The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Edinburgh and Glasgow, tier 4

MacRoberts LLP’s ‘diligent, competent and flexible‘ corporate team is led by ‘shrewd and calm‘ chairman Ian Dickson. Recent highlights include advice to the vendor shareholders on the sale of The Essentia Group, and Tennant on its US$68m acquisition of Applied Sweepers. Clients find the ‘smart, knowledgeable, hard working‘ Neil Kennedy able to ‘offer practical solutions to complex problems while staying cool under pressure‘, and are also quick to praise Alan Kelly and Robert Burns.

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

MacRoberts LLP’s team is now led by the ‘client focused‘ Ainsley MacLaren, who returned to the firm from McGrigors LLP following the departure of former practice head Isobel d’Inverno to Brodies LLP. The tax group supports the firm’s leading commercial property team on issues relating to SDLT, VAT and capital allowances, and also provides transactional support to the corporate practice. The firm provides ‘practical, partner-driven advice‘.

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

2008 saw MacRoberts LLP advise on public procurement contracts with an aggregate value exceeding £2bn, advising clients on merger clearance, compliance and OFT investigations, including cases under its whistleblowing policy. Team head David Flint is recommended.

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

The highly experienced David Arnott heads MacRoberts LLP’s well-respected disputes team. Recently it represented RBS on a reference to the ECJ in connection with a VAT appeal, and the former directors of a company defending Court of Session proceedings brought by an administrator for alleged breach of directors’ duties. Julie Hamilton and Neil Kelly are recommended.

Within Banking and finance , tier 4

MacRoberts LLP’s practice focuses on real estate and project finance. Norman Martin’s team, which has ‘a track record of delivering within agreed timescales and for providing quality advice‘, recently advised HSBC and EIB as funders on the £100m Dumfries & Galloway Schools PPP project; and Lloyds TSB, RBS and HSBC on the €550m financing of The Erdington Group’s acquisition of a controlling interest in a Dominican Republic rum producer. Andrew Orr is also recommended.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, tier 4

In addition to acting on a range of restructurings and insolvencies, MacRoberts LLP advised on related pensions and property issues, and represented insolvency practitioners in court proceedings. David Flint is recommended.

Within Employment, MacRoberts LLP is a second tier firm,

Macroberts LLP is currently representing two thirds of Scotland’s 32 local authorities on employment law issues, and in 2008 it won two appeals for the Highland Council relating to the statutory grievance procedure. Stephen Miller’s team does advocacy work before the Employment Appeals Tribunal and has gained several impressive new clients including Peel Ports and Flyglobespan.

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

MacRoberts LLP’s links to the construction industry lead to a large throughput of health and safety work for Craig Turnbull’s team. Clients include Glasgow Housing Association, GlaxoSmithKline and W.H. Malcolm (Construction Services).

Within Pensions, MacRoberts LLP is a second tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP’s practice is praised for its ‘invaluable knowledge and experience‘, with ‘outstanding‘ group head Peter Trotter ‘able to guide clients without losing them in legal complexities and jargon‘. The firm advised Edinburgh Woollen Mill on the reorganisation of its pension scheme.

Within Charities, tier 4

Under Duncan Osler, MacRoberts LLP recently advised a major UK company on the creation of a new educational charity worth over £6m. Other clients include Glasgow Housing Association, Aberlour Childcare Trust and Learning and Teaching Scotland.

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

MacRoberts LLP advises several high-net-worth individuals on issues including inheritance tax and capital gains tax mitigation, as well as handling executries and trust work. David MacRobert’s four-partner team also has considerable expertise in advising and securing the appointment of financial and welfare guardians for adults with incapacity.

Within Energy, MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP’s ‘patient, constructive and reliable‘ practice is led by wind farm specialist Nick Jones. The firm acted for the Scottish Government in advising the 34 planning and national park authorities on updating their wind energy policies, and advised Vattenfall Wind Power in an appeal of a refusal of planning permission for its 14-turbine development in Perth and Kinross. Planning head Sarah Pirie is also recommended.

Within Projects, MacRoberts LLP is a second tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP’s private sector focused practice acts for a range of construction and services companies throughout the UK. Led by Andrew Orr, the ‘balanced, hardworking and extremely pleasant‘ team advised John Laing Social Infrastructure and Laing O’Rourke as bidder on the £85m Tayside Mental Health project, and a consortium comprising Pihl, FES and Quayle Munro as bidder on Moray Council’s £45m Building for Learning NPD project. David Henderson and managing partner Michael Murphy are also recommended.

Within Education, MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

Under Katy Wedderburn, MacRoberts LLP is recommended for employment, dispute resolution and construction. Client wins include the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association and the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Within Health, MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP’s ‘tailored, first-class team‘ advised the Lothian Health Board on the operation and development of the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The practice, headed by Duncan Osler, is commended for its ‘excellent service and transparent billing‘.

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

MacRoberts LLP acts for 20 Scottish local authorities, and is particularly strong on employment, where group head Stephen Miller is an expert. Recently it won two appeals for the Highland Council on the subject of the statutory grievance procedure.

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

Laurence Fraser and Allan Mackenzie jointly head MacRoberts LLP’s impressive team, from Glasgow and Edinburgh respectively. The firm advised Wm Morison Supermarkets on its new store developments and the Scottish aspects of its £223m purchase of 38 Co-Operative Food and former Somerfield stores. Other clients include Retail Property Holdings, BAM Properties and John Dewar & Sons.

Within Commercial property: Elsewhere in Scotland

Within Commercial property: Elsewhere in Scotland

Within Construction, MacRoberts LLP is a first tier firm,

Headed by the ‘enormously experienced‘ Neil Kelly, MacRoberts LLP is praised for its ‘industry knowledge and excellent value for money‘. The team advised AMEC in a multi-party mediation for claims in excess of £34m, and Carillion Construction on the design and construction of the International Broadcast Centre for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Clients consider Shona Frame a ‘key player‘, and praise her ‘high-calibre advice‘.

Within Environment, MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

Led by Jamie Grant, MacRoberts LLP is advising on two appeals that have gone to public inquiry related to the refusal of PPC permits on waste oil facilities. Sarah Pirie is recommended.

Within Planning, MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

Sarah Pirie’s practice at MacRoberts LLP was appointed by the Scottish Government to advise and support all 34 Scottish planning authorities on the updating of their wind farm planning policies. Other clients include Wm Morrison Supermarkets and Vattenfall Wind Power.

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

David Arnott is the name to note at MacRoberts LLP.

Within Social housing, MacRoberts LLP is a second tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP continues to advise Glasgow Housing Association on a range of matters including governance issues, employment and public procurement matters. Duncan Osler heads the team.

Within Information technologyand intellectual property, MacRoberts LLP is a second tier firm,

Recent highlights for MacRoberts LLP’s team include advising RS Biotech Laboratory Equipment on its IP issues and partnering arrangements. Other clients include Howco Group, the Scottish Whisky Association and Smarter Grid Solutions. David Flint heads the team.

Within Sport

Within Transport, MacRoberts LLP is a third tier firm,

MacRoberts LLP’s clients include Northlink and Western Ferries, which it advises on parliamentary, European and state aid matters. Duncan Osler heads the team.