The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > Scotland > Commercial property: Edinburgh and Glasgow

Aberdein Considine is noted for its strong coverage across Scotland. Paul Jennings heads up the team, which is noted for its landlord and tenant work, as well as residential, office, leisure, retail and mixed-use development expertise.

Addleshaw Goddard handles real estate matters for large corporates, UK financial institutions, and domestic and overseas-based private funds. It is particularly focused on the transport, telecoms, student accommodation and private rented sectors. Alternative asset classes (such as healthcare and caravan parks) are another area of strength. Team head Miles Ede is increasingly gaining prominence in transactions of national significance. Alison Newton is experienced in office redevelopments, mixed-use developments, office and hotel leasing, and regeneration projects. Neil Hogg joined as a partner from Pinsent Masons LLP. Mark Fitzgerald has retired.

The real estate team at Anderson Strathern is noted for its strength in commercial and residential matters, including those involving the build-to-rent sector, investment, development, retail and housebuilding. The team generates mandates from blue-chip clients, local businesses and public sector bodies. Anne McGregor, who leads the practice, has over 25 years of experience handling commercial property deals. Euan Mellor joined from Brodies LLP.

Bellwether Green acts for high-profile landlords and property developers, and counts Virgin Media and Liberty Global as notable clients. It often receives referrals from London firms to act on the Scottish aspects of property deals. Glasgow-based John Bingham leads the team.

Brodies LLP continues to perform well in emerging sectors of the commercial property industry and has been involved in many recently announced build-to-rent projects. The firm has dedicated practitioners focusing on the investment, development, hotels, retail and leisure, and housebuilding sectors. On the leisure and hospitality side, the team is active in finance, real estate, private equity investment, hotel management agreements, construction, financing and licensing matters. In the retail arena, the practice acts for blue- chip clients on corporate and real estate transactions. Johane Murray is the overall head of the real estate practice. Colin Morrison heads up the hotels and leisure & retail groups. Managing partner Nick Scott continues to provide strategic advice to key clients. James Roscoe is recommended for investment matters, forward funding and development deals, and property finance. Elaine Farquharson-Black joined from Burness Paull LLP, while Graeme Leith was promoted to partner. In other developments, Robert Forman departed for Burges Salmon LLP and Kevin McGlone moved to DWF.

Since the arrival of new practice head Robert Forman from Brodies LLP in 2019, Burges Salmon LLP’s Scottish real estate offering has continued to go from strength to strength. The firm is uniquely well-placed to provide in-depth cross-border expertise with many Scottish-qualified lawyers being based in its offices south of the border. The team leverages mandates from investors, institutional funds, household-name retailers and major landowners, including The Crown Estate. It also handles property matters in the hotels and leisure, energy, renewables, transport and rural sectors.

The real estate team at Burness Paull LLP is well regarded for its high-profile development and regeneration work. The team acts for a wide range of investor clients on cross-border transactions and handles corporate occupier matters for blue-chip corporate clients. It continues to advise on large-scale developments in the build-to-rent sector, and also handles real estate finance in the private residential, social housing and student accommodation sectors. Team head John Strachan is supported by Graeme Bradshaw, who leads on the retail and leisure and hospitality side. Nick Naddell focuses on high end investment deals, funding packages, and landlord and tenant work for large global retailers. Richard Rennie, who acts for high-profile investor clients, and Tamar Tammes are also recommended. Neil Bruce made partner.

On 1st May 2019, Davidson Chalmers merged with Glasgow corporate boutique Kergan Stewart to form Davidson Chalmers Stewart. The real estate team is well regarded for its experience in the investment, housebuilding, healthcare and veterinary sectors. It is regularly instructed by English and international law firms to handle Scottish matters. Team head Andrew Chalmers is experienced in acting for large developers and family office investment funds.

Dentons is well-placed to advise clients on national and international real estate deals; its work in Scotland is often written under English law. In addition, the firm has a number of Scotland-based dual-qualified fee earners. The Scottish practice is noted for its experience of the shopping centre, retail, energy, and leisure and hospitality spaces. Glasgow-based partner Gordon Aitken, who is a co-head of the team, has over 30 years of real estate experience. He is notably adept at handling institutional investment and funding. Another co-head is Simon Etchells, who is particularly experienced in cross-border deals. Allan Cairns, who is based in Edinburgh, handles investment acquisitions and disposals, leasing and development work, secured lending and the property aspects of corporate transactions.

DLA Piper is known for its domestic and international experience acting for developers, property funds, corporate occupiers, student accommodation and retail clients. It also acts for leisure and hospitality clients, including investors, operators and developers of hotels. Drew Wallace, who leads the real estate team, has over 30 years of experience in investment and development. Steve Edgecombe leads the hospitality and leisure team, focusing on transactional issues. Sheila Irvine is recommended for leasing, investment and development work.

DWF’s Scottish is noted for its strength in investment, development and finance work. The scope of its practice covers the retail, distribution, leisure and tourism, education and energy sectors. The team is jointly led by Chris McLeish, who acts for key investor and developer clients, and David Ratter, who acts for blue-chip corporate clients. Iain McHardy leads on the retail side with an impressive array of household-name clients. Kevin McGlone joined as partner from Brodies LLP.

Eversheds Sutherland’s real estate practice is active in big-ticket real estate deals, with a focus on major institutional and inward investment mandates and development transactions. It has particular experience of leasing and portfolio management work, and has recently seen growth in its real estate finance practice. Edinburgh-based principal associates Steven Dick and Dixcee Fast jointly lead the team.

Harper Macleod LLP’s real estate team draws on the expertise of its planning, construction, banking and insolvency, energy, corporate and rural practices. Team head John Meehan is experienced in lease management, distressed property and property finance matters. David Bell specialises in commercial leasing, and in addition to Chris Noble, is a key practitioner for the firm’s retail, hospitality and leisure offering. Limor Wolfe handles insolvency, property finance and development. The team was recently bolstered by the arrivals of Caroline Summers, who was hired from Miller Samuel Hill Brown Solicitors, and Ian Davidson, who joined the Elgin office from Wink & Mackenzie. Ross Thomson has recently shifted his focus to commercial property work.

Lindsays' team is well regarded for its investment and property finance expertise, and is particularly experienced in the retail, healthcare, charity and corporate occupier sectors. The practice often receives instructions from London-based companies and law firms. Group head Derek Nash is known for his experience of investment transactions, development and corporate occupier work. Stuart Rowson left the firm.

Shoosmiths recently expanded its Scottish footprint with the opening of a Glasgow office. The real estate team was bolstered by the arrival of partners Barry McKeown and Fraser Mitchell from gunnercooke LLP and Shepherd and Wedderburn respectively. Another name to note is Sheelagh Cooley, who was promoted to partner. Stephen Dougherty, who leads the group, acts for retail clients and also handles development, investment and general landlord and tenant work. The practice also handles residential development, hospitality and leisure, property finance, social housing, student development, public sector and telecommunications work.

TLT is noted for its strength in the investment, development, leisure, retail, property finance, hotel and clean energy sectors. The firm’s real estate offering operates on a cross-office basis across the UK. Glasgow-based partner Kenneth Meldrum is experienced in commercial property transactions, residential developments, business park site acquisitions and disposals, and commercial leasing. Richard Turnbull left the firm for Shepherd and Wedderburn.

The Scotland real estate team at Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP works as part of the larger national group. It is active in the energy, residential development, finance, retail, office and build-to-rent sectors. Edinburgh-based Michael Spence, who is the head of the team, specialises in development work.