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Simpson & Marwick

4 CARDEN TERRACE, ABERDEEN, AB10 1US, SCOTLAND
North Berwick, London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen AB10 and 1 more

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

Dispute resolution

Within Commercial litigation, tier 4

Simpson & Marwick’s litigation practice is led by Peter Anderson, whose ‘30 years of litigation experience give him a very comprehensive view of the market, counsel and judiciary’.

Human resources

Within Employment, Simpson & Marwick is a third tier firm,

Simpson & Marwick’s team gives ‘prompt, clear and practical advice’. Aberdeen-based Sandy Kemp and David Hughes are ‘extremely knowledgeable, professional, thorough and committed’. Clients include Brit Insurance, Marathon Oil and Baker Hughes.

Within Health and safety, Simpson & Marwick is a first tier firm,

Simpson & Marwick’s clients include Travelers, Aviva and RSA Insurance. The firm has ‘excellent knowledge and a swift, pragmatic approach’, and represents clients in HSE prosecutions and FAIs. The ‘calm and effective’ Mark Donaldson and Douglas Russell are recommended.

Insurance

Within Medical negligence: defender, Simpson & Marwick is a second tier firm,

Simpson & Marwick’s medical defence team is ‘excellent on all counts’. The Medical Defence Union is a key client. Team head Graeme Watson and associate Duncan Batchelor are recommended.

Within Personal injury: defender, Simpson & Marwick is a first tier firm,

Simpson & Marwick is ‘one of the top insurance litigation firms’. Its PI team is divided into specialist groups covering advocacy, catastrophic injury and occupational disease matters. The Aberdeen team notably undertakes claims arising in the oil and offshore industry. Practice head Gordon Keyden is recommended, along with David Tait, Harry Boyle, Robert Leith and Michael Jones QC.

Within Professional negligence, Simpson & Marwick is a first tier firm,

One of the ‘leading law firms undertaking professional indemnity work in Scotland’, Simpson & Marwick represents a range of professionals including lawyers, accountants, architects and financial advisers. Gavin Henderson gives ‘sound advice, and is committed and thorough’; Charles McGregor is ‘extremely able’; and Graeme Watson and Peter Anderson are also recommended.

Overview

Private client

Within Family, Simpson & Marwick is a third tier firm,

At Simpson & Marwick, accredited mediator and family law specialist Shaun George heads the team, which is ‘supportive, professional, calm, responsive and knowledgeable’. Richard Smith is ‘very solid, and takes a considered approach to problems’.

Public sector

Within Local government, tier 4

Simpson & Marwick has established a reputation for representing public bodies in contentious matters and investigations, including acting as agents in the Supreme Court. Ranald MacPherson and new partner Katy Nisbet are ‘experts in their fields’, and ‘take a robust approach’.

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Legal Developments in the UK

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

  • COUNCIL TAX

    In Harrow LBC v Ayiku [2012] EWHC 1200 (Admin) Sales J held that the word “or” in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, art 3 Class N, had a disjunctive meaning, therefore it was sufficient for the non-British spouse of a foreign student to satisfy one or other of the two conditions, namely being prevented from taking paid employment or being prevented from claiming benefits, in order to qualify as a “relevant person” who was exempted from liability to pay council tax.
    - 11KBW

  • QUEEN’S SPEECH

    Bills already introduced pursuant to the Queen’s Speech on 9 May 2012 include Local Government Finance Bill and Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, both accompanied by Explanatory Notes, which in each case address ECHR compatibility.
    - 11KBW

  • Standards

    In R (Calver) v Adjudication Panel for Wales [2012] EWHC 1172 (Admin) Mr Calver was a member of Manorbier Community Council who successfully challenged the decision of the Panel to dismiss his appeal against a decision by Prembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee censuring him for a number of comments or blogs posted by him on a website he owned and controlled.
    - 11KBW

  • A justified retrospective

    Clive Sheldon - QC debates the pros & cons of retrospective tax legislation
    - 11KBW

  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

    In R (Greenwich Community Law Centre) v Greenwich LBC [2012] EWCA Civ 496 the Court of Appeal held that the Council had had “due regard to the PSED when making changes to its funding of community legal advice services”. At para 30 Elias LJ said:
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  • Public Sector Equality Duty

    Surrey County Council conducted a review of its Library Service. This culminated in a Report to the Council’s Cabinet. The Recommendations in the Report included that there should be consultation about a community-partnership approach at selected Libraries.
    - 11KBW

  • Judicial Review

    The Judgment of Lindblom J in The Manydown Co Ltd v Basingstoke and Deane BC [2012] EWHC 977 (Admin) repays attention. The Claimant sought to challenge by judicial review 2 decisions of the Council: (1) the Council’s refusal to reconsider its position on the development of a site that it owns (and is the subject matter of a Joint Development Partnership Agreement with the Claimant); and (2) a decision of the Council’s Cabinet approving a selection of sites for development which did not include this site.
    - 11KBW

  • The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

    After its torrid passage through Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012. The Act deals principally with healthcare reform, but it also contains some amendments to the legislative framework for social care. It will come into force on a day yet to be appointed by the Secretary of State.
    - 11KBW

  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue:
    - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

  • Premium service for tier 2 and 5 sponsors to be launched

    A premium service for sponsors will be launched by the UKBA on 6 April 2012. The service is designed specifically for companies that sponsor international employees under tier 2 and 5 of the points based system and aims to provide them with enhanced support.
    - Penningtons Solicitors LLP
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