Gillespie Macandrew LLP

Energy, Natural Resources & Strategic Land

Derek has over 20 years of experience advising and counselling global and domestic businesses on their major corporate, land and energy projects on a UK and international level.

Derek has project managed the delivery of legal services on several infrastructure and renewable energy projects both onshore and offshore, each valued in the hundreds of millions. Recently, he has led and advised on several significant M&A deals and strategic energy portfolio investments including the sale of Rio Tinto’s UK Smelter and power operations. He has a track record in advising on natural resource regulation, low carbonisation projects, university commercialisation, and complex joint venture and consortium deals.

He is a non-executive board member and trustee for a number of organisations and up to March 2020, held the position of Honorary Consul of the Republic of Korea in Scotland.

Derek co-ordinates international cross border projects and trade and is Chair of the global legal network, Lexwork International in Europe and Asia.

Clients comment that he provides a real understanding of all sides of every issue, as well as possessing great business acumen and an innate appreciation of project risk.

Solicitor; qualified Scotland 1981; qualified England and Wales 1997; partner 1983; Writer to the Signet, Notary Public.

Honorary Consul of the Republic of Korea in Scotland (2015 - 2020). Chair (Europe and Asia) of Lexwork International Independent Law Firms; charity trusteeships and director posts.

Leeds Grammar School; Edinburgh University (1979 LLB Hons).

Golf, travel.