Profiles
England & Wales
The firm’s London practice, which opened in 1989, has rapidly expanded and now offers a full English Law service. This provides an ideal platform both for Scottish clients doing business in the City and for London-based clients looking for a premier law firm without City overheads. In 2004 Maclay Murray & Spens LLP were joined by City Law Partnership, a London-based corporate boutique firm specialising in financial services. This development represented a significant step in MMS’ ongoing strategy to build and develop the London office.
The firm: Maclay Murray & Spens LLP has a significant English, European and international client base, which can be serviced from any or all of the firm’s five offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Brussels. These are linked by an integrated computer, video-conferencing and telephone network ensuring fast and efficient service to clients throughout the UK. The firm is a member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of independent law firms. Established in 1989, Lex Mundi now boasts over 160 law firms with 365 offices and 20,000 lawyers between them. The firm’s status as Scotland’s representative also benefits English clients as Lex Mundi has a policy of not taking on an English member, and so the London office provides an opportunity for English clients to access the network. The advantages are considerable. Laws and regulations vary wildly and can be highly complex, so local expertise is essential when companies seek to compete in the global economy. Lex Mundi allows the firm’s clients to access these legal resources quickly and efficiently. The firm is also committed to recruiting high-quality assistant solicitors in all areas of work and takes on approximately 20 trainees every year. The growth of activity in all of the firm’s offices and the firm’s commitment to a policy of regular exchanges of lawyers with firms in other jurisdictions (both in Europe and further afield) ensure that those recruited receive the widest possible training.
Maclay Murray & Spens LLP is committed to investing in its people and their development, and in continuing to improve its efficiency, quality and service.
Types of work undertaken: The firm is structured into 12 departments. These are banking and finance, capital projects, commercial dispute resolution, construction and engineering, corporate, employment, pensions and benefits, EU, competition and regulatory, IP and technology, planning and environmental, private client, property and tax. The corporate practice covers four key areas: M&A/private equity, financial services, capital markets and restructuring.
The firm has exceptional quality in all of the departments listed and continues to strive towards pre-eminence in these areas of work. The firm recognises that many transactions require hand-picked teams made up of lawyers with differing skills from differing departments if the specific needs of the client and the transaction in question are to be fully met. To this end, the firm ensures that all departments and units are closely linked to provide the client with the best possible, seamless service.
The skills developed by the firm over the years and the commitment not just to meet but to anticipate the needs of clients, both corporate and private, gives Maclay Murray & Spens LLP its competitive edge.
Other offices: Aberdeen, Brussels, Edinburgh, Glasgow
Breakdown of work %
Company/corporate 47
Commercial property 33
Litigation 20
Number of UK partners 74
Number of other UK fee-earners 174
Scotland
Maclay Murray & Spens LLP is a forward-looking, practical, commercial legal firm which has a stated objective of providing its clients with the best possible service across the broad range of legal advice provided by the firm. Maclay Murray & Spens LLP is well-placed to offer clients throughout the UK and beyond commercial advice at competitive prices. The firm’s Aberdeen office is home to an expanding oil and gas practice and offers clients in the north east of Scotland access to the full range of specialist expertise in the firm, including employment, banking, health and safety, corporate, property and planning.
The firm: Maclay Murray & Spens LLP has a significant UK, European and international client base, which can be serviced from any or all of the firm’s five offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Brussels. These are linked by an integrated computer, video-conferencing and telephone network ensuring that a fast, efficient service, and expert advice are delivered. The London office, offers a full English Law service, which provides an ideal platform both for Scottish clients doing business in the City and for London-based clients looking for a premier law firm without City overheads. The London office has particular strength in financial services. The development and growth of the Brussels office reflects a commitment to meet clients’ needs. The firm’s Aberdeen office is home to an expanding oil and gas practice and, following the acquisition in April 2007 of Iain Smith & Co’s corporate and property teams, can offer clients a full range of legal advice.
The firm is a member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of independent law firms. Established in 1989, Lex Mundi now boasts over 160 law firms with 385 offices and 20,000 lawyers between them. The firm’s status as Scotland’s representative also benefits its English clients as Lex Mundi has a policy of not taking on an English member, so the firm’s London office provides an opportunity for English clients to access the network. The advantages are considerable. Laws and regulations vary wildly and can be highly complex, so local expertise is essential when companies seek to compete in the global economy. Lex Mundi allows the firm’s clients to access these legal resources quickly and efficiently.
Types of work undertaken: The firm is structured into 12 main departments. These are banking and finance, capital projects, commercial dispute resolution, construction and engineering, corporate, employment, pensions and benefits, EU, competition and regulatory, IP and technology, planning and environmental, private client, property and tax. The corporate practice covers four key areas: M&A/private equity, financial services, capital markets and restructuring.
The firm has exceptional quality in all of the departments listed and continues to strive towards pre-eminence in these areas of work. The firm recognises that many transactions require hand-picked teams made up of lawyers with differing skills from differing departments if the specific needs of the client and the transaction in question are to be fully met. To this end, the firm ensures that all departments and units are closely linked to give the client the best possible service.
The skills developed by the firm over the years and the commitment not just to meet but to anticipate the needs of clients, both corporate and private, gives Maclay Murray & Spens LLP its competitive edge, and clients are given a comprehensive legal service.
Other offices: Brussels
Breakdown of work %
Company/commercial 40
Commercial property 28
Litigation 17
Private client 15
Number of UK partners 74
Number of other UK fee-earners 275
Above material supplied by Maclay Murray & Spens LLP.