The Legal 500

Paull & Williamsons LLP

13 NORTH BANK STREET, EDINBURGH, EH1 2LP, SCOTLAND
Edinburgh, Aberdeen

What we say about the firm's legal practice in Scotland

Corporate and commercial

Within Elsewhere in Scotland, Paull & Williamsons LLP is a first tier firm,

Paull & Williamsons LLP dominates the transactional market in Aberdeen and is ‘greatly valued’ by clients. It further strengthened its offshore oil and gas capability by hiring Helen Dickson from Shepherd and Wedderburn’s Aberdeen office. In 2010, the corporate team advised Lime Rock Partners on its NOK50m investment into Reelwell AS, a Norwegian technology company. Kenneth Gordon heads the practice, in which Scott Allan is a ‘very strong performer’.

Finance

Within Banking and finance , tier 4

Paull & Williamsons LLP’s Aberdeen-based group is ‘excellent in terms of quality of advice, team experience and responsiveness’, and has developed a key strength in reserve-based lending transactions to oil and gas sector clients. It is also strong in shipping and offshore project finance. ‘Commercial, experienced lawyers’ Jamie Stark, Scott Allan, John Kennedy and Alasdair Smith are all recommended, as is Helen Dickson, who recently joined from Shepherd and Wedderburn.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery Insolvency and corporate recovery

Human resources

Within Employment, Paull & Williamsons LLP is a second tier firm,

Fielding ‘lawyers who know our business and understand the sector’, the Aberdeen-based team at Paull & Williamsons LLP provides ‘good advice backed by years of experience’. Sean Saluja and Tricia Walker are recommended.

Within Health and safety, Paull & Williamsons LLP is a first tier firm,

Paull & Williamsons LLP is well known for its expertise in the oil and gas sector, and provides ‘prompt service, excellent industry knowledge and experience’. Rona Jamieson attracts very high praise from clients.

Insurance

Within Personal injury: defender, Paull & Williamsons LLP is a third tier firm,

Paull & Williamsons LLP has particular expertise in the gas and oil industry.

Overview

Projects, energy and natural resources

Within Oil and gas, Paull & Williamsons LLP is a second tier firm,

Paull & Williamsons LLP’s Bruce McLeod is ‘first 
class: he has very broad experience of the industry and a very sharp mind, and brings a good commercial perspective and understanding to bear’. The team welcomed Brian Hemming, previously head of legal and commercial at Maersk, in 2010, while Robin Clarkson left in April 2011 for an in-house position at Sterling Resources. Clients of the practice include Centrica and Dana Petroleum.

Real estate

Within Construction Construction

Within Elsewhere in Scotland, Paull & Williamsons LLP is a first tier firm,

Paull & Williamsons LLP lost Colin MacLaren to Brodies LLP’s newly opened Aberdeen office. Despite that setback, Richard Goodfellow’s team retains its reputation for ‘close partner involvement and an excellent level of expertise’, with John Strachan highlighted as ‘technically sound and well regarded’. Recent highlights include advising HSBC on providing £10m of facilities to a property development company.

Within Planning, Paull & Williamsons LLP is a second tier firm,

The team at Paull & Williamsons LLP maintains close contact with academic institutions as well as appropriate business forums, enabling personnel to be kept fully up to date with emerging practice and business trends’. The ‘enthusiastic and committed’ Elaine Farquharson-Black heads the practice, which acted for Total E&P UK on planning permission for the erection of a gas-processing plant.


Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
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