The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial Edinburgh and Glasgow: , tier 4

The ‘highly professional’ Donald Munro heads Harper Macleod LLP’s team, which continues to grow in stature in the family-owned business sector, and is valued for its ‘strong understanding of co-operative and employee ownership models’, with Christopher Kerr ‘one of a small handful of lawyers with deep expertise in this area’.

Within Elsewhere in Scotland, Harper Macleod LLP is a third tier firm,

Harper Macleod LLP’s Christopher Kerr splits his time between Glasgow and Inverness, and is recommended for his specialist advice to family-owned and employee-owned businesses – clients appreciate his ‘amiable approach’.

Within Licensing, Harper Macleod LLP is a second tier firm,

Harper Macleod LLP has a ‘strong understanding of the commercial implications of any licensing work’. Clients include William Hill, Greene King and BP Oil. Graeme Nisbet and Andrew Hunter are key individuals, with licensing, gaming and betting expertise.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 4

Harper Macleod LLP’s litigation team is
recommended for its ‘pragmatic advice, and strong industry links and relationships’. Rod McKenzie is an ‘able leader’ of the practice. Mediator Michael Nicholson leads the newly established alternative dispute resolution team.

Within Debt recovery, Harper Macleod LLP is a first tier firm,

Department head Dawn McKenzie at Harper Macleod LLP is ‘committed, professional and keen to deliver services to a high standard’. In 2010, the team was instructed to handle debt recovery matters for the Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB).

Within Banking and finance , tier 5

At Harper Macleod LLP, property finance expert Jacqui Fraser has ‘good, sound knowledge, and is backed by a great team supporting her which always delivers timely advice’. Clients include AIB Group and HSBC.

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

Harper Macleod LLP’s practice head James Lloyd is recommended for his contentious insolvency work. In 2010, the team advised the administrators on the pure insolvency aspects of Dundee FC’s administration.

Within Employment Employment

Within Personal injury: defender, Harper Macleod LLP is a second tier firm,

Harper Macleod LLP has a ‘conscientious, experienced, keen and business-orientated’ team. Recent instructions include handling catastrophic injury claims arising from occupiers’ and employers’ liability. Elizabeth Mitchell heads the insurance group, and is recommended along with Fergus Thomson, who is ‘exceptionally knowledgeable, professional and determined’.

Within Personal injury: pursuer, Harper Macleod LLP is a third tier firm,

Elizabeth Mitchell heads the insurance department at Harper Macleod LLP, which handles claims including occupiers’ liability, and claims across the full range of injuries. New client wins include the EUI Group and Allianz Insurance.

Within Professional negligence, Harper Macleod LLP is a third tier firm,

Harper Macleod LLP acts for pursuers and defenders in a number of sectors, including construction, medical and financial. Professor Robert Rennie is an expert in claims relating to the legal profession. Rod McKenzie heads the team.

Within Agriculture and estates, tier 4

Harper Macleod LLP’s practice includes partners in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness. Graeme Nisbet heads the team, which counts Scottish Coal, The Crofters Commission and Cydesdale Bank among its clients. It remains the sole supplier of legal services to the Forestry Commission in Scotland regarding its property portfolio. Clare Beattie joined from Turcan Connell.

Within Charities Charities

Within Family Family

Within Energy (excluding oil and gas), tier 4

David Bone was appointed as Harper Macleod LLP’s head of energy and natural resources in 2010, and provides a ‘high level of business knowledge and experience with a clear customer focus’, advising on real estate matters relating to wind farm developments; his clients include The Forestry Commission. Pamela Todd is also recommended.

Within Health, Harper Macleod LLP is a third tier firm,

Harper Macleod LLP acts for healthcare professionals, care agencies and medical equipment manufacturers, and also undertakes a significant number of healthcare real estate projects. It continues to act for the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). The practice is now headed by Fraser Hardie.

Within Local government, tier 4

Harper Macleod LLP advised local authorities on a number of property, housing and regeneration matters in 2010. Edinburgh City Council and the Highland Council are clients. Derek Hogg heads the team, in which other key individuals are Professor Robert Rennie, Lorne Crerar, James McMorrow, David Steel and Len Freedman.

Within Parliamentary and public affairs , Harper Macleod LLP is a second tier firm,

Harper Macleod LLP’s parliamentary and public affairs team is headed by the highly regarded Derek Hogg, with James McMorrow also ‘very capable’. The group provides commercial and contracts legal services for the Scottish Government Legal Directorate.

Within Commercial property: Edinburgh and Glasgow, Harper Macleod LLP is a third tier firm,

Harper Macleod LLP’s real estate team is valued for its ‘appropriate and timely advice and fair billing’. Graeme Nisbet heads the practice, and David Bell is very highly regarded. Clients include CBRE Investors and Arcadia Group.

Within Construction Construction

Within Elsewhere in Scotland Commercial property: leisure and hospitality

Within Planning, Harper Macleod LLP is a third tier firm,

Harper Macleod LLP’s Pamela Todd and associate Lee Murphy are recommended for their ‘public sector experience and clear advice in negotiating complex and challenging planning matters’.

Within Property litigation Property litigation

Within Social housing, Harper Macleod LLP is a first tier firm,

Derek Hogg leads Harper Macleod LLP’s social housing practice, which acts for RSLs that collectively manage 43% of the RSL housing stock in Scotland. Clients include Dumfries & Galloway Housing Partnership and Scottish Borders Housing Association.

Within Intellectual property Intellectual property

Within IT and telecoms IT and telecoms

Within Sport, Harper Macleod LLP is a first tier firm,

Harper Macleod LLP has some ‘top-class experts’ in the sports sector. Practice head Lorne Crerar is principal adviser to the Scottish Rugby Union, and Rod McKenzie advises the Scottish Premier League and Celtic FC. The team is advising the Scottish Government in relation to the 2014 Ryder Cup.