The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial Edinburgh and Glasgow: , tier 4

Anderson Strathern’s corporate team ‘consistently delivers good response times, and exhibits a good understanding of broad commercial issues’. Bruce Farquhar is recommended along with practice head Simon Brown.

Within EU and competition, Anderson Strathern is a third tier firm,

Brodies LLP recruited former Addleshaw Goddard LLP solicitor-advocate Mark Clough QC to head its competition practice following the departure of former practice head Rodger Murray to Anderson Strathern. Clough has made a considerable impact, and advised new client Nippon Cargo Airlines on resisting BA’s application to recover from other investigated parties part of any damages arising from the European Commission investigation into price-fixing allegations in the air cargo market.

Within Licensing, Anderson Strathern is a third tier firm,

Anderson Strathern saw an increased volume of liquor and later-hour-catering licence work, and acts for clients including McDonald’s and the National Trust for Scotland, although practice head Frank Gill recently left the firm.

Within Commercial litigation, Anderson Strathern is a third tier firm,

At Anderson Strathern, Robert Fife heads a four-partner team praised for its ‘outstanding level of service’. Key instructions in 2010 included advising the Scottish National Party in a court action challenging the BBC’s right to broadcast the third leader’s debate during the UK general election. Chris Dickson heads the firm’s advocacy unit.

Within Debt recovery, Anderson Strathern is a second tier firm,

Anderson Strathern’s team has ‘impeccable’ knowledge and provides debt recovery expertise in tandem with banking litigation services for clients in the financial sector, including two of Scotland’s largest banks. Ruari MacNeill heads the banking litigation team, and senior associate Claire Martin is head of credit recovery.

Within Banking and finance , tier 5

Anderson Strathern provides ‘reasonable, sound advice’ on property-related finance transactions, and grew its client list in 2010, with HSBC, Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre and University of West Scotland all providing new instructions. Practice head James Blair ‘shows good understanding of niche areas of law, and is well versed in the current working processes of the banks’.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Anderson Strathern is a third tier firm,

Anderson Strathern’s insolvency practice offers ‘strong service, with competitive costs, streamlined processes and good quality control’. Practice head Katrina Lumsdaine is valued for her ‘pragmatic approach, supported by technical expertise’.

Within Employment, Anderson Strathern is a second tier firm,

Alan Masson and Alun Thomas are key figures for Anderson Strathern, which fields a ‘solid team’ notwithstanding the departure of Neil Maclean, who joined Shepherd and Wedderburn. Clients include the University of St Andrews and Harvey Nichols.

Within Health and safety, Anderson Strathern is a second tier firm,

Health and safety expert Robert Fife heads Anderson Strathern’s team, and ‘has the ability to deliver advice and guidance in layman’s terms’. Robert Carr represented The Coal Authority in a high-profile FAI, and the firm also acts as an external adviser to the HSE. Chris Dickson is also recommended.

Within Medical negligence: defender, Anderson Strathern is a first tier firm,

Anderson Strathern’s healthcare team is ‘outstanding’; team head Robert Carr is ‘respected across the profession’, and senior associate Catriona Watt is ‘extremely able’. Clients include the General Dental Council, the Scottish Prison Service, the General Medical Council, and the Royal College of Nursing.

Within Medical negligence: pursuer, Anderson Strathern is a first tier firm,

‘One of the leaders in the field’, Anderson Strathern has a specialised healthcare team with two accredited clinical negligence specialists. Practice head Robert Carr is ‘a very experienced and extremely well-respected practitioner’, and senior associate Catriona Watt is ‘a very dedicated and experienced professional’.

Within Personal injury: defender, Anderson Strathern is a second tier firm,

Anderson Strathern’s insurance litigation team receives instructions from employers, liability adjustors and insurers, including The Co-operative Insurance, the Coal Authority and INEOS. The team fields seven solicitor-advocates and accredited PI specialists including team co-head Douglas Keir. Fellow co-head Andrew Lothian is also highly recommended.

Within Personal injury: pursuer, Anderson Strathern is a second tier firm,

Anderson Strathern’s PI team ‘practises to a very high standard’, and department head Robert Carr ‘instils confidence, and rightly so: he is a well-respected opponent’. Senior associate Catriona Watt is also recommended. The firm represents the Royal College of Nursing.

Within Professional negligence, Anderson Strathern is a second tier firm,

Anderson Strathern’s professional negligence team represents claimants and defendants, and has particular expertise in the clinical and dental fields. Fiona Stephen is recommended, and receives referrals through the Pursuer’s Panel. Solicitor-advocate and practice head Robert Carr is also well regarded.

Within Agriculture and estates, Anderson Strathern is a first tier firm,

Anderson Strathern has ‘significant expertise’ in agriculture and estates matters. Team co-heads John Mitchell and Jim Drysdale are recommended, with the latter highlighted by clients for his ‘wisdom alongside legal expertise, with an ability to see the goal and not just the hurdles’. Alasdair Fox retired from the partnership in 2010 but remains a consultant.

Within Charities, Anderson Strathern is a second tier firm,

Anderson Strathern advises charities in areas including governance, regulatory and employment issues. The team also advises on the establishment of charities, such as the Bill McClaren Foundation. Team head and senior associate Anne Swarbrick is an accredited specialist, as is Robin Stimpson.

Within Family, Anderson Strathern is a third tier firm,

At Anderson Strathern, practice head Susan MacLeod and associate Marika Franceschi have ‘outstanding communication skills and ability to empathise with clients whilst retaining objectivity and independence’. The firm has a particular strength in divorce cases involving high-value claims for financial provision, often with international elements.

Within Personal tax, trusts and executries, Anderson Strathern is a second tier firm,

Anderson Strathern’s well-regarded private client practice has capabilities across the spectrum, including in asset protection matters and complex executries. Practice head Colin Henderson and John Biggar are recommended.

Within Energy (excluding oil and gas), Anderson Strathern is a third tier firm,

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.

Within Projects, Anderson Strathern is a second tier firm,

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.

Within Education, Anderson Strathern is a first tier firm,

Anderson Strathern’s education team has ‘impressive strength and depth’. Headed by Alun Thomas, the group is advising the University of Edinburgh and the Edinburgh College of Arts on a proposed merger. New clients include the University of West Scotland and the North Highland College.

Within Health, Anderson Strathern is a first tier firm,

Robert Carr heads Anderson Strathern’s cross-departmental health and social care sector group, which advises health and social non-departmental government bodies, and professional regulatory bodies such as 
the General Medical Council and General Dental Council. The team also advises on healthcare property transactions.

Within Local government, Anderson Strathern is a second tier firm,

Fiona Killen and Robert Fife lead Anderson Strathern’s local government practice. The team has been successful in recent tenders to local authorities including the City of Edinburgh Council, the Highland Council and East Renfrewshire Council.

Within Parliamentary and public affairs , Anderson Strathern is a first tier firm,

Anderson Strathern’s parliamentary and public law group acts for the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman and the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission. Fiona Killen heads the group.

Within Commercial property: Edinburgh and Glasgow, Anderson Strathern is a second tier firm,

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.

Within Construction, Anderson Strathern is a third tier firm,

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.

Within Elsewhere in Scotland Commercial property: leisure and hospitality

Within Environment, Anderson Strathern is a second tier firm,

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.

Within Planning, Anderson Strathern is a third tier firm,

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’.

Within Property litigation Property litigation

Within Social housing, Anderson Strathern is a second tier firm,

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.

Within Intellectual property, Anderson Strathern is a third tier firm,

Simon Brown heads the practice at Anderson Strathern, which handles both contentious and non-contentious work.

Within IT and telecoms, Anderson Strathern is a third tier firm,

Anderson Strathern’s IT work is led by Simon Brown. The group advised Napier University on reviewing a software licence and maintenance agreement for payroll software. Other clients include Random House and the National Trust for Scotland.

Within Media and entertainment, Anderson Strathern is a third tier firm,

Simon Brown leads Anderson Strathern’s technology and creative industries group, which represents clients such as STV Group, Publishing Scotland, and the Scottish Book Trust.

Within Sport, Anderson Strathern is a first tier firm,

Anderson Strathern advises a number of sports professionals and organisations. John Kerr is noted for his ‘detailed knowledge and experience’ of the sector, and is a member of the British Association of Sport and Law. Clients include Cricket Scotland, the Lawn Tennis Association, and Scotland Rugby League. The practice was weakened on the contentious side by the recent departure of Frank Gill.

Within Transport, Anderson Strathern is a second tier firm,

Anderson Strathern remains visible in the transport sector, acting for the likes of Transport Scotland, the Scottish Road Works Commissioner and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport. Alastair McKie heads the group.