Licensing bidding process, and Barclays Bank as funders of the Port of Liverpool wind farm project. Infrastructure expert Euan McVicar is also recommended.

MacRoberts LLP’s ‘patient, constructive and reliable‘ practice is led by wind farm specialist Nick Jones. The firm acted for the Scottish Government in advising the 34 planning and national park authorities on updating their wind energy policies, and advised Vattenfall Wind Power in an appeal of a refusal of planning permission for its 14-turbine development in Perth and Kinross. Planning head Sarah Pirie is also recommended.

Jointly led by Richard Foley and Alastair Morrison, Pinsent Masons LLP advised Amec on the £126m sale of its wind business to Vattenfall Aktiebolag, and Diageo on its £100m installation of two bio-energy plants at its distilleries in Roseisle and Cameronbridge. The team received first-time renewables instructions from Barclays and Infinis.

Led by planning and environment head Alastair McKie, Anderson Strathern LLP advised RWE Npower on the Braan Hydro Project and also acted on a number of wind farm projects. Other clients include Composite Energy, the Coal Authority and INEOS.

Brodies LLP receives a steady stream of project finance work from The Co-operative Bank - recently advising it on a number of wind farm projects in Scotland - while other clients include London Energy Partnership, Future Energy Yorkshire and Wycombe District Council. Charles Smith ‘enlivens the tedium of the law with a good sense of humour‘.

James Forbes heads Burness LLP’s energy practice. The ‘commercial, realistic and expert‘ team represented North British Windpower in a planning enquiry into its application for a wind farm in the Scottish Borders.

Led by Andrew Fitchie, DLA Piper Scotland LLP continues to advise EMEC on its wind, wave and marine energy projects.

HBJ Gateley Wareing LLP advised Topaz Energy and Marine on its US$124m acquisition of Doha Marine Services, and Senergy Group on a series of acquisitions in the renewable energy sector. Andrew Ley and team boss Alan Simpson are recommended.

2008 saw Harper Macleod LLP advise Airtricity on the acquisition of property interests for the construction of the Clyde wind farm. Other clients for the ‘incredibly competent‘ Pamela Todd’s team include Forestry Commission Scotland, ATH Resources and Scottish Coal.

Ledingham Chalmers LLP advised Ramco Energy on its acquisition of Eagle Hydrocarbons and the formation of SeaEnergy Renewables. Chairman David Laing is recommended.

A new entrant to the ranking, Morton Fraser’s niche nuclear energy practice is led by litigation head Ewan McIntyre. The firm is Scottish counsel to the UK Atomic Energy Authority, recently advising it on planning issues relating to the Dounreay plant in Caithness.

Led by projects head and renewables specialist Gordon Prestige, Tods Murray LLP advised private developer Alastair Fergusson on the leases relating to the Kinnaird Burn hydro electric scheme.

David Bone leads Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP’s specialist renewables energy practice, which acts for a number of developers including npower Renewables, Fred Olsen Renewables, and Powergen.