The Legal 500

Archibald Campbell & Harley has been advising clients on Scottish legal matters for over 100 years. The firm is one of Scotland’s most focused and progressive legal practices and is able to bring an uncommonly high standard of business intelligence to the affairs of its clients.

The firm: AC&H’s lawyers are also business people. They operate in the same business environment as their clients and understand the commercial pressures they face. AC&H is known for getting the job done without fuss and without sacrificing quality of service.

AC&H is a medium-sized firm in the Scottish legal market, but has a range of services comparable to much larger firms. It is able to provide this range of service and technical expertise because it has people who are keen, committed, well-trained and experienced in dealing with matters.

Clients are the lifeblood of AC&H and its lawyers know that their success depends on clients continuing to value AC&H as their adviser. This guiding principle has served the firm well in the 100 years or so that it has been in business. It remains committed to providing quality service, value for money and solutions that work.

Clients include individuals, businesses and the public sector. They vary in size from small business start-ups to large plcs and span a range of industries. Retail clients include some of the most prominent names in the UK, and the practice acts for leading financial institutions, including banks, building societies and venture capitalists, as well as property developers and investors, technology companies, public sector organisations (including housing associations and local authorities), builders and builders merchants, leisure companies (including pub operators, bars and restaurants), landfill operators and conservation bodies.

Prominent clients include Wolseley UK, Hewden Stuart, The BSS Group, HBOS, The Boots Group, Dixons Group, JJB Sports, Clinton Cards, GE Real Estate, Cine UK, Grant Management and Scottish Natural Heritage.

Types of work undertaken: The practice has the resources and expertise to deal with complex and large commercial property transactions, as well as volume work. Its specialist expertise covers all areas of property law, including acquisition and disposal, development, investment, funding, leasing, secured lending and compulsory purchase. Retailing expertise is offered both in the high street and out of town and the firm deals with property in all locations throughout Scotland.

The firm is well-known for its planning expertise and has a knowledgeable, affordable housing team.

An ever-growing and dedicated debt recovery unit fully understands the effect which late payment or non-payment can have on business. The dispute resolution team can advise on disputes spanning a very wide range of disciplines.

The banking and finance team provides advice to UK and foreign banks, business and individual clients on all aspects of finance, with an emphasis on corporate and property-based transactions and secured lending.

The corporate team has extensive experience of business and company acquisitions and disposals, corporate reorganisations, company share buy-backs and management buyouts, and advises many SMEs and start-up businesses.

There is a staggeringly diverse range of bodies and organisations operating within the public sector, each with their own unique blend of legal needs. AC&H offers in-depth legal support, advice and expertise to these organisations based on considerable knowledge and experience of the relevant law.

The firm acts for a wide range of charities, advising on structure, reorganisation, regulation and other matters.

Its partner-led insolvency and restructuring department has extensive expertise in a wide range of both contentious and transactional matters.

The employment team deals with both contentious and non-contentious issues, including terms and conditions of contract, dismissals and redundancies.

For individuals, residential property, wills and financial planning services are provided.

Breakdown of work %
Commercial property 40
Private client 25
Litigation 20
Corporate/commercial 10
Planning/environmental 5

Number of UK partners 12
Number of other UK fee-earners 24
Total staff 61