Transport in Scotland
Brodies LLP
The 'excellent' team at Brodies LLP 'provides swift and accurate advice' and handles a broad spectrum of transport sector work. The 'very knowledgeable and proactive' Duncan MacLean is the key contact for shipping and marine work, which includes ship finance, transactional and chartering advice and assistance with continuous issues, Roger Cotton specialises in rail franchising matters while the 'experienced' Jackie McGuire and the 'extremely professional, knowledgeable and efficient' Odell Milne are well versed in handling road and rail-related issues.
Practice head(s):
Duncan MacLean
Other key lawyers:
Roger Cotton; Jackie McGuire; Odell Milne; Karen Hamilton
Testimonials
‘The firm’s knowledge of and expertise in the railway and construction sectors are unparalleled.‘
‘The team resolves issues quickly and engages with the client throughout the process.‘
‘The team consists of professional and knowledgeable lawyers who are nice to deal with.‘
‘Practical, solution-based approach to problems.‘
‘The firm can deal with any problem and always takes a commercial approach.‘
‘Always delivers on time.‘
‘The practice always strives to be better and keeps its clients and fellow professionals abreast of changes in the industry and legislation.’
‘Duncan MacLean takes a pragmatic and commercial approach, which best serves both the insurer and the client.‘
Key clients
Abellio ScotRail
Transocean
Ferguson Marine Engineering
Network Rail
Maersk
Transport Scotland
Perth and Kinross Council
CalMac Ferries
Aberdeen City Council
Associated British Ports
Lerwick Port Authority
Work highlights
- Advising client on the construction of the world’s two first roll on/roll off dual-fuelled passenger ferries.
- Advised Bank of Scotland on its position as lender to Pentland Ferries; owner of a new catamaran ferry being constructed in Vietnam, which included advice on the shipbuilding contract through to the funding and security arrangements.
- Providing advice to both companies on various claims made against them by passengers, crew or cargo interests as well as on regulatory investigations.
- Regular advice on on-going operations and future developments, including a marina and reclamation project and deep water port expansion in Stornoway and a decommissioning project of an oil platform in Lerwick.
- Advised the oil company on contractual matters to enable an uninterrupted supply of oil to customers.
CMS
CMS' 'very good and efficient' team has a strong profile for road and rail-related work and advises its clients, including Scottish public sector bodies, national and international infrastructure developers and corporates, on a wide range of procurement, construction, traffic order, regulatory and haulage matters, while also handling shipping and aviation-related matters. Eleanor Lane heads the team, which includes 'extremely knowledgeable and focused' planning expert Ann Faulds.
Practice head(s):
Eleanor Lane
Other key lawyers:
Ann Faulds; Colin Hutton; Christine Worthington; Ian McCann
Testimonials
‘Ann Faulds has great organisational skills, which enable her to successfully apply her knowledge to achieve good outcomes for her clients.‘
Key clients
Caledonian Maritime Assets
Sevan Marine
James Fisher and Sons
Bumi Armada Berhad
Renfrewshire Council
Scottish Enterprise
FirstGroup
Scottish Water
Revedor Malta
Basalt Infrastructure
The City of Edinburgh Council
Rail Delivery Group
Work highlights
- Advised the client on the purchase of a superyacht, registered in the Isle of Man.
- Ongoing advice on its Glasgow Airport Investment Area (‘GAIA’) and Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside (‘CWRR’) projects, which are being promoted as part of the £1bn Glasgow City Region City Deal.
- Assisting Scottish Water with various contracts and claims arising from the construction of its flagship waste water project, Shieldhall, Glasgow.
- Acting for the James Fisher Group in a dispute brought by the Norwegian dredging and excavation specialists, Scanmudring, pertaining to the removal and relocation of material in German territorial waters as part of the works for the creation of an offshore wind farm.
- Advising Luss Estates and the community council on traffic regulation proposals to better manage the number of vehicles visiting the village Luss, on the banks of Loch Lomond.
Addleshaw Goddard
The 'quick' transport sector team at Addleshaw Goddard is led by the frequently recommended Ed Watt and stands out for its substantial expertise in shipping sector work, which frequently involves international and national transactional shipping, ship finance and ship registration matters, while also handling the full spectrum of contentious work, including London arbitrations. Other areas of expertise include rail and airport sector work; Jacqui Langley-White, who joined the team in Edinburgh from the firm's London office in September 2018, is the main contact for the former and Sarah Baillie for the latter.
Practice head(s):
Ed Watt; Jacqui Langley-White
Other key lawyers:
Alan Shanks; Sarah Baillie; Carrie Armstrong
Testimonials
‘The team has great strength in shipbuilding contracts and is very quick to understand technical issues on ships.’
Key clients
Caledonian Maritime Assets
Topaz Energy and Marine
The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS)
Delta Marine
Clydesdale Bank
Stone Marine Services
Briggs Marine Contractors
Highlands & Islands Airports
Serco Caledonian Sleeper
The Road Haulage Association (RHA)
Edinburgh Airport
Caspian Marine Services
Work highlights
- Advising CMAL on the construction of two new LNG ferries at Ferguson Marine Engineering in Port Glasgow.
- Advising the client on the purchase of a fleet of five offshore support vessels from an Italian shipping group in administration.
- Assisting the client with the purchase of three passenger ferries.
- Assistance with a suite of contracts for inclusion in the Transport Scotland re-tender of the Northern Isles Ferry Services.
- Provided strategic advice on its operational assets including the implementation of sustainable transport measures across a number of operational airports.
Anderson Strathern
Anderson Strathern handles the full remit of transport sector work including operational and infrastructure contractual and regulatory matters across rail, road, air and shipping. Team head Neil Amner is recognised for his railway law expertise but he also has substantial expertise in port and harbour-related matters. Senior associate Tom Docherty is dedicated to dealing with road operator licensing matters, acting for road haulage and public service vehicle operators. Public sector expert Mary Frances O’Neill joined the firm as senior associate in February 2019; she was previously at the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.
Practice head(s):
Neil Amner
Other key lawyers:
Audrey Cameron; Karyn Watt; Gillian Jamieson; Tom Docherty; Mary Frances O’Neill
Key clients
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)
Transport Scotland
Highland Council
Scottish Roadworks Commissioner
Glasgow City Council
The City of Edinburgh Council
South East Scotland Transport Partnership
Edinburgh Airport
Glasgow Prestwick Airport
Northern Lighthouse Board
Crown Estate Scotland
Hays Ships
Work highlights
- Acting as sole advisers to Transport Scotland on the Scottish trunk roads (highways) network and associated roads projects, including the A9 Dualling project; this includes advice on land acquisitions, servitudes, leases and lease management agreements and wayleaves, options agreements, among others.
- Acting for Transport Scotland in the acquisition of servitude rights from Network Rail for a new bridge structure above the existing Glasgow to Ayr railway line as part of the A737 Dalry Bypass project.
- Assisting INEOS with the development of port and storage facilities for a £450m investment programme for shale gas ethane imports.
- Assisted the developer with securing planning permission for the £260m Mossend International Railfreight Park following lengthy court proceedings due to sustained opposition from the local planning authority.
- Advising LNER on Scottish operational premises matters, including the renunciation (surrender) of the lease of Craigentinny Depot in Edinburgh, to allow for the operation of the depot to pass to Hitachi.
Burness Paull LLP
Burness Paull LLP's 'professional' team has carved out a strong practice handling road and harbour sector work - the latter is frequently handled by practice head Chris MacKay - but its broad transport sector expertise also leads to regular instructions in the rail and aviation sphere, which includes procurement, construction and contentious issues.
Practice head(s):
Chris MacKay
Other key lawyers:
James Forbes
Testimonials
‘Chris MacKay always goes the extra mile for his clients.‘
‘The team understands the ins and outs of civil engineering contracts and has a good understanding of civil engineering construction.‘
Key clients
Scot Roads Partnership Project
Improvement Service
Cleveland Bridge UK
John Clark Motor Group
Port of Cromarty Firth
Scrabster Harbour Trust
Highland Spring
National Express Group
Worldwide Flight Services
Fraserburgh Harbour Commissioners
Skyscanner
Work highlights
- Advising the project company on various contentious and non-contentious construction and finance matters pertaining to a large NPD and a major roads project in Scotland.
- The team continues to advise the Improvement Service on EU procurement law matters, among other issues, pertaining to a major Scotland-wide project involving all 32 Scottish local authorities.
- Acting for SHT in its procurement of a project for the design and construction of the redevelopment of the Ola Pier at Scrabster Harbour.
- Advising Highland Spring on the creation of a private, two-siding freight facility at its Blackford site.
- Assisted WFS with securing a ground handling licence at Edinburgh Airport, which included a commitment by WFS to meet certain IT and technology standards throughout the airport.
Dentons
As sole legal advisor to Network Rail, Dentons' strength lies in handling major rail sector infrastructure projects, which includes advice on regulatory, competition law and procurement matters pertaining to franchise and framework agreements. Euan Wilson, who co-heads the practice with construction specialist Mark MacAulay, is the main contact for project finance.
Practice head(s):
Euan Wilson; Mark Macaulay
Other key lawyers:
Barry Edgar; Malcolm Gunnyeon
Key clients
Network Rail
Port of Cairnryan
Traffic Commissioner for Scotland
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)
Work highlights
- Represented Network Rail on alliance negotiations with the bidders for the South Eastern franchise.
- Advising Network Rail on the Crewe area project connecting the West Coast mainline with HS2.
- Acting for the client in a construction dispute regarding the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, Scotland’s largest road scheme.
Harper Macleod LLP
Not least due to its local presence in the Highlands and Islands region, Harper Macleod LLP is well equipped to guide clients through a wide range of shipping and maritime sector matters which includes ports and harbours-related work. Recently, the team led by banking and finance expert Tony Cameron has been increasingly active in vessel finance work, acting for lenders and borrowers.
Practice head(s):
Tony Cameron
Other key lawyers:
Chris Kerr; John Pringle
Key clients
Shetland IslandsCouncil
Clydesdale Bank
Bank of Scotland
Wick Harbour Authority
The Highland Council
Johnson Marine
PSG Marine & Logistics
The Clyde Group
Abundance Investments
Boyd Brothers
Drummond Distribution
Gael Force Group
Work highlights
- Advising Inverclyde Council on procurement and state aid matters, among others, pertaining to the Ocean Terminal in Greeenock as part of the Glasgow Region City Deal Project.
- Advised North Ayrshire Council on procurement and state aid issues arising from the proposed re-development of Ardrossan Harbour.
- Advised Shetland Islands Council on the sale of a vessel, which was being sold by the council as part of its tug fleet renewal project.
- Advised the council on a three year bareboat charter agreement for the provision of Multratug 30, a Dutch tug boat, including the option to purchase the vessel.
Mackinnons
'Specialised firm' Mackinnons is best known for its strong admiralty and shipping practice, handling a wide range of commercial and contentious work for national and international P&I clubs, fishing mutuals, port authorities, offshore drilling contractors, shipping companies and financial institutions. 'Very experienced' litigator Martin Sinclair, who is also noted as being 'very pragmatic and personable', and commercial partner Graham Jones are the main contacts. Consultant Keith MacRae is a 'colossus in the Scottish maritime law market'; his advice is always 'commercial and realistic'.
Practice head(s):
Martin Sinclair
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The firm has an extensive client list of marine insurers and underwriters.’
‘Keith MacRae is a man of integrity and is hugely respected by his peers.’
‘Keith MacRae is probably the most experienced shipping casualty investigator in Scotland.‘
‘Graham Jones has a stellar reputation for transactional shipping work.‘
‘Keith MacRae is a colossus in the Scottish maritime law market.’
Pinsent Masons LLP
The team at Pinsent Masons LLP advises procurers, bidders and lenders on transport and infrastructure projects including transactional matters. Major projects specialist Michael Allan, shipping expert Gavin Farquhar and corporate lawyer Kevin Devanny are the main contacts.