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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.

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