The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Edinburgh and Glasgow, MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP represents a diverse corporate client base, and handles a growing number of cross-border mandates for overseas clients. Reflecting this and its core strengths in the transport, infrastructure and energy sectors, the team acted for Australia-based Sinclair Knight Merz Group on its acquisition of Colin Buchanan & Partners. Robert Burns and team head Alan Kelly are recommended.

Within Corporate tax, MacRoberts LLP is a second tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP’s corporate tax group advised the UK subsidiary of Munich-based TUV SUD Group on the tax implications of its acquisition of Wallace Whittle Holdings. Ainsley MacLaren leads the team.

Within EU and competition, MacRoberts LLP is a second tier firm,

Highlights for David Flint’s competition practice at MacRoberts LLP included advising a major UK commercial property owner on competition issues arising from the land agreement for a proposed development.

Within Commercial litigation, MacRoberts LLP is a second tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP’s four-partner commercial litigation team is ‘responsive, commercial and very good value for money’. Practice head Julie Hamilton ‘deals with everything in a calm, unfussy way’, and her ‘advice is always spot on’. Procurement disputes were a strong focus in 2011, and the team acted for an SPV in a £2.7m dispute concerning a claim arising from a PFI/PPP ICT subcontract.

Within Banking and finance, MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP’s strengths span project, property and corporate finance, and in 2011 it was reappointed to panels of Barclays Bank and Clydesdale Bank. The ‘very knowledgeable and helpful’ Norman Martin leads the practice.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP acted for PricewaterhouseCoopers in the appointment of an administrator to a clothing retailer and distribution company. Practice head Alan Meek is recommended.

Within Employment, MacRoberts LLP is a second tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP continues to act for two-thirds of Scotland’s local authorities in equal pay and other employment law matters, and provides ‘a reliable and consistent level of service’. Practice head Stephen Miller is ‘a very shrewd litigator’.

Within Health and safety, MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP’s health and safety team is led by Craig Turnbull, who is ‘personable, highly responsive and professional’. Clients include GlaxoSmithKline and W H Malcolm.

Within Pensions, MacRoberts LLP is a second tier firm,

New clients for MacRoberts LLP include The Institute of Healthcare Management pension scheme and The Scottish Council for Development and Industry. The team gives ‘high-quality service demonstrating depth of knowledge’, and its advice is ‘commercial and practical’. Practice head Peter Trotter and newly promoted partner Martyn Shaw ‘stand out for their knowledge, quality of service and practical solutions’.

Within Professional negligence Professional negligence

Within Charities, tier 4

In 2011, MacRoberts LLP advised Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) on its amalgamation into Education Scotland. Practice head Duncan Osler is ‘approachable, very knowledgeable and highly experienced’.

Within Personal tax, trusts and executries, MacRoberts LLP is a second tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP advises on private and public trusts, and has experience in tax planning, particularly in relation to inheritance tax and capital gains tax mitigation, as well as executry work concerning high-value estates with IHT issues. David MacRobert leads the team.

Within Energy (excluding oil and gas), MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP grew its energy practice at partner level in 2011 through the promotion of Moray Thompson and project finance specialist Lillian Mackenzie, and Michael Murphy returned to the team following the end of his six-year stint as the firm’s managing partner. It has a strong profile among power generators such as Scottish Power, EDF and SSE, and acted for the latter in the Beauly to Denny transmission line and grid reinforcement. Nick Jones heads the practice.

Within Projects, MacRoberts LLP is a first tier firm,

The smaller scale of MacRoberts LLP’s practice is compensated by its ‘ability to draw on wider resources and offer good value for money as a result’. In 2011 it represented NHS Lothian in the £150m Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Department of Clinical Neurosciences NPD project. Andrew Orr and newly promoted partner Lillian Mackenzie are ‘committed and knowledgeable’.

Within Education, MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

Katy Wedderburn heads MacRoberts LLP’s education team, which recently advised on the University of Strathclyde’s £89m Technology and Innovation Centre, and which provides ‘a very high standard’ of representation at tribunals. Stephen Miller is ‘an excellent lawyer’.

Within Health, MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP provides ‘a very efficient service’. In 2011, the ‘very knowledgeable team’ was appointed to the Scottish Futures Trust’s panel of legal advisers. Duncan Osler heads the team, in which Andrew Orr is also recommended.

Within Local government, MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP provides ‘consistently good service’, and was appointed to the Scottish government and Scottish Futures Trust legal panels. Duncan Osler leads the team. Stephen Miller’s ‘experience in local government is second to none’, and he ‘provides clear and practical solutions’.

Within Commercial property: Edinburgh and Glasgow, MacRoberts LLP is a second tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP’s ‘always effective’ commercial property team acts for a strong roster of clients that includes Wm Morrison Supermarkets and BAM Properties. Co-head Laurence Fraser provides ‘clear incisive advice’, and Jamie Grant ‘picks through things in fine detail’.

Within Commercial property: Elsewhere in Scotland Commercial property: leisure and hospitality

Within Construction, MacRoberts LLP is a first tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP’s construction team provides ‘tailored industry and legal advice promptly and to a consistently high standard’. In 2011 it acted for the University of Strathclyde on the procurement of a new technology and innovation centre. Neil Kelly heads the practice, which includes the ‘outstanding’ David Arnott; Shona Frame, whose ‘tactical ability in litigation is a real asset’; and Mike Barlow, who is noted for his ‘excellent contractual knowledge’.

Within Environment, MacRoberts LLP is a second tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP has ‘good understanding of the client’s business and is responsive to its needs’. It recently represented John Dewar & Son in negotiating contracts with Helius Corde for the supply of solid and liquid wastes as an adjunct to the development of a new waste treatment facility. Jamie Grant leads the practice.

Within Planning, MacRoberts LLP is a second tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP represented WRG Waste Services in a planning inquiry into Aberdeenshire Council’s refusal to extend the lifespan of the Wester Hatton landfill project. Moray Thomson was promoted to partner and head of the planning group in 2011.

Within Property litigation, MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP acted for a development company in a dispute with a national housebuilder concerning unauthorised use of the client’s land. Gillian Craig, who was promoted to partner in 2012, is ‘very knowledgeable and dynamic’. Julie Hamilton heads the practice.

Within Intellectual property, MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP’s team is ‘always able to answer questions promptly and to provide appropriate advice’. Practice head David Flint and newly promoted partner Valerie Surgenor are recommended.

Within IT and telecoms, MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP has seen particular growth in data protection work, particularly in the areas of subject access requests and IT security. Clients include Blackwood Foundation and Heliex Power.

Within Sport Sport

Within Transport , MacRoberts LLP is a second tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP acted for Western Ferries in a state aid and public tendering matter in 2011.