The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial Edinburgh and Glasgow: , Tods Murray LLP is a third tier firm,

The team at Tods Murray LLP provides a level of service that clients consider ‘exceptional’, and has ‘an ability to meet deadlines with an unexpectedly cheerful attitude, and a level of expertise that is respected by its counterparts in the negotiation process’. It completed 35 transactions in 2010, including restructuring a financial services LLP. Malcolm Holmes leads the team, and is supported by Granger Brash and the ‘detail-oriented and focused’ Stephen Chan. Glasgow-based Jack Gardiner has ‘a clear view on legal matters’.

Within Licensing, Tods Murray LLP is a third tier firm,

Tods Murray LLP provides ‘excellent advice’ to clients such as the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society, although it saw the departure of Stephen McGowan to Lindsays. Elaine Brailsford heads the team.

Within Commercial litigation, Tods Murray LLP is a third tier firm,

Tods Murray LLP displays ‘outstanding capability on complicated matters of fact and law’. Its growing commercial client base includes CIS and Caledonian Alloys Limited; it recently advised the latter in a potential £10m-plus damages claim for misrepresentation. Peter Paterson heads the practice.

Within Debt recovery Debt recovery

Within Banking and finance , Tods Murray LLP is a third tier firm,

Property finance is a core strength of Tods Murray LLP’s ‘knowledgeable’ finance team, which ‘works to a high standard at all levels of the transaction’. In 2010, the team acted for Santander UK on the restructuring of a multi-issuer residential mortgage securitisation programme. Practice head Graham Burnside ‘knows all the issues and makes sure everything runs smoothly’.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Tods Murray LLP is a third tier firm,

Tods Murray LLP fields a ‘solid, competent’ insolvency team. Alastair Burrows is ‘knowledgeable, and provides reasoned advice’.

Within Employment Employment

Within Pensions, Tods Murray LLP is a third tier firm,

Tods Murray LLP’s pensions work is led by Martin Thurston Smith, who has particular expertise in the pensions aspects of PFI transactions. Clients include Wemyss and March Estates, and the trustees of the University of Edinburgh Staff Benefits Scheme.

Within Agriculture and estates, Tods Murray LLP is a third tier firm,

Tods Murray LLP’s rural property and business department, headed by Sarah Cudworth, is noted for its ‘businesslike conduct and efficiency’. Richard Leslie was promoted to partner.

Within Charities, tier 4

Tods Murray LLP won new instructions from Bighearted Scotland in 2010, while other clients include St Columba’s Hospice, HIV Scotland and the Bank of Scotland Foundation. Team head Richard Findlay and Alistair Burrow are recommended.

Within Family Family

Within Personal tax, trusts and executries, tier 4

Tods Murray LLP’s practice head Gordon 
Cunningham is ‘recommended for his management 
and steering of the team’. Robert Muir is also recommended.

Within Energy (excluding oil and gas), tier 4

Richard Leslie leads Tods Murray LLP’s energy team, which has ‘impressive knowledge of the wind power market’.

Within Projects, Tods Murray LLP is a third tier firm,

Stephen Colliston has taken over at the helm of Tods Murray LLP’s projects practice following Ian McPake’s move to the Scottish Futures Trust. He ‘knows what he is talking about and has the ability to communicate well’, and the practice as a whole has ‘an engaging but unpatronising warmth to it’.

Within Health, Tods Murray LLP is a third tier firm,

Clients note the ‘excellent and prompt level of service’ at Tods Murray LLP, which has developed expertise in healthcare infrastructure, particularly PPP projects. Clients include Consort Healthcare, Randolph Hill, St Columba’s Hospice and Prospect Healthcare. Stephen Colliston heads the practice.

Within Commercial property: Edinburgh and Glasgow, Tods Murray LLP is a second tier firm,

Tods Murray LLP’s commercial property team is valued for its ‘availability of personnel, commercial awareness and value for money’. In 2010, it advised Co-operative Insurance Society Ltd on the £69m sale of Clyde Shopping Centre. Elaine Todd is ‘outstanding’, and practice head Susie Thornton is also recommended.

Within Construction Construction

Within Elsewhere in Scotland Commercial property: leisure and hospitality

Within Environment Environment

Within Planning Planning

Within Property litigation, Tods Murray LLP is a third tier firm,

Elaine Brailsford’s two-partner team at Tods Murray LLP provides ‘strong support and technical expertise’ in complex planning-related property litigation.

Within Social housing, Tods Murray LLP is a second tier firm,

Stephen Humphreys heads the social housing team at Tods Murray LLP, which acts for clients including West of Scotland, Shettleston and Tollcross housing associations, handling matters including acquisitions, sales, refinancings and litigation.

Within Media and entertainment, Tods Murray LLP is a first tier firm,

Tods Murray LLP’s dedicated entertainment and media team handles matters across the spectrum of the industry including film, TV, publishing and music. Highlights included providing financial structuring advice regarding three feature films to be made in India. Richard Findlay heads the group.