The Legal 500

Scotland

Transport

Transport - ranked: tier 1

Addleshaw Goddard

Following its merger with HBJ Gately in June 2017, Addleshaw Goddard has a pre-eminent shipping team in Scotland, handling wet and dry mandates at a national and international level. It is particularly noted for international transactional shipping advice and ship finance work, but it also provides a full-service dispute resolution offering, including extensive experience in London arbitrations. The ‘hugely impressive’ Ed Watt leads the practice and has ‘an incredible knowledge of maritime law’. Watt is advising Caledonian Maritime Assets, a company wholly owned by the Scottish government, as the buyer in connection with building and refinancing of two passenger ferries under construction by Ferguson Marine Engineering. Ship finance work is led by Alan Shanks, whose background and experience in the Middle East and Caspian shipping sectors are a huge asset to the team. Catriona Smith acts primarily for lenders in ship finance transactions, with niche expertise in shari’ah law. The group handled the due diligence for a major US law firm in relation to a proposed $200m investment into a global cruise line. It also acted as English and Scottish counsel to Topaz Energy and Marine in connection with its successful $375m high yield bond issue.

Leading individuals

[back to top]

Scotland: Corporate and commercial

Corporate and commercial: Edinburgh and Glasgow

Corporate and commercial: Edinburgh and Glasgow - ranked: tier 3

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard entered the Scottish market in 2017, following a merger with HBJ Gateley. Its ‘high quality team‘ acts for a broad base of clients, including high-growth companies, private equity houses, management teams and investee companies. In addition, the firm acts for circa 40% of the FTSE 100 companies, many of which have operations in Scotland. In a recent highlight, a team led by Anna Brown acted for The City Pub Group Plc in its £96m IPO and AIM admission. Practice head David Kirchin, who ‘brings a calming influence in the heat of negotiations‘, and managing associate Laura Falls were part of a cross-practice team which assisted private equity sponsor Cairngorm Capital II and its acquisition vehicle Cairngorm Acquisitions III Midco Limited with the acquisition of Scottish timber merchant Thornbridge Sawmills Limited. Andrew Ley has deal experience in the food and drink sector, while David Horne specialises in corporate transactions involving industries such as real estate, hospitality and technology. Another name to note is David Anderson, who is particularly active in the Scottish digital and fintech sectors.

Leading individuals

[back to top]

Scotland: Dispute resolution

Commercial litigation

Commercial litigation - ranked: tier 2

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard, whose Scotland-based team is a core part of the wider UK network, has grown its portfolio of high quality work since it merged with HBJ Gately in 2017. The firm has won key mandates across a number of areas, including energy, insolvency, banking, tax and shipping. The firm benefits from the strong capabilities of its team in all aspects of litigation, arbitration and mediation. Lynsey Walker (who is one of five solicitor advocates in the group) and Antonia Grieve recently acted for Promontoria as the pursuer at the Court of Session in Promontoria (RAM) Limited v Moore; this matter concerned the implications of a transfer of a guarantee of bank borrowings. In another matter, Simon Catto is representing Frank A Smart & Son Limited at the Supreme Court in a VAT dispute with HMRC. Alan Sinclair is a well-known name in the Glasgow insolvency market, and his other work includes shareholder disputes and matters arising from sales of businesses. Joan Devine is experienced in property litigation, and also contentious banking and insolvency matters. Anne Struckmeier is recommended for infrastructure-related construction disputes. Managing associates Edward Gratwick and Rachael Bicknell are other notable figures in the team.

[back to top]

Debt recovery

Debt recovery - ranked: tier 3

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard's varied portfolio of work ranges from straightforward volume-driven matters to cases involving legally intricate issues in areas such as insolvency, banking and finance, and property, among others. A pillar of the practice is in matters related to social housing, where the work involves assisting large Scottish registered social landlords with actions for recovery of rent arrears and related actions for eviction; Ilona McGowan has made a name for herself in this space. Joan Devine focuses on property-related recoveries cases, a portion of which also involves acting for social housing sector clients. Laura McCabe is particularly experienced in litigating utilities sector debt recovery matters which are connected with the supply of water. The team, which is led by Alan Sinclair and Devine jointly, acts for clients such as Grampian Housing Association, Castle Water Limited, Johnstone Carmichael and Stirling Park Sheriff Officers.

[back to top]

Scotland: Finance

Banking and finance

Banking and finance - ranked: tier 2

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard, which launched in Scotland by merging with HBJ Gateley in 2017, has an experienced team that demonstrates 'a high level of commerciality when reviewing transactions'. Further, 'it can provide considered advice through a bank or borrower lens, allowing good decisions to be made'; clients include Royal Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank, Santander, HSBC, Robertson Group and Topaz Energy & Marine. It also acts for non-bank funders, such as Route Finance and Shawbrook Bank. The team is led by Alan Shanks, who has vast experience of acquisition finance transactions in the renewable energy, oilfield services and shipping sectors. In 2017, Shanks was the lead adviser to Business Growth Fund on a £56m co-investment with Blue Water Energy into ROVOP; the purpose of the financing was to enable ROVOP to expand its fleet of remotely-operated vehicles. Euan Cluness handles acquisition and leveraged finance transactions, and he also has notable experience of asset-based lending, particularly in the whisky industry. Cluness acted for for PNC Business Credit and the Bank of Scotland in their £80m asset-based lending facility to independent distiller Ian Macleod Distillers. Alex Innes, who is dual-qualified in English and Scottish law, is recommended for his real estate finance expertise. Tom Speirs, Catriona Smith and managing associate Peter Smartt are other key figures.

[back to top]

Insolvency and corporate recovery

Insolvency and corporate recovery - ranked: tier 2

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard fields 'an impressive level of resource' in Scotland. Led by Jamie McIntosh, who 'offers wise counsel in difficult and complex situations', the group provides 'authoritative and expert support' on management and bank-led turnarounds and corporate restructurings, distressed real estate, debt portfolio transactions, and various other matters. The firm has built upon its merger with HBJ Gateley in 2017 by hiring associate Craig Falconer to its Aberdeen office, and also by winning work from clients such as HSBC, Sainsburys Bank and Close Brothers. McIntosh and Lynsey Walker represented Clipper Holdings in the high-profile case of Shear v Clipper Holdings; the matter concerned whether or not the client had title to enforce a security, following assignation of the security (as part of a portfolio transfer) from Allied Irish Bank. In another notable matter, Tim Cooper and managing associate Jamie Nellany are acting for Moorfields Advisory Limited as the administrators of three Jersey-registered SPV shopping centre companies. A separate team led by Spiers is advising the same client on the administration of the AWG group of companies. Cerberus, Bibby Financial Services and Carval Investors are among other clients. Addi Spiers is 'well-liked and well-respected by clients, particularly banks and acquirers of debt portfolios'.

Leading individuals

Next generation lawyers

[back to top]

Scotland: Human resources

Employment

Employment - ranked: tier 3

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard  is noted as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for employment work, including expertise in business transfers and restructures, equal pay and discrimination litigation, gender pay reporting, in addition to executive recruitment and exits. The practice greatly benefitted from the arrival of David Hughes from Clyde and Co in May 2017, who brings extensive oil and gas sector experience to the Aberdeen office. Hughes is currently acting for a major shipping company in relation to complex industrial relations issues relating to various aspects of employment terms. ‘First class’ Kim Patullo is acting for Action 4 Equality, in a class action for around 7000 claimants in a significant equal pay case; winning in the Court of Session and subsequently taking on a further 1800 claimants. Legal director, Ann Frances Cooney, is advising the UK subsidiary of FNZ in connection with several large-scale, cross-border TUPE transfers and redundancy programmes.

[back to top]

Scotland: Private client

Personal tax, trusts and executries

Personal tax, trusts and executries - ranked: tier 3

Addleshaw Goddard

Gregor Mitchell leads Addleshaw Goddard’s team, which advises a range of clients, with a particular focus on SME entrepreneurs. Leveraging the firm’s UK-wide presence, the team handles cross-border and multi-jurisdictional mandates and matters at the crossroads between corporate and private client work. Other key figures include Douglas Hunter, who has extensive experience advising elderly clients on their estates, and legal director Euan Fleming, who specialises in trusts and estates matters. The group is advising former international rugby player, Doddie Weir, on matters relating to his trust and foundation following his diagnosis with motor neurone disease, which included the establishment of tax efficient structures, an SCIO, a discretionary trust for a vulnerable person and assistance to the trustees with charity taxation regimes.

[back to top]

Scotland: Projects, energy and natural resources

Energy (excluding oil and gas)

Energy (excluding oil and gas) - ranked: tier 3

Addleshaw Goddard

Having merged with HBJ Gateley in 2017, Addleshaw Goddard now has a team in Scotland, whose work in the energy and utilities sector complements the work undertaken by the London and Leeds offices. The firm acts for a multitude of market participants in the industry, including developers, corporate clients, financial institutions and private equity funds. Paul Minto, Aileen McCallum, Alison Horner, Andrew Fairlie and Alan Shanks advised Berwickshire Community Renewables LLP (a joint venture between Berwickshire Housing Association and Community Energy Scotland) on the groundbreaking development of a three turbine wind farm in the Scottish Borders for the purpose of funding the building of affordable housing in the region. Minto, managing associate Calum Fisher (who assists emerging electricity trading companies with commercial contracts issues) and Leeds-based Paul Dight are advising Flexitricity on transforming its business into becoming a licensed electricity and gas supplier, which is designed to transform the trading of electricity capacity in the UK. Corporate partner Murray Jack has recently acted for clients such as Greenpower International and Recyclate Supply.

[back to top]

Scotland: Real estate

Commercial property: Edinburgh and Glasgow

Commercial property: Edinburgh and Glasgow - ranked: tier 2

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard inherited HBJ Gateley's real estate team, which is led by Simon Ede, following the merger between the two firms in 2017. Now part of a much larger firm, the group is now better-placed to service a wide spectrum of UK and international clients, which includes funders, private developer investors, landlords and corporate occupiers, and fund clients. Ede's group includes Alison Newton, who has a wealth of experience in multi-use regeneration schemes and UK portfolio acquisitions. Neil Addis has expertise in investment and development matters, as well as commercial leasing work. Kirsty Nicholson is one of a number of individuals in the team with experience of undertaking English real estate work; a recent highlight involved acting for Staycity in deals for purpose-built aparthotels in Manchester, Edinburgh and Liverpool (and also the completion of leases for new aparthotels in London, Manchester and York). In 2017, Alastair Cowan led a multidisciplinary team, which acted for Harwood Mouse Two Limited in the £48m sale to Accrue of nine SPVs owning a mixed-use portfolio of 18 industrial and office properties. Carrie Armstrong, legal director Joanne Moynan are also recommended.  

[back to top]

Construction

Construction - ranked: tier 2

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard, which merged with Maclay Murray & Spens LLP in 2017, has invested in its construction offering in Scotland by hiring legal director Helen Hutcheson from Dentons. Hutcheson specialises in drafting and negotiating construction contracts and ancillary construction agreements, as well as third party development and funding documentation. In addition, managing associate Peter Clyde joined from niche London-based construction and property firm Decimus Fearon LLP; he also has previous in-house experience at Balfour Beatty. Alison Horner heads up the firm's non-contentious practice, which has historically been known to provide full-service support to developers on the construction aspects of PFI/PPP, NPD and hub projects, as well as matters involving areas such as renewable energy, education, hotels and leisure, and retail. The practice also now generates work from funders and funds in other sectors throughout Scotland and the UK. In addition, the firm is increasingly active in construction matters connected with the utilities and residential development sectors. Managing associates Andrew Fairlie and Suzanne Murphy are other practitioners who undertake non-contentious construction work. Horner and Murphy advised BAM Construction Limited on the Blairdardie and Carntyne DBFM project. In another matter, Horner is acting for Moda Living in the construction aspects of Scotland's first PRS scheme. The firm's contentious work is led by Anne Struckmeier, who is particularly active in PFI/NPD, waste and energy disputes.

[back to top]

Planning

Planning - ranked: tier 3

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard incorporated HBJ Gateley's planning offering, following the merger between the two firms in 2017. It has since expanded at associate level. The practice is led by Sarah Baillie, who is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a planning law specialist, and is also a chartered town planner with membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Key areas of focus for the firm in planning matters are in retail and leisure, development and regeneration (particularly housing and the private rented sector/build to rent), and transport, energy and utilities. Baillie's team acts as the sole planning advisers to Aldi in its store acquisition and development programme in Scotland; it recently defended the client against judicial review proceedings brought by Asda over proposed development in Dundee. It also recently assisted Pentland Studios Limited with the planning aspects of a proposed film studio complex at Straiton. Scotland Gas Network Plc, Staycity and Burcote Wind Group are other active clients.

[back to top]

Property litigation

Property litigation - ranked: tier 3

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard represents clients in contentious property matters at all court levels in Scotland, and in arbitrations and mediations. Led by Simon Catto, the team advises clients on access and encroachment issues, rent review cases, dilapidation claims, title issues, and landlord and tenant matters. It is also increasingly sought-after to advise on disputes involving access to and the installation of telecommunications apparatus on land. Joan Devine recently acted for the receivers of Fieldoak Limited (a company which owned an extensive residential property portfolio) in an action for declarator against Citywide at the Commercial Court of the Court of Session; the dispute arose over control of the portfolio, which was worth between £7m and £9m. Another key figure is managing associate Edward Gratwick, who is a member of the Property Litigation Association, and acts for registered social landlords, public bodies, commercial and estate landowners, among other clients.

Next generation lawyers

[back to top]

Social housing

Social housing - ranked: tier 2

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard's group, which is led byHeather Pearson, provides a full service to RSLs on all types of contentious and non-contentious matters. Susan McDonald, who has specialised in social housing for more than 20 years, is experienced in housing management, development conveyancing and tenancy matters, among other areas. Pearson's team includes employment law specialist Kim Pattullo, and also Paul Minto, who advises RSLs on investment transactions and development projects involving onshore wind farms. In addition, following the firm's merger with HBJ Gateley in 2017, the team increasingly plays a key role in social housing finance transactions. Pearson and managing associate Suzanne Murphy recently acted for Paragon Housing Association in its circa £1m turn-key acquisition of completed new-build properties in Alva. Link Group, Wheatley Housing Group and Kingdom Housing Association are other notable clients.

[back to top]

Scotland: TMT (technology, media and telecoms)

IT and telecoms

IT and telecoms - ranked: tier 2

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard is a strong new entrant in the Scottish IT and telecoms market, following the firm’s merger with HBJ Gately. The group, led by David Anderson, is most noted for advising suppliers of IT systems and services into the financial services industry; and utility companies, consultancy businesses, sporting organisations and charities, in connection with the procurement of IT services. The group advised FNZ on its master services agreement with respect to the provision of an investment transaction and administration outsourcing services to Old Mutual Wealth, which involved negotiation of all aspects of the contract that related to the client’s service delivery and on-going services to be provided. Highlights for Helena Brown included advising Celtic Football Club on a range of online consumer contracts for ticket and hospitality sales, and for the procurement of Wi-Fi services. She also conducted a detailed review of legal agreements for Edinburgh Airport concerning the client’s IT systems and service delivery. The group is currently assisting Clydesdale Bank with a major renegotiation of supply contracts, driven by the need for GDPR compliance. Ross McKenzie joined the team from Burness Paull LLP in February 2018, and leads on privacy matters.

Leading individuals

[back to top]

Sport

Sport - ranked: tier 2

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard acts for clubs and individuals in a wide range of football-related matters. Helena Brown leads on the non-contentious front and draws on significant commercial, IP, IT and data protection compliance expertise. She is currently advising Celtic Football Club on consumer and data protection matters in relation to season ticket, hospitality and match ticket terms and conditions, in addition to information sharing with the police, SPFL and other clubs. Experienced litigator Simon Catto often represents players, clubs and agents in the SFA and SPFL at Scottish football tribunals, as well as Court of Arbitration for Sport proceedings and the Dispute Resolution Chamber of FIFA.

[back to top]