The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial - Edinburgh and Glasgow, tier 4

Brodies LLP has a large corporate team led by Charles Smith, and advised Omega Diagnostics on its £6.7m reverse takeover of Genesis Diagnostics, and Arnold Clark Automobiles on its acquisition of Patterson Motor Group. One clients notes that Alistair Campbell provided ‘ first-class advice that both saved and made me a lot of money’.

Within Corporate tax, Brodies LLP is a third tier firm,

Brodies LLP offers corporate and employment tax advice, while the firm’s leading real estate practice is reflected in considerable strength in property tax and SDLT. Alan Barr leads the team which was recently joined by Isobel d'Inverno from MacRoberts LLP.

Within EU and competition, Brodies LLP is a third tier firm,

Offering ‘ deep knowledge of EC procurement issues’, Brodies LLP acts for a number of Scottish councils including Clackmannanshire, Shetland Islands, Aberdeen and Argyll & Bute. Team head Rodger Murray can ‘ present advice on complex issues in a user-friendly format’ and is ‘ willing to respond rapidly to client demand’. Public law specialist Christine O’Neill is also recommended.

Within Licensing, Brodies LLP is a third tier firm,

Brodies LLP continues to advise La Tasca and Pizza Hut, and has recently been appointed to advise The Gambling Commission. Joyce Cullen heads the team, and clients commend Kevin McGlone for his ‘ proactive approach’.

Within Commercial litigation, Brodies LLP is a first tier firm,

Joyce Cullen leads Brodies LLP’s highly regarded commercial litigation practice, one of the firm’s core areas. The ‘ first-class’ team acted in 33 cases in the Court of Session in 2007, representing Commonwealth Oil and Gas in a breach of fiduciary duties claim against a former director, and successfully defending the Scottish Information Commissioner in appeals against three decisions of the SIC. The ‘ very thorough’ Robin Macpherson heads the corporate litigation team. The ‘ level of partner input makes them really stand out’.

Within Debt recovery

Within Banking and finance, Brodies LLP is a third tier firm,

2007 saw Brodies LLP significantly bolster its practice, hiring Morton Fraser partner and former Lloyds TSB assistant head of legal Jeremy Fraser, and real estate finance specialist Peter Kelly from DLA Piper Scotland LLP. Bruce Stephen’s team acted on 450 deals in 2007, with the value of the ten largest totalling £3.8bn; advising ICICI Bank on a £325m facility to fund United Spirits’ £595m acquisition of Whyte & Mackay was a notable highlight. Derek Arnott and Jeremy Fraser combine ‘ deep knowledge’ with a ‘ solid understanding of clients’ requirements’, and ‘ explain matters in simple and understandable terms’. Acquisition finance expert Alan Knowles is also recommended.

Within Banking and finance, Brodies LLP is a third tier firm,

Although DLA Piper Scotland LLP saw the departure of real estate finance expert Peter Kelly to Brodies LLP, it remains a strong contender in acquisition finance. ‘ Efficient, commercial and easy to get on with’ practice head John Maciver- who also heads the firm’s projects team - draws plaudits for his ability to ‘ communicate without too much “legal speak”’.

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

There has been a significant change in Brodies LLP’s insolvency and corporate recovery team, with DLA Piper Scotland LLP’s ‘ well-respected and technically gifted’ restructuring head Colin McIntosh now leading following his move in January 2008. Robin Macpherson, who ‘ handles challenging transactions with an excellent business manner’, heads the contentious insolvency practice, while corporate partner Iain Young is ‘ experienced, robust and not easily intimidated’. The ‘ well-connected’ firm primarily acts for insolvency practitioners, but also advises the Scottish clearing banks.

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

DLA Piper Scotland LLP saw the loss of its two insolvency partners, with Gordon Hollerin departing for Semple Fraser LLP and Colin McIntosh joining Brodies LLP.

Within Employment, Brodies LLP is a first tier firm,

Brodies LLP handled some 200 Employment Tribunal claims in 2007, along with cases in the Court of Appeal and Court of Session. The team dealt with the highly publicised departure of a plc executive, garnering a payout of £1.5m. Practice head Joan Cradden is ‘ outstanding, smart, decisive, supportive and focused’, and Tony Hadden and Emma Bell are also glowingly recommended.

Within Pensions

Within Medical negligence - pursuer, Brodies LLP is a first tier firm,

Brodies LLP successfully acted against the NHS in the first UK case concerning the use of recovered memory therapy, a case laden with implications for psychotherapy work. Headed by Brian Lavelle, the team regularly handles Court of Session claims.

Within Personal injury - defender, Brodies LLP is a second tier firm,

Brodies LLP’s work for the Scottish Prison Service involves some unique and complex issues, including control and restraint injuries, stress claims and psychiatric cases. Duncan Maclean heads a growing and ambitious team.

Within Personal injury - pursuer, Brodies LLP is a first tier firm,

Clients note that Brodies LLP’s ‘ attention to detail is impressive’, and recommend David Armstrong’s team for its ‘ excellent response time’. The team secured a £1.75m settlement for a brain-injured client struck in the face by a piece of metal.

Within Professional negligence, Brodies LLP is a second tier firm,

Brodies LLP’s Alan Calvert is ‘ able to obtain the client’s trust very quickly’, and heads a team which ‘ goes out of its way to look for methods to resolve disputes’. The 19-strong group represents insurers, brokers, construction professionals, solicitors, accountants and actuaries.

Within Agriculture and estates, Brodies LLP is a third tier firm,

Brodies LLP is acting on three of the four railway projects currently underway in Scotland, including providing advice on the land and rights required for the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway. The team currently acts for more than 35 significant estates businesses in Scotland, and its ‘ strategic negotiation advice is particularly objective and helpful’. Hew Dalrymple heads the team.

Within Charities, tier 4

Brodies LLP acts for Young Scot Enterprise, advising on commercial contracts, IP and employment law issues.

Within Family, Brodies LLP is a second tier firm,

Brodies LLP offers advice on wealth preservation and the structuring of assets in numerous markets. One client notes its ‘ ability to take quite complex issues and simplify them’. Scott Cochrane is ‘ timely and responsive’.

Within Personal tax, trusts and executries, Brodies LLP is a second tier firm,

John Campbell has been appointed as Brodies LLP’s director of private client services. The team, noted as ‘ always exceeding expectations’, acts for major high street banks, as well as a wealth of young entrepreneurs. Hugh Stevens is a well-regarded personal tax specialist.

Within Energy

Within Projects, Brodies LLP is a third tier firm,

Clients are effusive in their praise of Brodies LLP’s PFI head Keith Patterson, who is ‘ calm under pressure’ and combines ‘ buckets of experience’ with an ‘ amazing ability to absorb voluminous documentation and quickly determine the salient points’. The practice spans health, environment, energy, transport and local authority work, with recent highlights including advice to NHS Forth Valley on the Clackmannanshire Community Hospital PPP, and Veolia Water on its acquisition of five Scottish and Northern Irish PPP contracts in the water sector. The team is also developing secondary markets and regulated industries practices, while its experience in NPD work led to an instruction by the Scottish Government Health Department to amend the standard PFI/PPP contract to be compatible with the NPD model.

Within Education, Brodies LLP is a third tier firm,

Brodies LLP now advises Edinburgh’s Telford College and APUC, and has seen a rise in advisory work for Queen Margaret University. It advises on governance, funding and employment issues, and a rise in HR challenges has led to more instructions concerning student complaints and appeals. Department head Brenda Scott offers tremendous experience.

Within Health, Brodies LLP is a second tier firm,

Brodies LLP- noted for its ‘ willingness to accept new challenges’ - advised NHS Tayside on the negotiation of a £15m partnership contract with Amicus Healthcare (Scotland) and General Healthcare Mixer Partnership. NHS24 and University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre are also clients.

Within Local government, Brodies LLP is a first tier firm,

Brodies LLP has made several strategic hires over the past year, including Jackie McGuire, who is now director of the public sector services group. Areas of focus include procurement advice, and one client notes that ‘ the team is familiar with esoteric aspects of local authority property law which some other major firms tend not to be aware of’.

Within Parliamentary, Brodies LLP is a third tier firm,

Brodies LLP’s Christine O’Neil is noted for her ‘ pro-active and commercial approach’, and led a team advising on legislative options for the new Forth Crossing.

Within Commercial property - Edinburgh and Glasgow, Brodies LLP is a first tier firm,

Brodies LLP’s 18-partner team, headed by Denis Garrity, has a strong Scottish focus. It acted for Propinvest on its £400m purchase of East Kilbride Town Centre. Clients praise the team’s ‘ diligent’ approach and appreciate partners’ understanding of business needs. New clients include Aldi and AIG, and the firm continues to act for Keir Homes and Aberdeen City Council.

Within Commercial property - Elsewhere in Scotland

Within Commercial property - Elsewhere in Scotland

Within Construction, tier 4

Brodies LLP has a growing focus on urban regeneration, advising on projects such as Macdonald Estates’ regeneration of Stenhousemuir town centre. Public sector instructions remain on the increase, and the team is advising on the redevelopment of Marischal College. New client wins include ERDC Group and Keyhaven. Mark Finlay heads the construction group, and Alan Calvert has significant experience in contentious matters.

Within Environment, Brodies LLP is a second tier firm,

At Brodies LLP, accredited specialist Professor Kenneth Ross contributes over 20 years’ environmental law experience; his service is ‘ thorough and of a high standard’. The firm has advised North Lanarkshire Council and Renfrewshire Council on contaminated land issues, and also advised Aberdeen City Council on a long-term waste management services contract. Charles Smith heads the practice.

Within Planning, Brodies LLP is a first tier firm,

Offering an ‘ exceptional’ service, Brodies LLP this year acted for Redrow Homes in relation to a new ‘town’ proposed for the former Royal Ordnance Factory at Bishopton. The team was also involved in over 50 public inquiries, acting for Aberdeen, Midlothian and Lanarkshire Councils. Team head Neil Collar‘ is an exceptional ambassador for the client’; the team’s ‘ legal advice and witness preparation was excellent and the involvement of an external “cool head” at times was invaluable’.

Within Property litigation, Brodies LLP is a second tier firm,

Led by Robin Macpherson, Brodies LLP has been acting in the appeal of Simmers v Innes to the House of Lords. New client wins include Propinvest and Kookai.

Within Regional review,

While the Big Four’s growth is increasingly centred around their burgeoning London offices, two of Scotland’s most upwardly mobile firms – Brodies LLP and Burness LLP– have openly eschewed the City in order to remain focused on their home markets. Brodies LLP saw turnover leap by some 43% last year, thanks in part to its Glasgow launch through the acquisition of Bishops Solicitors, while Burness LLP doubled the size of its Glasgow office in 2007. The presence of both in a growing number of top tiers demonstrates their progress.

Within Information technology and intellectual property, Brodies LLP is a second tier firm,

Brodies LLP has a competitive edge in information law, particularly in data protection and freedom of information. Two new partners have joined the team this year - Douglas Mathie from Dundas & Wilson CS LLP, and Andrew Rigby from Addleshaw Goddard, providing a boost to the team’s financial sector presence. New clients include Bigmouthmedia and Response Genetics.

Within Media and entertainment

Within Sport

Within Transport, Brodies LLP is a first tier firm,

Brodies LLP leads the market for rail work, and continues to strengthen its shipping and aviation offering; asset finance specialists Alexia Henriksen and Jeremy Fraser regularly advise on helicopter and aircraft financing. It acts for clients such as Seahold Marine Equity on building contracts and investment opportunities, while contentious work includes acting for a Chinese cargo owner in several disputes. ‘Service is good and costs are not over-inflated'.