The Legal 500

Within Licensing, tier 4

bto’s new clients include Downing LLP and Begbies Traynor.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 4

At bto, Paul Motion is singled out for his ‘meticulous attention to detail’. It handles a broad range of contentious matters for clients including Kappa GB Limited, Cigna UK and Lloyds Banking Group.

Within Debt recovery, bto is a second tier firm,

Led by Grant Hunter, bto handles volume unsecured as well as secured recoveries on behalf of mainstream UK banks. Its clients include American Express, Lloyds Banking Group and Cigna UK.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery Insolvency and corporate recovery

Within Employment, bto is a third tier firm,

Clients praise bto’s ‘sound, insightful and helpful’ employment law practice. The ‘practical and knowledgeable’ Caroline Carr leads the team, which acts for clients including the Medical Protection Society and Key Housing Association. David Hoey is ‘positive and encouraging’, and has ‘in-depth knowledge’.

Within Health and safety, bto is a first tier firm,

bto has a leading practice concerning fatal accident inquiries (FAIs), as well as being very active in the non-contentious side. The team provides ‘first-class service’ and has ‘an excellent depth of resource and knowledge’. Practice head Clare Bone has ‘a calm and professional manner’.

Within Medical negligence: defender, bto is a first tier firm,

bto’s ‘excellent’ team has particular experience in FAIs, and shows ‘impressive consistency’; it produces ‘the highest calibre of work, quickly and often at short notice’. The ‘standout’ Douglas Jessiman and Laura Donald are ‘extremely personable’. The firm recently hired Duncan Mawby from Dundas & Wilson CS LLP.

Within Personal injury: defender, bto is a first tier firm,

bto’s clients include Chubb and Brit insurance. The team is praised for its ‘excellent’ level of service, ‘proactive management of cases’ and ‘strength in depth’. Practice head Catherine Currie and Carly Forrest have ‘vast experience in high-value injury and fatal accident work’.

Within Professional negligence, bto is a first tier firm,

bto’s team has particular experience in acting for insurers in investigating claims made against solicitors for alleged breach of contract or negligence. Clients include Brit Insurance and RSA. Qualified mediator Derek Allan leads the practice.

Within Charities, tier 6

bto recently advised Argyll Community Housing Association on its adoption of charitable status. Patrice Fabien is recommended.

Within Family Family

Within Personal tax, trusts and executries Personal tax, trusts and executries

Within Energy (excluding oil and gas), tier 4

bto’s renewables team is ‘a small but tight operating unit with highly skilled personnel’, and is particularly well known among developers in the onshore, hydroelectric, biomass and energy-from-waste sectors. In 2011 it acted for Inver Hydro LLP on the funding of a hydro development in Jura. Ralph Riddiough and James Dickson have ‘comprehensive knowledge of the renewables arena’.

Within Education, tier 4

David Hoey heads bto’s practice, which represents a number of further education institutions.

Within Commercial property: Edinburgh and Glasgow, bto is a third tier firm,

Burness LLP’s real estate lawyers ‘make the client feel they have its best interests at the forefront’. In 2011, the team acted for Whole Foods Market on the lease of its first UK store outside London. Practice head Nick Naddell is knowledgeable, and Richard Rennie has ‘the ability to argue his point strongly without antagonising the other side’. David Gibson moved to bto, and Iain Grieve joined HBJ Gateley.

Within Commercial property: Elsewhere in Scotland Commercial property: leisure and hospitality

Within Construction Construction

Within Property litigation Property litigation

Within Social housing, bto is a first tier firm,

bto ‘rates very highly for its professional service and knowledge’. It handles the full range of housing matters for clients including Clyde Valley and Argyll Community housing associations. Karen Brodie has ‘a huge amount of experience’.

Within Intellectual property Intellectual property

Within IT and telecoms IT and telecoms

Within Media and entertainment, tier 4

bto recently represented Clydebank Life Story Group in making a copyright infringement claim. Paul Motion leads the practice.