Blackadders LLP > Dundee, United Kingdom > Firm Profile

Blackadders LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Real estate > Commercial property: elsewhere in Scotland Tier 2

Blackadders LLP is equipped to support on the full remit of development, investment, landlord and tenant, acquisition and disposal matters. Dundee-based team head Emma Gray has particular accomplishment in the self-invested personal pension (SIPP) and affordable housing sectors; she is a regular advisor to housebuilders and developers on site acquisitions, assembly matters, and option agreements. Other recommended individuals include Stuart King (Dundee) and Neil Robb (Aberdeen).

Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: elsewhere in Scotland Tier 3

Blackadders LLP maintains an influential presence in the Scottish corporate and commercial space, offering solid experience of the M&A and investment deals market and a burgeoning reputation across key sectors including technology, life sciences, healthcare and energy. Kirk Dailly took over as head of the firm’s corporate and commercial team in August 2022, spearheading the firm’s drive to become Scotland’s leader in the video games industry. Campbell Clark is also a key presence in Dundee, bringing over 20 years of high-value transactional experience.

Private client > Family Tier 3

Based primarily in Dundee and Aberdeen, Blackadders LLP's family law practice routinely handles financial disputes involving international, corporate and tax law aspects. Led by litigator Craig Samson, the team includes accredited family and child law specialist Gareth Masson, whose practice covers child relocation cases, adoptions and permanency orders, and associate Joanne Murray, an accredited family law specialist and mediator, who regularly appears in local sheriff courts.

Private client > Personal tax, trusts and executries Tier 3

With a strong presence in the north of Scotland, the private client practice at Blackadders LLP acts for a wide range of clients, including individuals, trustees, executors and businesses. The group handles the full range of tax, trusts and executries issues and has a particularly strong personal wealth offering. Laura McDowall and Gillian Brown jointly head the practice, which also includes Johnston Clark and Dale Ross. The team strengthened its estates and trusts planning and administration capabilities with the arrival of Karen Phillips from Balfour+Manson LLP in 2022.

Employment Tier 4

Blackadders LLP is well equipped to guide employers and employees through the full spectrum of employment law. Dundee-based co-head Simon Allison acts for the former client group with a particular focus on the construction, manufacturing and transport sectors; fellow co-head Donna Reynolds adds to this offering with her expertise in unfair dismissal and disability discrimination claims. Elsewhere, the group’s continued healthcare focus has resulted in frequent instructions from GP practices, and due not least to its partnership with T C Young, it has also represented a number of housing associations. Stephen Connolly and Jack Boyle are recommended for their specialism in employment tribunal proceedings.

Finance > Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 4

Highly active on the contentious and non-contentious side, Blackadders LLP advises on the whole range of personal and corporate insolvency matters, encompassing administrations, citizenships, CVAs, sequestrations and trust deeds. Team head Ryan McKay is also focused on contentious work and has a growing reputation for representing individuals, such as company directors, affected by insolvency. Stephanie Carr departed for Thorntons Law LLP in May 2023.

Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Edinburgh and Glasgow Tier 5

The corporate and commercial practice at Blackadders LLP continues to improve its reputation in the Scottish market across a number of key sectors including technology, life sciences, video games, healthcare, and energy. Kirk Dailly leads the corporate offering from Dundee, regularly advising clients in relation to business sales and purchases, share buybacks, and commercial contracts. Healthcare specialist Peter Duff leads the Glasgow offering and handles a number of high-value M&A transactions with the support of associate Dario Demarco.

Real estate > Commercial property: Edinburgh and Glasgow Tier 5

Key strengths of Blackadders LLP include development, investment, sale, acquisition, leasing and portfolio management matters, with an increasing number of instructions stemming from the retail and leisure sectors. Fraser Hardie left the firm in March 2023 and subsequently took on an in-house role at CalaChem, and Azeem Arshad departed for Spencer West in August 2023.