John Bett > Lindsays > Glasgow, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile

Lindsays
100 QUEEN STREET
GLASGOW
G1 3DN
United Kingdom
John Bett photo

Work Department

Dispute resolution and litigation.

Position

Partner and Head of the Dispute Resolution and Litigation team, John is based in Glasgow.

John specialises in commercial dispute resolution. He acts in a wide range of contentious commercial contract, property and debt recovery matters. He is also particularly experienced in director disputes and cross border litigation.

John‘s extensive commercial property litigation experience extends to dilapidations disputes, breach of missives, recovery of arrears of rent, enforcement of keep open clauses and obtaining orders for the removal of unauthorised occupiers.

He is regularly instructed in proceedings before the Commercial Courts of the Sheriff Courts and the Court of Session, where he has been involved in some of the more significant proceedings to call before the Court in recent years. He is also experienced in mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

As the Firm’ Head of Debt Recovery, John’s team assists clients with all aspects of the debt recovery process, from pre-litigation through to court proceedings and enforcement. He also acts in insolvency matters, regularly securing appointments and pursuing claims on behalf of insolvency practitioners.

John advises a very broad spectrum of clients, from private individuals, insolvency practitioners and SMEs to public sector organisations, major Scottish based companies and multi-nationals. The work ranges from high value, complex court actions raised in the Commercial Court of the Court of Session, to providing general contract and commercial advice.

Career

Trained McClure Naismith; qualified 2005; assistant McClure Naismith (2005-2009); associate McClure Naismith (2009-2014); joined Lindsays as Partner (2014).

Education

Holyrood Secondary School; Glasgow Graduate School of Law (Dip LP, 2001-2002); Strathclyde University (Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (Hons), 1997-2001).

Lawyer Rankings

Scotland > Real estate > Property litigation

With John Bett anchoring Lindsays‘ property litigation offering following the retirement of Paul Harper in May 2022, the team is an attractive choice for commercial landlords and tenants thanks to Bett’s specialism in dilapidation claims. Elsewhere, matters encompassing the telecoms, residential and agricultural property sectors are also well-handled by the group; land access disputes are a typical example of the latter. Other clients include landowners, property developers and private clients.

Scotland > Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation

Housing a team of ‘top-quality professionals’, Lindsays displays ‘a talent and adaptiveness for dealing with a range of cases’, including disputes arising from commercial contracts, shareholder litigation and regulatory proceedings. Thanks to the firm’s robust rural practice, the group is also well placed to advise on agricultural disputes. Practice leader John Bett has built a strong SME client base, while the ‘eminently approachableBrent Haywood has experience in sporting disputes. Senior associate Gregor MacEwan is praised as being ‘intensely knowledgeable and incredibly organised’.