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Commercial property: Edinburgh and Glasgow

With over 70 fee-earners including 20 partners in its property practice, Brodies LLP has one of the largest commercial property teams in Scotland, and its ‘cognisance of the client’s requirements, especially in terms of delivery timescale and general advice, is excellent’. The group has been advising RBS on £150m-worth of property finance facilities, and also acted for Moorfield Group on its £54m acquisition of Skypark in Glasgow. Practice head Nick Scott is ‘a very good leader’, and Johane Murray is also highly regarded.

Burness LLP’s property team delivers ‘response times, innovation, commerciality and value for money that is all first class’. The ‘exceptional’ Nick Naddell heads the team, which in 2010 acted for Kenmore Capital Skypark Limited and Kenmore Capital Skypark 2 Limited on the £54m sale of their interest in the Skypark Unit Trust to Moorfield Group. Steven McKinlay has a ‘fantastic knowledge base’. David Gifford and David Johnston both retired in 2010.

Dundas & Wilson CS LLP’s commercial property team ‘has the tools to do the job and provides the right level of support’ for clients, which include Asda and Glasgow City Council. The team was very active on the institutional investor front in 2010, including advising Standard Life Investments on the acquisition and forward funding of a 90,000 sq ft office and 1,100-space car park. Iain Doran and practice head Allan Wernham are recommended.

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP fields a ten-partner commercial property team across its Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen offices, led by Gordon Aitken. Clients include Dubai World, Edinburgh Quay Limited, and Holland & Barrett. The team acted for the administrators of Kilmartin and associated companies on the disposal of 76 properties across the UK.

Katharine Hardie heads the commercial property team at McGrigors LLP, whose highlights in 2010 included advising Strathclyde Pension Fund on the £60m acquisition of 141 Bothwell Street in Glasgow from Premier Property Group.

Commercial property is a cornerstone of Semple Fraser LLP’s success. Highlights in 2010 included acting for Tesco plc on various development deals, including a new 26,600 sq ft superstore at Buckie. Practice head Elspeth Carson is recommended, and Margaret McLean’s ‘ability instills complete confidence’.

Shepherd and Wedderburn’s ‘excellent’ commercial property practice ‘compares favourably with the best that other Scottish firms have to offer’. In 2010, James Dobie’s team advised an ING UK property fund on the sale and redevelopment of St Andrews House in Glasgow. David Mitchell provides ‘a superb level of service’, and Karen Shaw delivers ‘excellent client care and is generally very competent and organised’.

The real estate team at Anderson Strathern had an active 2010, including acting for The Crown Estate on the completion of lease agreements relating to the world’s first commercial wave and tidal energy project in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters area. The firm merged with well-respected commercial property firm Bell & Scott in July 2011.

Biggart Baillie LLP is highly regarded for property litigation, where it has ‘great depth of experience’; and its advice in commercial property matters is ‘always balanced with a commercial eye on the transaction’. Clients include Marks & Spencer, and Apex Hotels Limited.

Drew Wallace heads DLA Piper Scotland LLP’s real estate team, which provides ‘overall good levels of service’, and comprises 31 lawyers in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Highlights included acting for Hansteen Property Investments on the purchase of a £40m Scottish property portfolio, and for Telereal Trillium on the £50m financing of an outsourced Royal Mail portfolio.

HBJ Gateley’s commercial property team ‘gets to the heart of problems quickly, with no timewasting’, and is ‘responsive and knowledgeable’. Miles Ede heads the team, which advised IVG on the letting and subsequent sale of Broadway One. Andy Birrell’s ‘attention to detail’ attracts praise from clients.

MacRoberts LLP has a strong retailer client base, including Wm Morrison Supermarkets. Laurence Fraser heads the team, which recently combined with Alison Horner’s construction practice to advise Regent Capital on a combined £6m retail investment purchase and a BPRA refurbishment of a 17-storey tower block in Glasgow.

Morton Fraser’s commercial property practice ‘sets the benchmark for client care and quality of service’, with Brian Hutcheson regarded as a ‘high-calibre commercial property expert’. Its great strength is estate management, and it handles all requirements for many of Scotland’s biggest landowners, including Diageo, Scottish & Newcastle, and the Ministry of Defence. In 2010, the group advised new client Landesbank Berlin AG on financing the investment acquisitions of Broadway One and 110 St Vincent Street in Glasgow.

Tods Murray LLP’s commercial property team is valued for its ‘availability of personnel, commercial awareness and value for money’. In 2010, it advised Co-operative Insurance Society Ltd on the £69m sale of Clyde Shopping Centre. Elaine Todd is ‘outstanding’, and practice head Susie Thornton is also recommended.

Anderson Fyfe LLP’s real estate practice, led by Kenneth Meldrum, provides commercial property advice to clients such as Redrow Homes, Park Lane Developments and Cemex UK. Brian Armour is also recommended. Derek Hamill moved to Young & Partners.

Highlights for Archibald Campbell & Harley WS’ commercial property team, led by Robin Mitchell, included acting for longstanding client Boots on a store expansion programme. Rory Milne left the firm to establish his own practice.

Headed by the ‘solid and flexible’ James Dickson, Brechin Tindal Oatts’ team adopts a client-friendly approach, and its ‘service and response times are excellent’. The group’s retail expertise was utilised in 2010 when it advised Superdry on the acquisition of various retail units, including a new flagship store in Glasgow. Nicolas McBride ‘always adopts a practical approach to solving problems’.

CMS Cameron McKenna LLP’s Edinburgh office had a busy 2010, with highlights including advising RBS on the £16m purchase of the city’s Landmark Point Hotel. Timothy Pitt advises on Edinburgh real estate matters. The team was joined by senior associate Stephanie Mackenzie from Semple Fraser LLP.

Davidson Chalmers LLP’s real estate team has ‘a good overall perspective of all aspects of business’, and practice head Andrew Chalmers and Bruce Lancaster both ‘proactively provide a high-quality, professional service’. Highlights included advising Stockland Muir on the £11.5m sale of an investment at Aberdeen Gateway to Standard Life.

Harper Macleod LLP’s real estate team is valued for its ‘appropriate and timely advice and fair billing’. Graeme Nisbet heads the practice, and David Bell is very highly regarded. Clients include CBRE Investors and Arcadia Group.

Lindsays provides ‘satisfactory and effective advice and responses, with sufficient strength in depth to ensure continuity on instructions’. Derek Nash heads the team, which acted for the Royal National Institute of Blind People on leasing a property in Glasgow. The ‘knowledgeable and effective’ Kenny Gray is also recommended.

McClure Naismith LLP’s property practice head Philip Sim and Claire Sturrock are recommended.

Pinsent Masons LLP’s property team produces ‘good-quality work and delivers within the agreed timescales’, and strengthened its resources in 2010 by recruiting consultant Norman Smith. Highlights for Hugh Bruce-Watt’s team included advising Regent Capital on the £27m acquisition and development of a vacant Glasgow office building.

Elsewhere in Scotland

Index of tables

  1. Commercial property: Elsewhere in Scotland
  2. Commercial property: leisure and hospitality
  3. Commercial property: retail occupiers

John Curran retired from the partnership at McGrigors LLP in 2010, but still advises on a consultancy basis. Aberdeen-based Tracey Menzies is now the key figure, advising clients on bespoke office developments and forward funding, sale and commercial leasing matters.

Paull & Williamsons LLP lost Colin MacLaren to Brodies LLP’s newly opened Aberdeen office. Despite that setback, Richard Goodfellow’s team retains its reputation for ‘close partner involvement and an excellent level of expertise’, with John Strachan highlighted as ‘technically sound and well regarded’. Recent highlights include advising HSBC on providing £10m of facilities to a property development company.

The retail and leisure sectors have been strong sources of instructions for CMS Cameron McKenna LLP’s team, headed by Derek Cameron. It acted for West Register Limited on its £16m acquisition of the Landmark Point hotel in Edinburgh.

Ledingham Chalmers LLP’s practice head Alasdair MacLure advised Dril-Quip Europe Limited on the purchase of an office and workshop property at Stoneywood Park. David Scott was promoted to partner in April 2010.

Fraser Leslie leads Maclay Murray & Spens LLP’s commercial property practice, which advises clients including Sumitomo Corporation, Duncan Farm and AF Gruppen ASA.

Duncan Campbell heads the commercial property practice at Stronachs LLP, which advised on the property aspects of Big Lottery Fund’s £50m grant programme aiming to enable local communities to acquire and develop local assets.

Thorntons Law LLP’s Craig Nicol handles commercial property investment and leasing matters, and has a particular emphasis on property finance deals for building societies.

Blackadders LLP’s team is ‘excellent in all aspects’, thanks in no small part to practice head David Milne.

Callum McDonald is the key property lawyer at Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace.

Construction

Dundas & Wilson CS LLP’s construction team has ‘strength in depth, with consistently impressive lawyers at all levels of experience’. In 2010, the team advised Standard Life on its forward funding of a development at Collegelands in Glasgow. Lindy Patterson heads the team, and Andrew Renton is ‘particularly impressive when strategic decisions or a strong presence is required’.

Neil Kelly heads the construction team at MacRoberts LLP, which straddles contentious and non-contentious matters. Work in 2010 included acting for a multinational UK-based contractor on claims relating to defects in a waste water treatment works, and acting for Forthspan on the £2bn-plus Forth Replacement Crossing project.

Pinsent Masons LLP’s construction practice has a ‘professional approach and extensive knowledge and experience’. Highlights included advising Morgan Sindell (Construction) Limited on subcontract and live project issues relating to the Tayside Mental Health Developments PPP. Kenny Valentine leads the practice, and is ‘an excellent construction disputes lawyer’, and clients also highlight Julia Maguire’s ‘sound knowledge of contract drafting and interpretation’.

Brodies LLP provides ‘very practical and commercial advice backed with sound industry knowledge’. In 2010, Manus Quigg on the contentious side was promoted to partner. On the non-contentious side, the team advised LXB Properties on the £20m-plus Winchburgh regeneration. Practice head Mark Finlay gives ‘sound advice on all aspects of the transaction, from expert contract advice to engaging with consultants and local authorities’.

Burness LLP is particularly experienced in innovative pathfinder projects, a strength that saw it act as adviser to the first Scottish Futures Trust Hub project, a major procurement project spanning Scotland. Fenella Mason heads the team, which also advised Glasgow City Council on construction contracts for the Commonwealth Games National Indoor Sports Arenas.

Gareth Parry has continued to develop DLA Piper Scotland LLP construction practice, which in 2010 advised new client Scottish Water on the £60m Meadowhead and Stevenson project. Parry is appreciated for his ‘professional, honest and likeable’ approach.

Mark Macaulay’s construction team at Maclay Murray & Spens LLP has ‘an excellent grasp of 
the law and an ability to articulate complex arguments in writing as well as any other firm in the 
marketplace’. The ‘user-friendly’ Jonathan Broome, who has a ‘first-class legal mind’, acted for the provider of newbuild schools in disputes and adjudications relating to its sites.

McGrigors LLP’s energy and infrastructure focus makes it a prominent player in the construction sector. Practice head Colin Fraser is ‘commercial, committed and concise’, and David Scott is rated for his ‘ability to grasp and outline complex briefs and deliver practical commercial advice and commercial solutions’. The team is noted for its client-facing style; ‘all members of the team are equally accessible and approachable’.

Shepherd and Wedderburn has ‘incisive, comprehensive knowledge of the construction sector’, and a strong public sector focus, recently advising NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in appointing Brookfield Europe as the preferred contractor to build the new £670m South Glasgow Hospital Campus. Practice head Kevin Taylor and Lynne Scott both ‘have the knack of bringing clarity of the legal structure to their clients’, while on the contentious side Iain Drummond ‘gives advice in a controlled, considerate and frank manner’.

At Anderson Strathern, Karyn Watt provides ‘excellent services in all cases’, while on the contentious side Keith Bishop is ‘practical and commercially astute’. Practice highlights included advising National Trust for Scotland on procurement directives and compliance on the Burns Project. The firm merged with Bell & Scott in July 2011.

Biggart Baillie LLP’s construction team has ‘great depth and breadth of knowledge’; practice co-head Ian McCann’s ‘insight, borne from his many years of experience, is particularly valuable’. Transport and energy remains a core focus; in the latter sector the team advised Scottish Power on a number of projects in 2010.

At Ledingham Chalmers LLP, Jennifer Young ‘takes a very practical view of issues, and provides robust advice and guidance’.

Mark Cowie’s practice at McClure Naismith LLP handles construction projects for a largely public sector client base that includes Tayside Health Board.

Highlights for Morton Fraser’s construction practice in 2010 included winning appointment to City of Edinburgh Council’s construction law panel. Jonathan Seddon heads the practice.

Stuart Macfarlane’s team at Semple Fraser LLP has the ability to ‘cover all aspects of complex transactions and cross-pollinate into different sectors’. Recent highlights include acting for Euro Pools regarding construction contracts for the swimming pools for the London Olympics and the refurbishment of the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh.

Environment

Brodies LLP’s environment team ‘keeps up to speed on the always-changing waste industry in Scotland’; its ‘knowledge is second to none’. It acted for Scottish Borders Council regarding an £80m procurement contract for 
long-term residual waste disposal. Practice head Charles Smith displays ‘superior market knowledge’, and contaminated land expert Kenneth Ross is also recommended.

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP’s ‘quality of service is exceptional’. Headed by Chris Smylie, the team continued to advise Masterton Demolition on its acquisition of a heavily contaminated site at Grangemouth from global plastics manufacturer SABIC.

McGrigors LLP’s environment team has ‘excellent industry knowledge’; ‘while many firms are branching into renewables, few have the knowledge and experience prevalent in this team’. Practice head Jennifer Ballantyne is ‘very knowledgeable of the wider renewables industry and gives practical, commercial advice’, and has been leading advice to Scottish Power Generation Limited on all environmental and consent aspects of the proposed carbon capture plant at Longannet power station.

Semple Fraser LLP is praised for its ‘good turnaround times and an excellent understanding of the relevant legislation’, with practice head Vincent Brown having ‘crucial end-of-waste sector knowledge’. In 2010, the team advised REG Biopower Limited on regulatory issues arising from the Renewable Energy Directive.

Shepherd and Wedderburn’s Patricia Hawthorn continued to advise Perth & Kinross Council on its waste procurement programme in 2010, and also advised new client Heineken UK. The team’s ‘overall level of service is excellent’.

Alastair McKie heads the planning and environment practice at Anderson Strathern, noted for ‘its expertise and in-depth knowledge’. The firm merged with Bell & Scott in 2011.

Neil Amner heads Biggart Baillie LLP’s environment team, which acted for Chemring in 2010 regarding the acquisition of the interests of Nobel Enterprises Limited.

Burness LLP’s environment team won new clients including CVC Capital Partners, and maintained its focus on the renewable energy sector. Michael Wood advised CVC on environmental issues relating to a major petroleum deposits site.

The team at Dundas & Wilson CS LLP advised EDF Energy on environmental issues relating to the development of a new coal-fired power station. Mark Brumwell heads the practice.

MacRoberts LLP’s environmental team acted for Mitchell Thomson Limited in a successful appeal against the refusal of a PPC permit relating to a waste oil facility. Jamie Grant heads the team.

Led by the ‘responsive and approachable’ Gordon McCreath, Pinsent Masons LLP’s environment team acted for Morrison Construction on the environmental aspects of its part in a consortium bid to build the new road bridge across the Firth of Forth.

Planning

Brodies LLP is ‘unhesitatingly recommended for planning and advocacy work’, with practice head Neil Collar ‘offering a very sensible and tough approach where necessary’. Recent highlights include advising Shore Energy Limited in an appeal against refusal of planning permission for an energy-from-waste plant in North Lanarkshire.

DLA Piper Scotland LLP’s ‘robust’ planning team delivers ‘thorough and detailed work in a responsive manner’. Highlights included its appointment to Glasgow City Council’s newly established legal panel. Practice head Sandy Telfer is ‘tenacious, meticulous and creative’.

Dundas & Wilson CS LLP’s ‘first-class’ planning practice advised Druim Ba Sustainable Energy on its proposed s36 application for a major onshore wind farm near Inverness. Practice head Ann Faulds is highly recommended.

Shepherd and Wedderburn’s planning practice ‘demonstrates the highest standard of service, with a full and current knowledge of the law’. Thanks to the wind farm expertise of Colin Innes – ‘one of the finest planning lawyers there is’ – the team achieved wind farm inquiry wins in 2010 for Vattenfall Limited, Baillie Windfarm Limited and I&H Brown Limited. Ewan MacLeod is also recommended.

Murray Shaw’s planning team at Biggart Baillie LLP provides ‘outstanding response times and business acumen’, with Martin Sales singled out for his ‘excellent knowledge of the renewable energy industry’. It is advising Aberdeenshire Council on issues arising from the Trump Organisation’s application for a golf and leisure resort at Balmedie.

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP fields an ‘experienced planning team that can quickly get up to speed’. It advises a sizeable client base of developers on major project matters, including the South East Ayr Major Growth Area. Scotland planning head Gillian Simpson provides ‘sound and clear-cut advice’; and Chris Smylie heads the English law practice.

MacRoberts LLP’s ‘multi-disciplinary team of planning experts’ meets ‘a very high standard, and tailors advice to the client’s needs’. Jamie Grant heads the group, which was augmented at associate level through the lateral hire of Moray Thomson and Frances Pacitti from Shepherd and Wedderburn.

Jacqueline Harris leads the UK-wide planning team at McGrigors LLP, with the Scottish contingent appreciated for ‘well-founded advice and a very quick and efficient response to all queries and instructions’. In 2010, the team advised Scottish Power on the consent aspects of its proposed carbon capture and storage 
plant at Longannet power station. John Curran retired from the partnership, but remains on hand as a consultant.

The team at Paull & Williamsons LLP ‘maintains close contact with academic institutions as well as appropriate business forums, enabling personnel to be kept fully up to date with emerging practice and business trends’. The ‘enthusiastic and committed’ Elaine Farquharson-Black heads the practice, which acted for Total E&P UK on planning permission for the erection of a gas-processing plant.

Semple Fraser LLP is applauded for ‘its rigorous approach to challenges and highly professional manner’, and is very active for key client Tesco. June Gilles and Kenneth Carruthers are recommended.

Anderson Strathern’s ‘collaborative and communicative’ planning team has a standout figure in practice head Alastair McKie, whose ‘first-rate knowledge of planning law and practice’ makes him ‘one of the leading planning lawyers in Scotland’.

Clients find it ‘hard to fault’ Burness LLP ‘for all-round capability and service’. Practice head Ian Wattie is ‘an exceptional lawyer, technically excellent and very commercial’.

Harper Macleod LLP’s Pamela Todd and associate Lee Murphy are recommended for their ‘public sector experience and clear advice in negotiating complex and challenging planning matters’.

Property litigation

Stephen Goldie’s four-partner property litigation team at Brodies LLP ‘always matches or exceeds clients ’ expectations when it comes to value for money, responsiveness and expertise’. Highlights for 2010 included advising Aberdeen City Council on the recovery of a seven-figure overage payment due from developer Stewart Milne Group. Goldie is ‘excellent at identifying the salient points of a problem’.

‘Exceptional in every way’, Burness LLP’s property litigation team advises Ladbrokes on all real estate matters. Practice head Alan McMillan is recommended for his ‘understanding of the situation, quality of advice, and ability to deal with a rapidly changing situation’.

Ewan Easton heads a broad property litigation practice at Maclay Murray & Spens LLP, ranging from boundary disputes to industrial sites issues. Recent highlights include acting for Junction Limited Partners on issues relating to its billboards in Glasgow.

McGrigors LLP’s property litigation team adopts a ‘pragmatic and thoughtful’ approach, with ‘a level of understanding that is invaluable’. Laura Cameron heads the team, which advised MacTaggart & Mickel Homes on a contract dispute regarding the purchase of a development plot.

At Shepherd and Wedderburn, practice head David Anderson is a ‘reassuring and knowledgeable presence’, and the team as a whole has ‘sufficient strength in depth to ensure continuity across the board’. Associate Colin Archibald gives ‘articulate, diligent advice’. Highlights included representing EDI Central in a successful claim against National Car Parks Limited to enforce obligations under a development agreement.

Dundas & Wilson CS LLP’s small property litigation team provides ‘impressive service with quick turnaround times’. Lorna Sibbald heads the practice, which in 2010 successfully defended North Lanarkshire Council in a Supreme Court appeal by Multi-Link Leisure Developments Limited.

Morton Fraser consistently provides ‘the highest level of professional service in an approachable and personable manner’. John Barrie heads the team, which in 2010 acted for Bank of Scotland in an access dispute relating to one of its long-lease premises.

Kenneth Carruthers’ property litigation practice at Semple Fraser LLP advised BAM Properties in an appeal against City of Edinburgh Council’s refusal to compensate it for land compulsorily taken for the Edinburgh tram.

Biggart Baillie LLP ‘excels with its speed of response’. Alistair Drummond advised Arcadia Group plc as tenant in a dispute regarding liability for redevelopment costs for one of the principal redevelopments in Glasgow.

The arrival in late 2009 of the ‘vastly experienced’ Sheila Webster, from Bell & Scott, has energised the property litigation practice at Davidson Chalmers LLP. Highlights included advising Beaghmor Group in a dispute with Station Properties Limited over breach of a lockout agreement.

MacRoberts LLP’s property litigation team provides ‘first-class service in all areas’. Practice head Julie Hamilton is recommended, and senior associate Gillian Craig is ‘very hardworking and knowledgeable’.

Elaine Brailsford’s two-partner team at Tods Murray LLP provides ‘strong support and technical expertise’ in complex planning-related property litigation.

Social housing

Highlights for Brechin Tindal Oatts’ ‘knowledgeable, meticulous and responsive’ social housing group included advising Clyde Valley Housing Association on issues arising from EU procurement regulations. Karen Brodie delivers a ‘high level of professional service’.

HBJ Gateley’s social housing clients ‘always receive a high level of service’ from Heather Pearson’s team. In 2010, it advised Berwickshire Housing Association on a wind farm development in the Scottish Borders. Kate Dewar is ‘an expert on affordable housing’.

Derek Hogg leads Harper Macleod LLP’s social housing practice, which acts for RSLs that collectively manage 43% of the RSL housing stock in Scotland. Clients include Dumfries & Galloway Housing Partnership and Scottish Borders Housing Association.

T C Young has ‘excellent knowledge in a range of areas’, and provides ‘pragmatic advice that means it can hold its own against larger firms’. Managing partner Andrew Cowan is ‘lively and sharp’; Jim Bauld is the ‘ultimate pragmatist’; and Stephen MacGregor adopts a ‘common-sense approach’.

Anderson Strathern strengthened its team in 2010 by recruiting Shirley Evans as an associate from T C Young. David Hunter leads the team, which acts for Castle Rock Edinvar and East Lothian Housing Associations.

Janette Speed heads the social housing practice at Archibald Campbell & Harley WS, which in 2010 advised longstanding client Dunedin Canmore on the acquisition of a site at Oxgangs, Edinburgh, for a major social housing development. It advises on a range of issues including corporate governance, charitable status and constitutional issues.

Caroline Drummond heads the social housing practice at Burness LLP, following the retirement of David Johnston. Highlights for 2010 included advising Link Housing Association in relation to a multimillion-pound contract with City of Edinburgh Council to manage 1,600 properties in Edinburgh.

Chris Dun’s social housing team at Maclay Murray & Spens LLP advised RBS, Lloyds TSB and Nationwide Building Society on the restructuring of loan facilities to Dunedin Canmore.

Morton Fraser attracts praise for its ‘excellent 
level of service and response times, and exceptional value for money’. Sector specialist Andrew Meakin has ‘up-to-date knowledge of the challenges and issues facing housing regulators, housing associations and lenders’.

Stephen Humphreys heads the social housing team at Tods Murray LLP, which acts for clients including West of Scotland, Shettleston and Tollcross housing associations, handling matters including acquisitions, sales, refinancings and litigation.

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