The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > Scotland > Insolvency and corporate recovery

Addleshaw Goddard advises its high-profile client base on Scottish insolvency matters and the Scottish aspects of major cross-border restructurings. In recent highlights, the team, which is led by Jamie McIntosh from Edinburgh, represented the administrators of Havelock Europa, and advised the liquidators of Doonin Plant. Also notable is Addi Spiers, who leads the UK distressed real estate practice from the Aberdeen and Edinburgh offices.

Burness Paull LLP recently hired Michael Thomson from Pinsent Masons LLP to head up the restructuring and insolvency team; his recruitment has impacted the practice's client roster with new lender appointments and city law firm clients. On the contentious side, Gary Moffat is a dedicated insolvency litigation specialist and regularly represents the Insolvency Service.

Pinsent Masons LLP's insolvency and restructuring group is notably strong in the oil and gas, renewables, care homes, retail and financial services sectors, with particular expertise in distressed loan sales and purchases and UK bank ring-fencing projects. Claire Massie leads the practice, which also fields Stacey Bairner, who specialises in the trading and restructuring of distressed debt; and senior associates Jennifer McCormick, Ainslie Benzie and Natalie Colaluca. The group was also recently strengthened by the arrival of senior consultant Colin McIntosh from Brodies LLP.

Shepherd and Wedderburn's experience spans transactional, financial and contentious restructuring and insolvency matters for a client roster, which includes large restructuring and insolvency specialists and a number of niche practices in Scotland. The practice is led by Glasgow-based Yvonne Brady, who has a particular focus on the reorganisation and disposal of distressed and insolvent businesses in the SME and mid-market sector. Other noteworthy individuals include contentious specialist Gillian Carty, Fiona McKerrell, who focuses on complex financial restructurings and advising directors of distressed companies; and senior associate Allana Sweeney, who handles distressed M&A work.

Brodies LLP's contentious expertise was recently bolstered by the arrival of Tony Jones QC from BTO Solicitors LLP. The insolvency and restructuring team, led from Edinburgh by Rachel Grant, represents large corporates, SMEs, public sector and regulatory clients, high-profile retailers and construction companies. Peter Kelly leads the Glasgow-based group, and Bruce Stephen handles specialised insolvency processes.

The team at Morton Fraser draws on experts from a range of specialist areas and disciplines including restructuring, litigation, banking, property, employment, financial crime and asset based lending. The group recently welcomed Alan Meek into the Glasgow office from MacRoberts LLP ; he jointly leads the group with non-contentious expert Iain Young. The team also includes insolvency litigation specialists Richard McMeeken in Edinburgh and Nicola Ross in Glasgow.

The restructuring and insolvency team at Harper Macleod LLP covers all areas of work ranging from complex bank-led restructurings and refinances to administrations. The group, which is jointly led by Gordon Hollerin and James Lloyd, has particular expertise in the sport sector; it recently advised on issues arising from voluntary liquidations and dissolutions. The practice has also recently expanded its alternative lender client roster.

The insolvency and restructuring team at Anderson Strathern handles the full spectrum of insolvency and restructuring work, and has particular expertise in the contentious aspects of corporate insolvency matters. Practice head Katrina Lumsdaine has a high-profile client base including government agencies and insolvency practitioners, which she advises on national and cross-border matters. Gillian Jamieson was recently promoted to the partnership.

Blackadders LLP's insolvency client base spans distressed companies, directors and stakeholders, lenders, investors, servicers and secondary debt investors, as well as financial advisers, turnaround specialists and insolvency practitioners. Under the leadership of Ryan McKay, the team handles a wide range of issues including administrations, bankruptcys, business restructurings, liquidations, partnership insolvencys, receiverships and voluntary arrangements.

At BTO Solicitors LLP, the insolvency and corproate recovery group primarily handles insolvency litigation and shareholder and boardroom disputes. The team provides advice and representation to directors pre- and post-insolvency including directors’ duties or disqualification proceedings and personal liability claims. Dorothy Hatfield and Grant Hunter lead the insolvency litigation group, and Alastair Dunn heads up the advisory and restructuring advice.

With a strong focus acting for local insolvency practitioners, Ledingham Chalmers LLP also assists large corporates across Scotland with debt recovery and insolvency matters. The team is led by specialist litigator Tim Thomas from Aberdeen who has considerable experience in mediation and arbitration.

Lindsays' practice fields a multi-disciplinary team including dispute resolution, corporate, technology, commercial property and estate agency practitioners. The group has particular strength in advising creditors and insolvency practitioners and has substantial distressed property experience; it regularly acts on the disposal of commercial property assets and the disposal of residential property assets being sold out of insolvency requirements. Practice head Douglas Millar also leads the dispute resolution group and has substantial experience in the Court of Session.

The department at MacRoberts LLP is recognised for its contentious insolvency advice. Its client roster includes leading insolvency practitioners in Scotland which it advises on a range of matters from applications to fix remuneration to complex litigation in the Court of Session. Recently, the team has handled an increasing number of cross-border insolvencies and has increased its instructions from insolvency practitioners. Insolvency litigator Leon Breakey leads the group, which also includes property expert Ian Bowie. Alan Meek recently moved to Morton Fraser.

Shoosmiths' insolvency sector recoveries unit, led by Rod Macphail, specialises in pre- and post-litigation collections, portfolio management and strategic advice, and book debt recoveries for insolvency practitioners. The group also regularly assists lenders, businesses and individuals with the appointment of administrators, liquidators and trustees in sequestration. Stuart Clubb heads up the general insolvency group and has notable expertise in insolvency litigation, and Andrew Foyle is also a solicitor advocate.

TLT's client roster encompasses liquidators,insolvency practitioners and creditors, and the team also has experience representing companies and directors in liquidation proceedings. The practice specialises in contentious work, pursuing directors for misfeasance, recovering unlawful payments made from company funds and recovering debtors' assets in personal insolvency cases. Alan Munro leads the group.