The Legal 500

In July 2011 Bell & Scott joined Anderson Strathern. Bell & Scott, a specialist property law firm, is a recognised leader in the field of commercial property, including retail, investment and strategic land. The combined practice will bring clients a broader range of specialisms and opportunities and places Anderson Strathern very firmly at the centre of the Scottish property market.

Anderson Strathern is an award-winning, full-service law firm which creates innovative solutions to complex problems. This approach gained Anderson Strathern a ‘highly commended’ ranking in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Report 2010. Clients have access to the highest number of Law Society of Scotland-accredited specialists of any law firm in Scotland, across the full range of services for commercial, private and public sector clients.

The firm: Anderson Strathern is the first law firm in the UK to put in place an integrated management system which manages quality, environmental impact, and health and safety across all areas of the firm, accredited to ISO standards.

The firm achieved a number of new client wins during 2010, including: Cardenden Heat and Power; City of Edinburgh Council; Clydebank College; East Renfrewshire Council; Equality Challenge Unit; HMRC Notarisations mini-tender – Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act; Lloyds Banking Group; Jewel & Esk College; Midlothian Council; North Highland College; Parabis Limited; Renfrewshire Council; Scottish Legal Complaints Commission; Scottish Parliament Corporate Body; Scottish Social Services Council; Strathclyde Partnership for Transport; and Stevenson College.

Types of work undertaken: Banking and finance: principal areas include real estate finance, acquisition and structural finance, equity and mezzanine finance, joint venture, dispute resolution/banking litigation, cross-border transactions, and agricultural/rural/land resources.

Charities: regulatory, governance, funding, contractual, insurance, employment, taxation and property matters affecting charities.

Commercial real estate: all aspects of real estate work, including cross-border transaction work, supported by specialists in landlord and tenant, banking, construction, planning and environmental law.

Construction and engineering: advises domestic and international developers, main contractors, sub-contractors, consultants and individuals for both contentious and non-contentious work.

Corporate: practice includes IPOs, M&As, corporate restructuring, infrastructure projects, joint ventures, private equity and corporate governance.

Discrimination: Scotland’s first specialist discrimination law service.

Dispute resolution: commercial litigation, liability insurance, property, banking, professional regulation, health and safety, public sector litigation, and health service law.

Employment: one of the largest teams in Scotland, led by two accredited specialists.

IP/IT: work includes media and entertainment, publishing, outsourcing, data protection, brand management and advertising law.

Land resources: works on issues affecting property, business, leisure/recreation, heritage and conservation, including particular skills in innovative land use, development options and renewable energy.

Parliamentary and public law: an award-winning team advising on all aspects of Scottish parliamentary and public law.

Planning and environment: a leading team providing specialist advice throughout the planning and environment process.

Private client: one of Scotland’s foremost practices, providing investment, tax and family/matrimonial advice to high-net-worth individuals.

Renewable energy: principal areas include hydrogen storage, biomass, offshore licences and windfarms.

Residential property: a team highly experienced in the process of buying and selling.

Sports law: advises on all aspects, including licensing, funding, sponsorship, discipline and regulation.