Brodies LLP

Sector knowledge

Helen Abrams

Helen has a broad commercial practice and has been involved in almost every aspect of commercial property from retail leasing, leisure leasing, investment acquisitions and disposals, real estate finance, to representing residential house builders and housing associations and she now has particular emphasis on investment and development in the Alternatives Sector (primarily student accommodation and hotels). As a result her client base is diverse - from local based developers to international investors and funds as well as high net worth individuals.Her experience in development work includes all aspects of site acquisition and assembly, financing site acquisition and subsequent development, as well as negotiating agreements for lease or forward sale agreements and the refinancing or sale of the completed and let development. Helen also works closely with Brodies’ planning, construction and banking teams.

Andrew Akintewe

Andrew advises a diverse client base of corporates, investment managers and banks on corporate transactions; the formation and operation of investment fund structures; financial regulation and other advisory work. His expertise covers limited partnerships and other private fund vehicles, as well as London Stock Exchange quoted investment companies and related capital markets and Takeover Code transactions. Representative transactions include: \tAdvising on the restructuring of FIM Windfarms 2 LP and the formation of Gresham House Wind Energy 1 plc, a public company vehicle focused on investment in windfarm assets with an enterprise value in excess of £70 million; and \t Advising a FTSE 100 client on a £331 million asset backed investment vehicle set up for the purposes of funding its group pension scheme, an innovative transaction involving the use of intellectual property and real estate to provide asset backing and cash flows to the partnership – subsequently advising several other major corporates on similar structures.

Victoria Anderson

Victoria joined the Insurance & Risk team in 2019 from a national insurance firm. She qualified as a solicitor in 2010 and has a wealth of experience defending Motor, EL and PL insurance claims raised in the Court of Session and Sheriff Courts. Victoria’s particular expertise lies in the representation of corporate and individual clients involved in health and safety and other regulatory investigations and criminal prosecutions arising from incidents in the workplace. Her experience spans a wide range of business sectors and clients including transport, construction, agriculture and the food and drink industry. She has advised clients on environmental issues and investigations by SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency). She regularly appears in the Sheriff Courts across Scotland and represents clients at Fatal Accident Inquiries. Victoria has represented many clients facing prosecution for serious road traffic offences, including cases of causing death by dangerous or careless driving. She also successfully defended a large construction and plant hire group at trial following a fatal incident at work.

David Arnott

David is in our contentious construction team and specialises in the resolution of construction, infrastructure and engineering disputes. He is a recognised expert in his field and in recent years he has been involved in some of Scotland’s largest and most high profile construction disputes including issues arising from the Edinburgh Trams Project, the Edinburgh Schools Project and the new Forth Crossing.David has considerable experience in all forms of formal dispute resolution including litigation (from Sheriff Court to Supreme Court), arbitration, adjudication, mediation and expert determination. He lectures regularly on construction issues to clients and the wider construction industry.

Andrew Askew Blain

Andrew acts for rural landowners and tenants in a range of rural property matters and has experience in farm and estate transactions, agricultural tenancies, renewables, subsidies and all aspects of land registration. He has expertise in voluntary land registration and rectification of the Land Register, having acted for several farm and estate clients on their voluntary registration projects. Andrew regularly advises landowners on rectification of the Land Register to help protect one of their most valuable assets. He also works collaboratively with litigation colleagues on rural property disputes.

Alan Barr

Alan is Head of Personal Tax Planning, based in Edinburgh, and one of Scotland's best-known tax and private client practitioners. As well as estate planning and all that comes from that, he covers the full range of taxes. He has expertise in capital taxes and property tax issues including land and buildings transaction tax. He has contributed to authoritative publications in relation to wills, tax planning and trusts; and is a co-author of the leading book 'Drafting Wills in Scotland'. Alan brings a broad depth of legal knowledge and experience to transactions and planning for a wide range of clients, from very wealthy individuals to those with more modest needs – including the interface between their personal and business interests. Hugely respected within the legal and wealth planning professions, Alan is the ’go-to‘ lawyer for other professionals in this field where difficult issues require to be tackled.

Susanne Batchelor

Susanne has specialised in private client work for over 20 years and prides herself on delivering excellent client service. Working collaboratively with the rest of the team, she ensures that clients are clear on all aspects of costs, timescales and progress.Susanne's expertise includes wills, estate and succession planning, inheritance tax advice, formation, management and termination of trusts and family limited partnerships, powers of attorney, guardianship and intervention orders, planning for care costs and the administration of executries. She specialises in advising on cross border estates, representing individuals and assets all over the world.Susanne has a significant interest in the area of adults with incapacity – she is an appointed financial guardian for a number of individuals and regularly provides advice to families in relation to power of attorney and capacity issues. She also leads the team's personal injury trust offering.

Juliet Bayne

Juliet is head of our pensions law practice area. Her hallmark is building strong, mutual and sustainable client relationships through clear and personable communication, coupled with practical and pragmatic advice.Juliet's knowledge is wide-ranging and relates to defined benefit and money purchase arrangements, acting for both trustees and employers in the private and public sectors. Her experience includes advising on the pensions aspects of corporate transactions/restructuring, advising on the Employer Debt legislation, scheme mergers and wind ups, transfers to master trusts, advising on liability reduction/risk management projects, compliance with the Automatic Enrolment regulations and advising on Pension Protection Fund matters and litigation cases. Juliet also has considerable experience in negotiating with, and reporting to, the Pensions Regulator.

Alix Bearhop

Alix leads a team of lawyers with expertise in property and energy projects, including wind (offshore and onshore), tidal, solar, hydro and biomass schemes. She regularly works collaboratively with other teams of lawyers in delivering renewables projects. Alix builds strong relationships and her energy and enthusiasm combined with her focus on clients' needs - working to their deadlines - make her a partner in their business. Alix advises a range of clients including developers, investors, sponsors, funders and landowners. Her experience includes conducting property due diligence on operational and non-operational renewables assets, offshore and onshore; providing property advice in relation to a significant tidal power project; advising regarding the acquisition and sale of substantial onshore windfarms; advising funders on the project financing of numerous renewables projects; advising on land options and leases and all real estate contracts for renewables developments.

Clare Bone

Clare leads our Health & Safety offering. Clare has specialised in the defence of regulatory crime, principally health & safety, environmental, financial and road traffic for over 21 years. Her entire career has focused on the field of criminal law, having trained with and worked for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, prosecuting crime and conducting fatal accident inquiries. Ranked in legal directories, Clare is regarded as a true expert in the specialised area of health and safety. Having worked for the Crown and the defence she is ideally placed to advise clients who find themselves facing investigation and prosecution. Clare's portfolio includes corporate and individual clients across a wide range of sectors, including construction, marine, agriculture, retail, manufacturing and transport. Frequently called upon to assist clients in the aftermath of an incident she is on hand to provide advice and assistance from the early stages of an investigation, attend interviews by the Police, HSE, SEPA, MCA and other regulators, liaise with the Crown and attend court where an investigation leads to prosecution or fatal accident inquiry. This full spectrum service provides the client with reassurance that they are getting consistent expert legal input at all key stages of their case.

Tom Boulton-Jones

Tom provides advice on a wide range of corporate law matters, including M&A transactions, joint ventures, investments and reorganisations. He also has a wide range of experience in drafting and negotiating bespoke, specialised contracts. He has experience across a range of sectors, including energy, infrastructure, food & drink and biosciences.

Paul Breen

Paul specialises in company and commercial law and is experienced in dealing with a wide range of company law issues, including investments, mergers and acquisitions, bespoke commercial contracts and arrangements and ongoing company regulation. He is also experienced in project managing large scale and complex cross-border acquisitions and in dealing with corporate governance arrangements in a broad range of sectors.

Alison Bryce

Alison is a partner in the Brodies commercial services practice specialising in intellectual property law and information technology. Alison has over 20 years of experience in advising on complex intellectual property, information technology, data and commercial matters. Alison's practice also covers a broad platform of commercial contracts, including trade mark and patent licensing, complex collaboration arrangements, general technology agreements and payment services. Alison works with clients in a variety of sectors including food and drink, manufacturing, green energy innovation, technology and financial services including payments and fintech both in the UK and overseas.

Alex Buchan

Alex acts for some of Scotland’s largest landowners and a diverse range of estates, farms, rural businesses and financial institutions lending to the sector. He advises on all aspects of rural property including agricultural tenancies, sporting rights, boundary disputes and access agreements together also with expertise in development from the landowner's perspective.Alex brings not only an understanding of traditional rural activities but also a focused commercial approach, important as rural businesses seek to diversify into alternative ventures. His clients benefit from his desire to be part of their team, involved in delivering excellent day-to-day service and the longer term strategy that is essential to such businesses.Alex also specialises in liquor licensing, heading up the firm's licensing team and sitting on the Law Society of Scotland Licensing Law Sub-Committee.

Neil Burgess

Neil leads the Corporate and Commercial practice at Brodies and is a partner in the corporate team. He has extensive UK and international experience. His practice covers a broad spectrum of corporate and commercial transactions, both domestic and cross-border, advising a range of multinational and national companies and institutions. He advises on M&A, private equity investments, MBOs and MBIs, joint ventures, commercial contracts, corporate governance and restructuring. He regularly advises clients on matters of a key strategic nature, running high value, complex transactions and co-ordinating multi-disciplinary legal teams, and providing pragmatic and commercial advice. Neil has particular expertise in M&A and private equity, with a strong focus on growth capital and private equity clients and transactions, and cross-border and domestic M&A. His experience spans a number of sectors, including manufacturing and engineering, facilities management, food and drink, technology and energy.

Kirstyn Burke

Kirstyn is an Associate in our Government, Regulation and Competition Team. She has particular experience in representing clients in high profile public inquiries, helping to guide them through what can be a complex and lengthy process. Kirstyn has also represented clients in disputes in the Court of Session and Sheriff Courts and has experience of advising clients in relation to judicial review proceedings; representing clients in Fatal Accident Inquires; and appearing before regulatory tribunals.

Ally Burr

Ally is a senior associate in our commercial practice, based in Inverness, specialising in matters relating to intellectual property, technology and outsourcing, commercial contracts and data protection. Ally advises the firm's clients across key sectors, including financial services and FinTech, food and drink, life sciences, sport and the third and public sectors. He is part of the firm's AI Taskforce and plays a leading role in advising the firm's clients on AI risk governance and contracts. Ally also sits on the firm's food and drink sector group. Ally regularly drafts and negotiates all types of commercial contracts for clients, ranging from complex IT outsourcing agreements, consumer (as well as B2B) terms and conditions, as well as IP licenses, SaaS contracts, grant funding agreements, and R&D collaboration agreements. Ally also has a wealth of experience advising both buyers and sellers on corporate transactions from an IP, IT and data protection perspective. Ally combines his excellent organisational and project management skills with a positive attitude to deliver the best outcomes for his clients

Allan Cairns

With 20 years' experience Allan has a broad range of expertise across commercial property. He has a particular focus on the investment market and represents domestic and international investors on high profile investment deals across the UK. Allan has a diverse client base and is experienced in leading multi-disciplinary teams on corporate real estate transactions, cross-border portfolio deals, as well as the sale and purchase of high value commercial real estate. Clients praise Allan's ability to provide advice in a clear and concise manner and identify the key issues at an early stage.

Alan Calvert

Recognised as a leading individual in his field, Alan heads up our Professional Negligence practice, acting in disputes on behalf of insurer, corporate and partnership clients. He has over 30 years’ experience of handling claims involving engineers, architects, surveyors, solicitors, accountants, brokers and IFAs (Independent Financial Advisers) as well as construction industry contractors and overseeing teams handling occupational disease claims for employers. He has a keen commercial sense for when litigation is in a client's best interests or alternatively when they should adopt alternative, solution-driven approaches, having a special interest in mediation and ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) in all his areas of specialism. He is also a frequent speaker on issues relating to professional liability, regulation and litigation.

Grant Campbell

Grant is an experienced commercial lawyer of over 25 years' standing and is head of the commercial practice at Brodies. He is recognised as a specialist in outsourcing, technology and information law and combines his wealth of experience with strong communication skills and a proactive and pragmatic approach. Grant has expertise in advisory and transactional work. He acts for clients in drafting and negotiating contracts for major outsourcing and technology deals (representing both customers and suppliers) and also advises on data protection projects, involving data sharing, data structuring and international transfers. Grant works with major clients in the facilities management, service, energy, oil and gas, transport, and public IT sectors, servicing their activities in the UK and abroad.

Ross Campbell

Ross is in the Business Disputes and Asset Recovery Team and specialises in commercial dispute resolution. He represents clients in a wide range of commercial disputes, including matters involving contracts, negligence, property, pensions, corporate issues and debt and asset recovery, and has significant experience acting in Sheriff Court and Court of Session proceedings. He also deals with a number of cross-border disputes.

Fiona Chute

Fiona's practice is primarily in commercial dispute resolution and alternative dispute resolution. She has particular experience in managing and resolving complex, high value disputes being litigated in the Commercial Court of the Court of Session, including class actions brought under Scotland's group proceedings rules. She advises on a variety of commercial disputes, with specialisms in those involving contracts across a variety of sectors and industries, corporate/shareholder disputes, intellectual property and technology disputes, and professional negligence. She acts for a range of corporate and individual clients based in the UK and abroad.

Neil Collar

Experienced adviser, inquiry advocate, blogger, author and conference speaker – Neil is one of Scotland's best known planning lawyers. He has over 25 years’ experience as a planning lawyer. His work spans all aspects of the planning process, planning applications, appeals and inquiries (including inquiry advocacy), court actions, planning issues in relation to land acquisition and disposal, compulsory purchase and compensation, listed buildings and conservation areas, and trees. Neil's experience includes strategic development, regeneration areas, renewable energy, housing, retail, build to rent, student accommodation, hotels, offices, sport and leisure, and minerals.

Monica Connolly

Monica specialises in commercial dispute resolution, with a particular focus on intellectual property and technology disputes. She has extensive experience of effectively resolving complex and high value disputes for a number of international technology organisations. She also advises individuals and businesses in relation to a wide range of commercial issues. While Monica is experienced in successfully resolving disputes through litigation (primarily in the commercial court in the Court of Session), she is also an advocate of utilising alternative dispute resolution methods such as arbitration, expert determination and mediation.

Greg Costello

Greg is an experienced corporate lawyer, specialising in private mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, private equity and joint venture transactions. He takes an active interest in the start-up and scale-up environment and helping businesses on their growth journeys. Greg works on domestic and cross-border matters across a variety of sectors, with a focus on technology and energy, advising a range of clients from founder entrepreneurs, management teams, start-ups and scale-ups to strategic and institutional investors and larger corporates.

Jennifer Crawford

Jen has specialised in pensions law since 2011 and is regularly involved in working with other specialisms including corporate, employment and real estate to ensure that clients receive holistic advice on projects incorporating pensions considerations. A member of the Association of Pension Lawyers, she delivers practical advice on a wide range of current pensions issues including employer debt, risk reduction exercises, flexible apportionment arrangements, scheme mergers, scheme re-documentation and cessation of accrual.

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Isobel advises on the corporate tax aspects of company acquisitions, disposals and reconstructions and real estate taxation, including student accommodation and private rented sector developments and structuring inward investment in Scottish real estate by offshore investors and funds. Isobel's experience includes Brexit related VAT and customs duty issues, funds taxation, real estate taxes (LBTT, SDLT and LTT) as well as property VAT, capital allowances and the Construction Industry Scheme. Isobel also advises a range of charities on tax issues including setting up trading subsidiaries, Gift aid donations by trading subsidiaries to parent charities, charitable VAT exemptions and VAT implications of business and non-business activities. She works closely with the Scottish Government and Revenue Scotland in relation to the ongoing development of the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and the 4% Additional Dwelling Supplement. Isobel is a member of the Devolved Taxes Legislative Working Group, set up by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament to consider different ways of making changes to the devolved taxes which issued its interim report on 6 February 2020.

Karen Davidson

With more than 20 years’ experience of advising on the tax aspects and structuring of corporate mergers and acquisitions, investments, joint venture arrangements and reorganisations, Karen has led the tax advice on a number of large high profile corporate transactions in Scotland. She also has deep expertise on the design, implementation and transaction implications of employee share incentive arrangements in both the private and listed companies and advises on employment tax issues such as IR35. Karen also advises provides structuring advice in relation to real estate transactions.

Laurence Douglas

Laurence has over 15 years' experience acting for commercial property occupiers across all sectors, including retail, leisure, office and industrial. Clients appreciate his proactive and commercial approach and personable manner, ensuring that their interests are fully protected within often tight timescales. His specialisms include acquisition and disposal of commercial property and advising on all aspects of property management – he is experienced also in acting for investors, developers and funders. Laurence has a diverse range of clients including M&G Prudential Services Limited, The Bank of New York Mellon, CGI IT(UK) Ltd, Marston's plc and Mountain Warehouse Limited.

Christopher Duff

Christopher is part of the firm's contentious construction and engineering team. He acts for employers, contractors, consultants and insurers in the construction, engineering and energy sectors. He provides advice on dispute avoidance and represents clients in formal dispute processes including adjudication, arbitration and litigation. He also acts for clients in ADR processes including mediation. Christopher is experienced in dealing with all major UK Construction standard forms including JCT/SBCC, NEC3/4, FIDIC, GC Works and EPC and PFI/NPD variants. He is accredited as a specialist in Construction Law by the Law Society of Scotland and is ranked in both Chambers UK and Legal 500 UK.

Chris Dun

Chris specialises in UK real estate finance including housing finance. He also advises on healthcare and education finance and regularly provides Scots law advice in relation to securitisation transactions, bond issues, private placements and other structured transactions. His clients include a range of leading banks and investors active in the real estate investment and development market as well as property companies and housing providers.

Jamie Dunne

Jamie is an experienced competition, procurement and subsidy control lawyer, and also advises a range of public, private and third sector clients on public law and regulatory matters including statutory interpretation, vires issues and information law. He joined Brodies from a leading international law firm and has also spent time on secondment to the public sector. His focus is on advising on technically complex matters in a clear, understandable and useful way. Jamie regularly advises on contentious and non-contentious public procurement matters, subsidy control and State aid, merger control issues (including CMA and European Commission clearance processes), competition damages actions and competition compliance. He has a particular interest in sectors subject to economic regulation, including energy, water, telecoms, rail, ports and airports, financial services, housing and health services, and further and higher education.

Isobel d’Inverno

Isobel advises on the corporate tax aspects of company acquisitions, disposals and reconstructions and real estate taxation, including student accommodation and private rented sector developments and structuring inward investment in Scottish real estate by offshore investors and funds. Isobel's experience includes Brexit related VAT and customs duty issues, funds taxation, real estate taxes (LBTT, SDLT and LTT) as well as property VAT, capital allowances and the Construction Industry Scheme. Isobel also advises a range of charities on tax issues including setting up trading subsidiaries, Gift aid donations by trading subsidiaries to parent charities, charitable VAT exemptions and VAT implications of business and non-business activities. She works closely with the Scottish Government and Revenue Scotland in relation to the ongoing development of the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and the 4% Additional Dwelling Supplement. Isobel is a member of the Devolved Taxes Legislative Working Group, set up by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament to consider different ways of making changes to the devolved taxes which issued its interim report on 6 February 2020.

Martin Ewan

Martin is an experienced corporate lawyer, having practised for over 21 years, dealing with all aspects of private company mergers, acquisitions, disposals and restructures. He assists clients to achieve their commercial objectives, providing strategic and contractual advice. Martin works mainly in the energy and technology sectors, advising many different types of companies from major listed energy companies to start-ups with high-growth potential. Martin has a growing involvement in cleantech opportunities.

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Matthew Farrell

Matthew heads up our commercial disputes and claims division and real estate litigation team. He is a real estate litigator instructed in high profile and complex real estate disputes. Matthew provides advice on all real estate disputes, with particular expertise in commercial landlord and tenant disputes, including dilapidations, service charge, and termination. He works with developers to provide strategic advice to help realise development potential, and on the performance and termination of development contracts. Matthew also advises energy companies on real estate related disputes, including wind farm (on and off shore), solar and fossil. Recognised for his pragmatic and down to earth approach in even the most difficult of disputes, he acts for funds, property companies, corporate occupiers and international businesses.

Laura Fell

Laura specialises in the defence of professional liability claims. She has extensive experience in handling a broad range of disputes, including specialist expertise in commercial litigation involving insolvency. Laura plays a key role in the team’s handling of complex and high profile civil claims and complaints. She regularly acts for insurers, insurance brokers, solicitors, advocates, accountants, tax advisers, financial advisers and other professionals. As an experienced litigator, Laura advises clients on court actions and disputes relating to: property and private client transactions; corporate and partnership advice; intellectual property rights; criminal law; and financial services claims involving tax planning and share valuation, where clients benefit from her specialist insolvency expertise. She also frequently handles regulatory complaints against professionals across various sectors and considers and advises on insurance indemnity issues.

Alasdair Fleming

Alasdair leads the firm's Housebuilder Group and also sits on the firm's cross-disciplinary government and business team. With over 25 years' experience in commercial property work, Alasdair has been involved in almost every aspect of commercial property ranging from regeneration projects and site assembly to disposal and investments.He has advised clients on significant regeneration deals including the Commonwealth Games Athletes' Village, the Glasgow Harbour regeneration project and Oatlands regeneration in Glasgow. Alasdair has a particular expertise in the housebuilding sector, advising some of Scotland's premier registered social landlords. He has twice been voted partner of the year in Scotland's legal awards and was also named as Scotland's "Power 100" most influential legal firms by the Firm magazine.

David Ford

David is a Solicitor Advocate who specialises in real estate litigation. He acts for clients across a broad range of property related disputes, with a focus on disputes between commercial landlords and tenants. In particular, he regularly advises on dilapidations and service charge disputes as well as dealing with the recovery of arrears and the repossession of properties. David also advises on issues relating to landownership such as boundary disputes, the right to make use another's land and on telecommunications matters. He has been involved in several complex sheriff court and Court of Session actions, appearing in the sheriff court and Lands Tribunal for Scotland in a variety of hearings. He has worked closely with Counsel in the Court of Session where he now also has rights of audience. David also has experience of the Scottish Land Court as well as Alternative Dispute Resolution processes such as mediation, arbitration and expert determination.

Carly Forrest

Carly is a Partner and Solicitor Advocate who has worked exclusively in the personal injury field for almost 20 years handling a full range of EL, PL and motor claims. Her specialty is in catastrophic injury claims involving head/brain injuries, severe spinal conditions and amputations as well as psychiatric and psychological disorders. Carly is also extremely experienced at handling fatal claims having defended a case which reaffirmed the law in relation to secondary victim claims and having represented her insurer clients in the UK Supreme Court. Carly routinely assists insurers and their policyholders in the immediate aftermath to coordinate post-accident investigations as well as their internal and external communication strategy and approach. She is often instructed at the outset of a claim, well before any litigation has commenced to assist develop a clear defence strategy. Carly also frequently assists clients negotiate and conclude any claim/s well in advance of any court proceedings being raised.

Shaun George

Shaun has practised family law for more than 30 years. Shaun advises on all aspects of family law but has particular expertise in high value financial provision on divorce cases, often involving assets held overseas. As a qualified Family Law Arbitrator, he offers his clients a range of dispute resolution options.

Lisa Girdwood

Lisa heads up Brodies' family team, and is recognised as an expert family lawyer, based in our Glasgow and Edinburgh offices. Accredited as a specialist in child law, family law and in mediation she is passionate about achieving fair and equitable financial settlements for her clients as well as achieving positive outcomes for children. Lisa advises in all aspects of financial provision on separation from the division of high net worth estates to cases involving complex business structures and cross border issues. She is regularly instructed in challenging child law cases including relocation, residence and contact disputes and international child abduction.

Stephen Goldie

Stephen is managing partner of Brodies LLP. He works with the firm's chair, Iain Rutherford, and its boards to manage the overall strategic direction and operational performance of the firm. This includes responsibility for financial performance and the implementation of the firm's strategic plans. Prior to assuming his current role in May 2024, Stephen was the head of Brodies’ disputes practice. He is a recognised expert in dispute resolution, with over 20 years’ experience and has dealt with highly contentious and business critical matters for clients across the UK and internationally, with a reputation gained for solving contractual and asset-related disputes involving energy, real estate and finance issues. As managing partner, Stephen's focus is to ensure Brodies maintains its reputation as a leading place for clients to receive, and for the firm's colleagues to provide, first class legal advice.

Leigh Gould

Leigh advises Personal clients on succession planning; the passing on and protection of assets, in the most tax efficient way. This includes wills, trusts, executries and powers of attorney. She also advises on using additional structures for holding and passing on wealth and minimising tax, such as charities, partnerships and family investment companies. Leigh's clients include those with business interests, and foreign clients with Scottish land. She has a particular focus on advising clients with land and rural businesses and also on contentious trust and executry issues. Leigh is based in Aberdeen.

Drysdale Graham

Drysdale advises on social and economic infrastructure projects with a particular focus on project sponsors and their funders. He has been rated for over twenty years as a leading individual in the infrastructure projects/public private partnerships sector by the Legal Directories. During his career spanning more than 35 years, he has worked on projects throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland encompassing such diverse sectors as healthcare, education, social housing, wastewater, roads, military accommodation and harbours. Drysdale was mandated to act for bidders/sponsors on 8 of the 10 projects in the Scottish Government's £2.5bn Non-Profit Distributing programme. Noteworthy recent projects include the Irish Social Housing , Community Nursing Units and Higher Education ppps, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service National Centre at Heriot Watt University research park, the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and the Ayrshire College Kilmarnock Campus NPD projects and the procurement of a new harbour facility at Nigg Bay, south of Aberdeen, for Aberdeen Harbour Board.

Marianne Griffin

Marianne has extensive experience representing major banks, finance houses, leasing companies, credit card companies, debt purchase companies, utility companies and commercial clients in debt and asset recovery disputes, insolvency and general contractual matters as well as advising on their pre-litigation rights. She deals with all aspects of defended and contentious litigation including the conduct of debates, proofs and other contentious and procedural callings in courts throughout Scotland. She also regularly obtains interim interdicts, protection orders and diligence on the dependence to safeguard client’s interests. Marianne advises on related consumer credit, data protection and compliance issues, protection and recovery of assets, enforcement of judgements, satisfactory quality disputes, dual financing and title disputes, innocent purchaser claims, TCF, vulnerable debtors, complaints to the FOS, claims referred to the Motor Ombudsman, the National Conciliation Service and other similar bodies. She also works with clients to develop and implement collections, litigation, enforcement and portfolio management.

Malcolm Gunnyeon

Malcolm is a litigator with over 20 years' experience in the Scottish courts. He is regularly called upon by clients to help them find pragmatic solutions to commercial disputes or to manage the civil, criminal and reputational risks arising from serious workplace accidents and fatalities. Malcolm has expertise in the energy, transport and food & drink sectors. He is routinely involved in disputes before the commercial courts, in the defence of prosecutions for breach of safety or environmental legislation and in conducting Fatal Accident Inquiries. Malcolm supports clients and their staff through the whole life cycle of a litigation; from providing immediate critical incident response to managing complex investigations, and eventually through to the successful resolution of court proceedings.

Tony Hadden

Tony is the head of our employment and immigration team. He is an experienced lawyer who provides straightforward, practical advice. He has spent time on secondment working with some of the UK's largest organisations in both HR and legal roles.Tony has appeared in courts and tribunals across the UK and enjoys resolving employment related disputes. His experience in dealing with transformational change projects means that he also regularly helps organisations plan and implement major people-related projects. He also acts as the lead TUPE / ARD adviser for multiple household businesses, assisting them in negotiating and agreeing contracts and managing people related risk. Tony has also assisted senior executives from around the world negotiate severance packages and new service agreements.

Gareth Hale

Gareth is a litigator with more than 15 years' experience of helping clients to resolve their commercial disputes. He is recognised, in particular, for his work in the real estate sector. Gareth advises clients on contract and asset-based disputes across a diverse range of sectors. He has acted for clients in disputes at every level of the civil courts and tribunals system, including at the UK Supreme Court. As an enthusiast for alternative dispute resolution, he is an accredited Mediator and has represented clients in Arbitration (including International Arbitration) and in Expert Determination. He is recognised by the legal directories as an expert in dispute resolution.

Karen Hamilton

Karen is a recognised expert in compulsory purchase and compensation. She has significant experience of consenting and land assembly implications for major infrastructure projects in the transport and energy sectors, frequently leading or collaborating within multi-disciplinary teams. She has also advised on a number of high-profile city centre projects, including purpose built student accommodation (PBSA); build to rent (BTR) and hotel developments, and has significant experience in the aquaculture sector. Karen advises clients on consenting risk and strategy; procedure; EIA; planning obligations; appeals and inquiries. Having worked in local government for 5 years at the start of her career, Karen has a good understanding of the public sector landscape and advises a number of planning authorities and other regulators, as well as developers, funders and major landowners.

Fehmida Hanif

Fehmida is an experienced litigator acting on behalf of insurance and commercial entities dealing with a wide range of disputes raised in both the Sheriff Court and the Court of Session, including litigation in the Commercial Court Division. She is instructed by insurers, self-insured businesses and public bodies in defending claims in the marine, road, rail and aviation sectors, and often in matters with cross-jurisdictional elements. She specialises in defending personal injury claims, including large loss and catastrophic personal injury claims for major insurers and self-insured clients. Fehmida also has counter-fraud experience with an interest in identifying and defending suspected fraudulent insurance claims

Neil Hay

Head of Private Crime. Partner & Solicitor-Advocate Neil specialises in criminal law, complex regulatory crime, fraud and financial crime, historical allegations and road traffic cases. Neil has a very substantial referral practice and is instructed by, and acts for, leading law firms in Scotland and England, as well as internationally for clients requiring his expertise. He is particularly highly regarded for his skill and experience in defending domestic, sexual and financial cases and allegations. As the solicitor of choice for law firms seeking to refer criminal law matters, including Magic Circle firms, the focus of Neil’s work is always on discretion and confidentiality, with the aim of avoiding court prosecutions and protecting reputations. If court proceedings cannot be avoided, Neil has vast experience of successfully representing clients in Scottish courts at all levels, including acting in High Court prosecutions and in the Criminal Appeal court. His individual clients are usually professional, high-profile or of high-net-worth. Corporate clients include FTSE100 companies, insurance companies, unions, partnerships, other law firms, government institutions, religious organisations, pressure groups and charities. Specialist services include advice and representation at interviews for individuals and organisations facing investigation or prosecution by authorities such as Police Scotland, the Procurator Fiscal, HSE, SEPA, OSCR and the pensions regulator. This work entails detailed case investigations to identify and evaluate important evidence from witnesses, documents or electronic sources and negotiating with authorities to keep a case out of court. Additionally, Neil also provides specialist advice to clients (individuals or corporates) outside the UK, for instance in Europe, the Middle East and in the United States. Many of Neil’s cases are international and cross-jurisdictional, reflecting the lifestyle of individual clients and the operations and interests of global corporations. As well as being a formidable courtroom advocate, Neil is an expert at managing reputational issues and negotiating out of court settlements wherever possible. All of this makes him the defence lawyer of choice for people and organisations in the public eye.

Fiona Herrell

Fiona provides commercial, strategic and pragmatic advice on all aspects of employment law. Her general advisory practice includes assisting employers with complex disciplinary and grievance matters, redundancies and reorganisations, covenant enforceability, contractual variations and executive on-boarding/terminations. She has a wealth of experience in advising employees in Aberdeen who are facing redundancy and provides legal advice ‎in relation to Settlement Agreements and unfair dismissal claims. Fiona also represents clients in the Employment Tribunal, manages large scale projects (including multi-jurisdiction exercises) and handles the employment aspects of corporate transactions.

Philip Hunter

Phil is an experienced and skilled real estate solicitor with a wealth of experience in cross border transactions, investment, retail, corporate occupier, real estate finance, development, renewables and projects.As Brodies Head of Environmental, he leads our team of specialist lawyers in providing advice on a wide range of environmental issues and risks. Clients appreciate his concise, pragmatic, commercial and client-centred approach when getting the deal done.

Frank Johnstone

Frank and the Debt and Asset Recovery Team work in partnership with clients supporting them in developing and implementing cost effective consumer and commercial volume debt and asset recovery and litigation strategies, throughout the UK. He has over 30 years' experience, specialising in volume debt and asset recovery in the consumer credit, motor finance, debt purchase and utilities sectors. Frank is particularly experienced in consumer credit and consumer law, and regularly advises on supply of goods and satisfactory quality issues, FOS complaints and FCA compliance issues in relation to consumer credit lending and debt and asset recovery issues. He also regularly advises on issues arising under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Tony Jones KC

Tony was only the fifth Scottish civil Solicitor advocate to be awarded the rank and dignity of Senior Counsel. He is the only KC in Scotland to be accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as an expert in both Professional Negligence Law and Construction Law. Tony frequently represents clients in property, professional negligence, construction, corporate and contact disputes. His breadth and depth of practice and expertise is difficult to rival. Tony is Fiscal to the Society of Writers to Her Majesty's Signet, sits on a Committee of the Civil Justice Council and is member of the Law Society of Scotland's Rights of Audience Committee.

Colin Keenan

Colin has over 20 years' experience in commercial property and in this time he has developed significant expertise in investment and development, particularly of office and retail assets. His clients include both UK and internationally-based private equity funds and high net worth individuals. Colin is dual qualified in Scotland and England & Wales. He has acted on the purchase, sale, financing and asset management of many shopping centres and retail parks across the UK and advises a variety of clients on the redevelopment, re-purposing, refinancing and tax structuring of their real estate investments.

Peter Kelly

Peter acts for lenders and borrowers in real estate and leveraged finance transactions. He specialises in complex deals, particularly those with an international dimension. He has a strong reputation amongst his peers and key industry figures for his clear advice and astute commercial awareness. He takes the time to clearly explain and ensures understanding of complex issues amongst his clients. He relentlessly strives for the best outcome for clients as a first class deal maker with over 20 years' experience with lenders and borrowers. Peter has further specialisms in healthcare and recently completed a 5 year non-executive directorship with a market leading care home group. This enables Peter to understand the key issues in that sector.

Louise Kelso

Louise advises on claims, complaints and insurance issues affecting individual professionals, professional services organisations and other bodies, including educational institutions. She regularly acts for insurers, insurance brokers, accountants, insolvency practitioners, tax advisers, lawyers, financial advisers, construction professionals, immigration advisers and teaching staff. As an accredited mediator, Louise is highly skilled in alternative dispute resolution and advising clients on achieving practical solutions to disputes, particularly where there are reputational issues to consider. She has handled disputes across all sectors, including arising from property developments; construction and demolition projects; corporate mergers and acquisitions; private and equity investments; tax planning; insolvency; teaching; professional regulation; event planning; and COVID-19.

Norman Kennedy

Norman is recognised as one of Scotland’s leading private client lawyers. He specialises in advising high net worth individuals and their families in relation to succession planning, asset protection, inheritance tax mitigation, wills, trusts, executries (probate) and incapacity planning.As well as being a lawyer, Norman is well known for his financial acumen and commercial approach. He has a particular interest and expertise in winding up complex estates involving family businesses and excels in providing advice to entrepreneurs regarding the important interaction across personal, wider family and business interests. Norman particularly enjoys working as part of a team of specialist family advisers, including accountants, investment managers and independent financial advisers.

Alan Knowles

Alan specialises in advising lenders on the Scots law issues of complex and high value international funds finance deals.He is also a 'go-to' lawyer for many City of London, US and other overseas law firms on the Scottish aspects of UK-wide and international leveraged finance, real estate finance and debt restructuring deals. Alan is also a Notary Public.

Graeme Leith

Graeme Leith is an experienced practitioner in the Real Estate practice area and specialises in advising clients who are active in the rural sector. He is known by clients and intermediaries for providing commercial and pragmatic advice, using his legal and sector knowledge to help clients achieve the desired results.Graeme leads our market-leading forestry practice and has been involved in many recent high-value and high-profile acquisitions and sales of forestry and planting land. Clients benefit from his thorough understanding of the forestry sector and its importance to the Scottish economy and society. He also acts for owners, occupiers, funders and developers in a broad range of transactions, including renewable energy schemes, development options, agricultural tenancies and the purchase and sale of farms and estates.

Shirley Li-Ting

Shirley is qualified to practice law in both Scotland and England and Wales which is invaluable in cross border restructurings. She has extensive commercial expertise in the transaction advisory and restructuring space (gained from her time working at an International Law Firm, including a secondment to Hong Kong, and a top tier Scottish Law Firm). Shirley has worked on numerous high profile cases over the years including the first building society special administration in 2009 and has been involved in a diverse range of projects throughout her career, advising boards of directors of distressed companies, banks, investors and insolvency practitioners on: corporate simplifications, restructurings, wrongful trading issues, distressed business sales/purchases, managed exits, security enforcement options, distressed debt portfolio sales/purchases, formal insolvencies and trading issues. She has particular expertise in the farming, public, charities, real estate, retail (CVAs) housebuilding, leisure (hotels and public houses), oil and gas, wave energy and healthcare and care homes sectors.

David Lightbody

David advises on all corporate matters, with a focus on business sales and purchases, investments, joint ventures and restructurings – often with an international element.His clients range from individual business owners to AIM and main market listed plcs. He has spent time working in-house, on secondment to the M&A function of a major global bank, overseeing the legal aspects of strategic corporate transactions.

Sarah Lilley

Based in Inverness, Sarah is one of only a few 'triple accredited' family law solicitors north of Aberdeen, holding accreditations from the Law Society of Scotland in child law, family law and family law mediation. She is also certified by the Law Society of Scotland in trauma-informed law. Sarah is a member of Consensus Scotland, CALM Scotland, the Family Law Association and serves as a Director of Relationships Scotland – Family Mediation Highland. She is also a Director of the Inverness Chamber of Commerce. Sarah has 17 years of experience in practising exclusively in family law initially in Aberdeen and Edinburgh with the past 13 years having been spent in Inverness. In July 2020 Sarah joined Brodies and, in doing so, became the firm's first family law solicitor in the Highlands & Islands. Sarah became a partner in May 2022 and now leads a team of family lawyers based in Inverness. Sarah has particular expertise in resolution of complex financial matters arising from separation, high conflict disputes relating to children and has been appointed by Inverness and Tain Sheriff Courts to prepare numerous child welfare and curatrix ad litem reports in recent years. She is also regularly instructed in complex international matters.

Lynn Livesey

Lynn acts for insurers, corporates and public authorities in investigating and defending the full range of personal injury actions. She defends a variety of damages claims, including employer’s liability, public liability, fatal claims, catastrophic claims, road traffic accidents and industrial disease. She also has represented clients at Fatal Accident Inquiries, including the death of a child in looked after care and provides indemnity advice to insurers. Lynn's specialises in acting for insurers and private healthcare clients in investigating and defending clinical negligence claims. Her practice is focussed on advising clients on strategy and dealing with claims concerning cosmetic/aesthetic treatments. She has investigated complex, allegedly medical negligent surgery, in relation to matters such as breast implants, medical treatment that curtails sports careers, and complex liability and causation claims involving loss of vision, following allegedly negligent care by optometrists, as well as complex cases concerning matters such as consent.

Charles Livingstone

Charles leads Brodies' competition law practice, supporting clients on sensitive and strategically important matters including obtaining merger clearance for major M&A projects, investigating potential competition breaches, responding to dawn raids and acting in competition litigation. He also advises private and public sector clients on State aid and public procurement, in both contentious and non-contentious scenarios. Charles also supports commercial, public sector, charitable and individual clients on public law issues including judicial review, human rights, information law, charity law and public authority powers and duties. He advises clients on constitutional matters, such as the limits on the Scottish Parliament’s powers, and is the co-head of Brodies' Brexit Advisory Group. He also has significant experience of drafting legislation, including Acts of the Scottish Parliament. Charles is an experienced litigator, having handled major cases in courts up to the UK Supreme Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union. Charles also heads up Brodies' cross-practice food & drink sector group.

Sonia Love

Sonia has over 20 years' experience in the oil and gas sector, working both in private practice and in-house for major E&P companies. She has experience of working both on UKCS matters and internationally, including Romania, Gabon, Cote d’Ivoire and Egypt.Sonia advises a broad range of clients on a number of matters including acquisitions and disposals, field developments, commercial agreements, UKCS licensing round bids, service sector contracts, co-ordination of commercial disputes and bidding and negotiating on the terms of new third party business. Sonia’s particular area of expertise is in relation to both field developments and FPSO contracts. She is a recognised specialist in these areas and is known for her pragmatic approach to securing commercial solutions.

Kenneth MacDonald

Ken is one of Aberdeen's most respected business dispute lawyers with over 25 years' experience of advising both UK and international clients and representing their interests in commercial disputes. He leads Brodies' International Arbitration practice. He has a remarkable depth of expertise in dealing with real estate, commercial and contractual disputes with particular focus in both the Oil & Gas and the Property development sectors. Ken's approach is to seek effective ways to avoid or resolve conflicts efficiently. He is a keen proponent of mediation in addition to litigation and arbitration (both domestic and international). Ken is qualified in both English and Scottish law.

Neil Macdonald

Marion Macinnes

Marion is head of banking and finance and is highly experienced in advising financial institutions, debt funds, arrangers, private equity firms and corporates on a wide range of domestic, cross border and international banking and finance transactions. She has particular specialisms in real estate finance as well as asset-backed securitisations, debt capital markets transactions, warehouse financing and loan portfolio acquisitions and disposals. Recognised by clients and intermediaries as a 'go-to' person in Scotland for advice in relation to the Scots law aspects of securitisation and structured finance transactions, Marion is a leading member of the firm's securitisation and structured finance team. She has acted on many market leading RMBS and CMBS transactions as well as securitisations involving energy, consumer loan and auto loan receivables.

Malcolm Mackay

Malcolm has advised clients and represented clients in court for over 20 years. A Solicitor Advocate, who is well placed to represent clients' interests but one who helps clients to pick the right battles. He provides thoughtful advice so clients can weigh up risk and then helps to deploy the right tactics to secure the best result pragmatically and commercially. Based in Aberdeen, Malcolm and the team help clients across the marine spectrum resolving issues and claims relating to family owned fishing businesses through to international DSV or drilling contractors and operators. Malcolm has led on resolution of multiple offshore wind construction incidents helping guide clients through Health & Safety investigations and 7 figure claims. He and the team have many years of "know-how" handling issues (top side and subsea) for contractors, operators or their insurers with all manner of drilling, diving or marine incidents, oil spills/hydrocarbon release or contractual/tort claims. Malcolm has a UKCS BOSIET (offshore survival) certificate to provide clients legally privileged support offshore. Malcolm and his team also regularly support clients in other parts of the marine and transport sectors including ports and aviation.

Duncan MacLean

Duncan heads the Shipping & Transport team and is recognised as a leading lawyer in this area. Working across the sector, and advising on both disputes and transactional work, he is known for his commitment to and understanding of the industry in Scotland and beyond, whilst delivering advice that is practical and strategic.Duncan handles claims of all sorts for leading P&I Clubs, marine and other insurers, advises owners, operators and port authorities on a range of issues, and is experienced in acting for banks, shipowners and shipbuilders in new builds, sale and purchase and charters. His work includes the merchant fleet, ferries, tugs and workboats, oil and gas, fishing, aquaculture, and logistics by sea, land and rail. He also has experience in handling fixed wing and rotor incidents in the aviation sector.

Graeme MacLeod

Tanya MacLeod

Tanya has experience in landlord and tenant leasing (particularly retail), investment and development, acquisition and sale, student accommodation and property finance work, in all types of commercial property.She has extensive experience in project managing and delivering the real estate elements of wider commercial projects and asset management section of property portfolios for a number of our high-profile clients. Tanya is adept in providing quick turnaround of instructions, delivering a commercial and proactive approach to negotiations and providing management information and reporting tailored to the client’s needs.

Kirsty Macpherson

Kirsty has a wide range of expertise in energy projects (both large and small), commercial property and strategic land.Her experience spans a number of key areas in Scottish Property law with over 20 years of experience in onshore and offshore wind, hydro, solar, biomass and anaerobic digestion plants acting for either developers or landowners on numerous complex projects with a particular specialism in crofting and renewables. She has talked at numerous seminars on the topic of Crofting and Renewables and has built a niche expertise in this area. Kirsty has expertise in the secondary market buying and selling renewable assets and manages a team delivering on rural purchases and sales, ongoing management work and strategic land. In addition Kirsty acts for a number of landed estates and rural businesses working closely with them involving succession planning, renewables, developments and ongoing management work. Kirsty and her team strive to deliver a service which cuts through legal jargon with practical, commercially–focused advice.

Lynne Marr

Lynne is accredited as a specialist in employment law by the Law Society of Scotland and is also an accredited mediator. She forges close working relationships with our team's clients and her commercial and straight-talking approach is welcomed by them. She works with clients in various sectors across the public and private sector in Scotland and the UK including public transport providers, universities, government bodies, investment firms and banks. Lynne advises on all stages of the employment relationship from recruitment, through to termination and beyond. Her work is split between dispute resolution through employment tribunals and on advisory and non-contentious employment law. Lynne advises on equalities issues, business change, transfers and redundancies, industrial action, executive hiring and exits, investigations. She particularly enjoys working with HR professionals to support them on complex HR issues.

Paul Marshall

Paul leads our Corporate Crime and Investigations practice group. He specialises in crisis management and protecting client reputations. Paul advises and supports clients facing investigation by criminal authorities and specialist regulators. He conducts investigations for clients in the UK and in overseas jurisdictions – he regularly works as part of a global client team. He helps clients to develop robust compliance frameworks, and specialises in resolving matters away from the courtroom.

Alisdair Matheson

Alisdair has more than 20 years’ experience in resolving disputes in the commercial sphere in rapid and cost effective ways including the use of alternative dispute resolution. His practice focuses mainly on professional negligence claims including those involving solicitors, accountants, insurance brokers, surveyors and construction professionals such as engineers and architects. One of only two people dually accredited in both Professional Negligence and Construction law by The Law Society of Scotland, he is a ranked lawyer for professional negligence in Chambers Legal Directory.He has a unique profile in the Scottish Insurance Industry being the first lawyer elected President of the 138-year old Insurance & Actuarial Society of Glasgow, the Chartered Insurance Institute's organisation for the West of Scotland. A member of the Society for Construction Law, the Adjudication Society, he is the Scottish member of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers’ UK wide Professional Negligence Sector Focus Team.

Greg May

Greg has 26 years' experience in the Oil & Gas sector and has worked extensively in-house, with 11 years at GlobalSantaFe/Transocean. Prior to joining Brodies in April 2011, he was General Counsel for the Europe and Africa Business Unit, based in Paris. Greg has experience in drafting complex and high value service sector contracts, including turnkey and project management drilling projects for the design, engineering and construction of wells and high value day rate drilling contracts, ranging from deepwater drill ships to shallow water jack-ups. He is qualified in both English and US law and a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.

Sarah-Jane McArthur

Sarah-Jane is a versatile lawyer with experience on major project delivery across several sectors including energy, waste, transport, water, education and health. She acts for the public sector, developers, contractors, investors and lenders. She guides clients through the early stages of projects on structuring, procurement and finance including 'first of a kind' projects. She also advises on operational projects including sales and refinance. Her focus in the energy sector is on renewables where she has supported developers, sponsors and banks on windfarms (both onshore and offshore), hydroelectricity, solar, bioenergy and tidal projects. Additionally, she has supported the development of a large number of district heating projects. Sarah-Jane has drafted and negotiated a variety of commercial contracts particularly in the energy and utilities sectors and provides regulatory advice on support schemes and licensing.

Lucy McCann

Lucy advises on all aspects of personal and corporate insolvency and obtained her Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency in 2011. She acts on behalf of a wide range of clients, including lenders, insolvency professionals, commercial creditors, directors and individuals. Lucy is frequently called upon to advise on asset recovery, challenges of pre-insolvency transactions, directors' misfeasance and a wide range of technical insolvency issues. She has acted for financial institutions in relation to high profile and high value misrepresentation and contractual disputes. She has extensive experience of acting for clients in both the Court of Session and sheriff courts. Lucy also has experience of acting on behalf of directors faced with disqualification action, including negotiation of disqualification undertakings and applying to Court on behalf of directors for permission to act as a director while disqualified. Lucy's practice areas include: \tPersonal insolvency \tCorporate insolvency \tDirector disqualification \tCommercial and corporate litigation

Jenna McCosh

Jenna deals with a range of commercial property transactions throughout Scotland including commercial and residential development projects, leasing and asset management, site acquisitions/disposals, corporate restructures/disposals and property finance work. Having enjoyed a particular focus on large scale development projects since qualifying, Jenna has significant experience in the negotiation and completion of pre-letting and development contracts, forward funding arrangements and project management required to release the investment for clients. She works closely UK developers, financial institutions, private property companies and local businesses with whom she has built great working relationships.

Angela McCulloch

Angela acts for trustees, executors, individuals and families. She advises on wills; estate and succession planning; the use, creation, administration and winding up of trusts; adult incapacity issues including preparation of powers of attorney; pensions; and the administration of executries. Angela is experienced in dealing with contentious trust and estate matters, including breach of trust, deadlock with trustees, legal rights claims and executry disputes.In addition to acting for trustees, executors, individuals and families, Angela also acts for large financial institutions on the private client law services provided to their clients and customers – our “volume” services. Unique in terms of volume and number of institutions involved, Angela manages the provision of Scottish private client law services to financial institutions and is experienced in supporting the customer experience for these organisations and operating to agreed service levels.

Chris McDaid

A respected member of our real estate investment team, Chris deals with a variety of acquisitions and disposals of retail, office, industrial and development sites in connection with both existing developments and new ventures. A growing field of Chris’ remit is acting in the alternative real estate sector. Clients include a variety of well-known real estate clients comprising Funds, private equity firms, UK propcos and lenders. With extensive experience in the student accommodation sector, Chris regularly acts on the acquisition, disposal and funding of purpose-built student accommodation schemes, as well as providing advice to operators.

Rhona McFarlane

Rhona has worked in the oil & gas sector for over 10 years, both in private practice and in-house, and acts for a wide range of clients from small independents to supermajors. She advises clients on all aspects of upstream work including licensing, JV agreements/disputes and acquisitions/disposals. Her particular areas of expertise are transportation arrangements and field developments, and decommissioning liabilities and security. Rhona is qualified in Scots Law, is a Notary Public with a seal registered at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and a member of the AIPN.

Jackie McGuire

Jackie is co-head of our Government and Business team. She is a public law specialist with particular experience and expertise in the local government sector where she worked in-house for a substantial period of time. She regularly advises on the full breadth of local authority activity including social care, education, housing and roads as well as in relation to conduct and good governance. She also advises clients in relation to major infrastructure process working closely with colleagues in Real Estate and Planning in relation to compulsory purchase and statutory consents. Jackie’s client base includes a number of Scottish local authorities. Jackie also acts on behalf of a number of registered social landlords as well as the Scottish Housing Regulator. Her regulatory practice also extends to advising and supporting care providers in connection with investigations and regulatory interventions in addition to advising clients in the independent schools sector in relation to regulation, standards and good governance.

Elaine McIlroy

Elaine heads the firm’s Immigration offering and acts for employers across the UK. On the immigration side, Elaine has acted for employers in a range of sectors including Universities, financial services organisations, oil and gas, healthcare. She provides advice in relation to Sponsor Licence applications, compliance issues, Skilled Worker visas, business visitors, Innovator/ Start Up, Global Talent visas, Hong Kong BN(O) visas and Student visas. Elaine also advises employers on the whole spectrum of employment law issues but has a special focus on TUPE and strategic advisory work. She regularly appears in employment tribunals across the UK and is interested in all areas of discrimination law - diversity and inclusion is a passion of hers.

William Mcintosh

Will is a corporate partner at Brodies LLP, specialising in domestic and cross-border M&A and Private Equity transactions. He has over 25 years’ experience, practising in the UK and France, and is co-chair of the international Private Equity Committee of the American Bar Association. He has particular sectorial expertise in tech and life sciences. With a previous career in intellectual property, he is now heavily focused on tech M&A/PE deals. He advises a number of US and European PE/VC funds, as well as high growth companies and multinationals. His corporate clients include software “unicorns” and listed companies, as well as sectorial leaders in technology, biosecurity, life sciences and energy.

Paul McLaughlin

Paul has developed a specialism in the various uses of limited liability partnerships (for example in real estate joint venture and renewable energy project structuring), general partnerships (whether they are used as trading vehicles or as components in broader corporate structures) and Scottish limited partnerships (“SLPs”). He regularly deals with SLPs, for example, when they are used: \tin private equity or real estate fund structuring; \tas components in structures aimed at indirect investment in high value real estate assets; or \tfor insertion into the group structures of listed companies (whether aimed at facilitating viable acquisition structures for further expansion, creating a more efficient management and operational structure or otherwise).

Alistair Mclean

Alistair heads the firm's non-contentious construction group. He has more than 30 years' domestic and international experience across the commercial development, transport, renewable energy, student and BTR accommodation and process plant sectors. He also has considerable projects/PPP experience. In recent years his particular focus has been advising on all construction aspects of major real estate development projects, including major city centre developments, student and build to rent accommodation and large out of town retail parks, including advising on the interfaces between construction and property and banking documents. Major projects he has recently advised upon include: - St. James Quarter Redevelopment, Edinburgh; The Event Complex, Aberdeen; Buchanan Wharf, Glasgow.

Niall McLean

Niall is co-head of our Government and Business team and is part of Brodies' Government, Regulation and Competition practice. He gives both public and private sector clients advice in a broad range of areas including: environmental law, governance, defamation and reputation management, public law and statutory interpretation. Niall has experience advising on the data protection and reputation management issues that arise from cyber attacks. Niall is a solicitor advocate with extended rights of audience in the Court of Session and has extensive advocacy experience, regularly appearing in court for clients. He is also regularly instructed to manage significant pieces of litigation in the Court of Session including judicial reviews and statutory appeals primarily focusing on planning & environment, local government and education law.

Fiona McLeod

Fiona has considerable experience in working with public sector clients and is an accredited expert in Housing and Residential Tenancy law. She is also an experienced litigator and appears in courts throughout Scotland in all aspects of civil litigation. Fiona's clients include central and local government, regulatory bodies, housing associations and private clients. She regularly advises on legislation, statutory interpretation, and powers and duties of public bodies. Fiona prides herself on her clear understanding of the law with the ability to present information in a way that is accessible and understandable to non-lawyers.

Laura McMillan

Laura specialises in health & safety, claims defence and insurance issues. She acts for corporate, public sector, insurer and individual clients. As a solicitor advocate and Brodies' director of advocacy, she is regularly instructed to appear in actions involving large and complex personal injury loss (including fatalities), industrial disease, clinical negligence, motor, general commercial litigation and public inquiries.She also advises on contractual matters relating to insurance, health & safety and claims liability and regularly delivers in-house training to clients on claims avoidance, court procedure and witness familiarisation.

Jane McMonagle

Jane is an Accredited Specialist in Construction Law by the Law Society of Scotland and has over 15 years’ experience in providing advice on all types of construction, infrastructure and engineering projects. She is dual qualified in Scotland and England & Wales. Jane has extensive experience of advising clients on project-wide and strategic issues and acts for a mix of developers, consultants, contractors, sub-contractors and funders. She is adept at managing very large and complex, multi-party, fast paced transactions dealing with the interests of a variety of stakeholders, coordinating teams and meeting tight deadlines. She advises on all types of standard form contract including JCT/ SBCC, NEC, IChemE and FIDIC on a range of projects for build contracts, EPC contracts, consultant appointments and facilities management contracts. Jane is highly regarded among peers, clients and across the industry as a very astute and commercial lawyer. She has advised on a number of high value projects of national significance over the years such as the Redevelopment of the Burrell Collection in Glasgow, the V&A at Dundee and the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.

Tracey Menzies

Tracey has over 20 years' experience across the full range of real estate disciplines. She specialises in handling land assembly and development projects in both commercial and residential spheres and has advised both developers and corporate occupiers on significant office developments and forward funding deals. Tracey is regularly sought out by house builders and landowners to negotiate and implement complex option arrangements and promotion agreements. She also has a particular interest in the emerging Build to Rent and senior living sectors.

Odell Milne

Odell is widely known as a specialist in compulsory purchase and agricultural and rural affairs. She is accredited as a specialist in agricultural law by the Law Society of Scotland.Odell advises on all aspects of rural and agricultural law for a wide range of estate clients representing some of the largest landowners in Scotland. She also advises public bodies and private individuals with regard to compulsory purchase matters, in particular in relation to rail and road projects.

Colin Morrison

Colin heads up the firms' Hotels and Retail & Leisure Teams and runs a diverse practice that covers Investment and Finance as well as corporate occupancy work. He is regularly involved in some of the biggest deals in the Scottish marketplace and is regularly praised for his speed of response and commercial acumen. Colin finds himself a popular choice for the referral of the Scottish end of cross border portfolio deals.

Susie Mountain

Susie is a solicitor-advocate, an accredited specialist in Family Law and a collaborative practitioner. Susie is based in Aberdeen, but regularly appears in courts (including the Court of Session) across the country. She has particular expertise in cross border/international family law cases, child relocations and cohabitation cases (relating both to claims on separation and claims on death). Susie is a member of the Family Law Association (FLA) and of Consensus. She has authored books on the law of cohabitation and international issues in Scots family law.

Clare Munro

Clare has worked in the Oil & Gas sector for over 20 years, both in-house and in private practice. She specialises in the UKCS but has worked on projects in China, Indonesia, the Netherlands and Norway as well as onshore projects in the UK. Clare advises clients on all aspects of upstream work with particular expertise in M&A and project development work, and acts for a range of oil & gas clients from SMEs through to supermajors.

Jennifer Murphy

Jennifer is an Associate based in the Commercial Services Division. She has a wealth of experience acting for a range of clients in the private, public and third sectors, in relation to technology, media, sports, food and drink, facilities management, retail, renewable energy, projects and life sciences. Jennifer specialises in intellectual property, technology and data protection related matters, ranging from providing compliance and regulatory advice, conducting audits, due diligence and tailored IP strategy, to drafting and negotiation of a wide variety of commercial and consumer contracts, including: large scale IT outsourcing and ICT systems, complex service agreements, R&D collaboration projects, joint ventures, sponsorship arrangements, event agreements, and licencing. She also has extensive experience advising clients in contentious matters concerning trademarks, software, copyright, design rights and confidential information.

Johane Murray

Johane heads the real estate practice at Brodies LLP. With over 25 years' experience in commercial property, she is the lead partner on many high profile, market leading investment and development deals. With significant experience in the build to rent and living sectors, she also leads the Brodies team in the delivery of more than 2000 BTR beds across Scotland. Jo's client base includes various UK and US private equity firms and European real estate investment firms, in addition to many prominent UK based developers and investors. She also collaborates frequently with English and international firms on cross border transactions with a Scottish real estate element. Jo is solution focused, with the hallmark of her practice being an ability to combine commercial pragmatism with astute legal advice.

Stuart Murray

Stuart has extensive experience advising project sponsors, authorities, contractors, and funders on a wide range of social and economic infrastructure PPP programmes in the UK and Ireland. He has advised clients in the education, health, student accommodation, waste water, municipal waste and transport sectors and advises on the full suite of project documentation. In addition to providing advice on new build projects, Stuart advises on a broad spectrum of issues affecting operational projects, facilities management and secondary market transactions.

Jamie Nellany

Jamie is a versatile restructuring and insolvency specialist. His practice covers the full spectrum of corporate restructuring and insolvency work, including advising creditors (banks and other financial investors), distressed buyers, insolvency office holders and corporate debtors and their directors on workouts, business recoveries, stressed financings and insolvencies. Jamie's experience spans a wide range of sectors - in particular, construction, real estate, manufacturing/engineering, hospitality, healthcare and technology. He also has expertise advising on PFI contracts facing financial distress.

Andy Nolan

Andy is an experienced commercial lawyer specialising in the industrial, engineering and manufacturing sector, and also heads up Brodies’ sports practice. He has a strong breadth and depth of experience in UK and cross-border commercial law, including complex commercial contracts (such as outsourcing arrangements, distribution and agency agreements, technology, goods and services agreements), intellectual property and data protection. Andy advises on both transactional and advisory work for some of Scotland’s best known industrial and sporting organisations. Andy also advises clients in a range of other sectors including cosmetics, transport and infrastructure, food and drink, and hotels and leisure. Having previously worked for a Franco-American law firm in Paris and with extensive in-house legal experience, Andy provides commercially-focused advice and quickly identifies risk.

Jared Oyston

Jared is an experienced commercial litigator whose practice at Brodies encompasses a wide range of disputes before the English Courts and in International Arbitration. Jared acts for a diverse range of clients from sectors including financial services, energy, and food and drink. Jared is English-qualified and, prior to joining Brodies in 2018, spent 10 years in the dispute resolution team at a Magic Circle firm in London. During this time Jared’s practice focused on complex insolvency and banking and finance disputes.

Christine O’Neill

Christine is a recognised expert on public and constitutional law issues in Scotland. She is a solicitor advocate and was appointed as Queen's Counsel (now King's Counsel) in 2020. She provides clear, practical advice and regularly represents clients in courts and tribunals, including the UK Supreme Court, and before public inquiries. Christine advises clients on legislation and statutory interpretation, the powers and duties of public bodies including the Scottish Parliament, and freedom of information laws and data protection. She acts for a range of commercial, regulatory and public sector clients including the Scottish Government, BBC Scotland, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Gambling Commission and the Scottish Qualifications Authority. She is a member of Brodies' Charities & Third Sector Team, advising the Scottish Charity Regulator and a number of charities. She is also one of Brodies' team of litigators involved in group proceedings.

Keith Patterson

Keith advises clients on the build out of new renewable energy projects, including windfarms, solar parks, biomass projects and hydro schemes. Keith also advises on the sale and purchase of ready to build and operating projects, as well as setting up joint ventures to implement renewables projects. He advises developers and lenders, as well as purchases and sellers.

Elaine Petterson

Elaine has over 10 years’ experience in the property industry and acts for investors, private equity firms and developers in relation to the acquisition and disposal of commercial assets and regularly provides Scots real estate support on high value cross-border portfolio acquisitions. She has bought, sold and managed multiple large-scale retail assets, including shopping centres and retail parks, and also acts for landlords in relation to the leasing and asset management of office buildings and industrial estates.Elaine leads the Brodies' real estate restructuring team and has extensive experience acting for insolvency practitioners and lenders in relation to distressed asset sales and providing advice on real estate issues arising as a result of insolvency, including the care home, retail and leisure sectors. Elaine has acted on more than 20 portfolio loan acquisitions in the last 10 years and has unrivalled experience in the non-performing loan market.

Clive Philips

Clive heads the Rural Business team at Brodies and acts for a wide range of landed estates and farming clients. Clive acts regularly for offshore clients with rural property in Scotland, as well as for a very active domestic client base. He has an in-depth knowledge of the rural sector as an accredited specialist in agricultural law, and as a family farm business owner. Clive is frequently instructed on diversification projects, such as wind farms, anaerobic digester and solar farm projects. He has a particular interest in new business structures in commercial agriculture and has been instigative in the promotion of share farming and joint venture arrangements to the sector. Understanding the interaction of land ownership, rural business and succession enables Clive to advise effectively on structuring farming rural businesses in order to provide strategic succession planning advice. Clive is regularly instructed to troubleshoot disputed agricultural holdings and other contentious situations in the rural sector.

Clive Phillips

Clive heads the Rural Business team at Brodies and acts for a wide range of landed estates and farming clients. Clive acts regularly for offshore clients with rural property in Scotland, as well as for a very active domestic client base. He has an in-depth knowledge of the rural sector as an accredited specialist in agricultural law, and as a family farm business owner. Clive is frequently instructed on diversification projects, such as wind farms, anaerobic digester and solar farm projects. He has a particular interest in new business structures in commercial agriculture and has been instigative in the promotion of share farming and joint venture arrangements to the sector. Understanding the interaction of land ownership, rural business and succession enables Clive to advise effectively on structuring farming rural businesses in order to provide strategic succession planning advice. Clive is regularly instructed to troubleshoot disputed agricultural holdings and other contentious situations in the rural sector.

Kenneth Pinkerton

Kenneth co-heads our Charities and Third Sector team. Kenneth specialises in charity law and governance, providing advice and guidance to charities and third sector organisations. Kenneth also works closely with individuals with philanthropic goals. His work in the area of charity law is extensive and includes the governance, establishment, merger and reorganisation of charities. Kenneth's clients have included philanthropists, Royal Charter bodies, large umbrella membership bodies, family foundations, culture bodies and sports organisations. He has also worked on several high-profile governance cases involving the Scottish Charity Regulator.

Manus Quigg

Manus is a partner in the contentious construction team and has been with Brodies since 2006. He has extensive experience in resolving construction disputes utilising the formal processes of litigation, arbitration or adjudication, or through alternative dispute resolution, particularly mediation. Manus first qualified as a solicitor in Bristol before moving to Scotland, and still represents clients in disputes across the UK. Over the years Manus has been involved in resolving disputes relating to many of the major infrastructure projects in Scotland. He is also an expert in insurance law and has managed many large professional indemnity claims, including the successful defence of a £52M claim relating to alleged defective design. Clients commend Manus for his ability to quickly grasp complex legal and technical issues in projects and communicate his advice on merits and strategy in a way that can be understood by clients.

Claire Reid

Claire is an experienced energy lawyer with over 15 years in the industry having specialised early in her career with a wide range of experience of both complex and high-value transactions, working closely with developers and landowners. This includes expertise in a diverse range of technologies including wind (onshore and offshore), hydro (run of river and pumped storage hydro), biomass, solar, anaerobic digestion plants and battery storage projects. Claire's experience includes negotiating option agreements and leases for proposed energy developments and dealing with all property related issues; advising borrowers and funders on the financing of renewables projects; drafting and negotiating certificates of title and all real estate documentation associated with these projects; advising in relation to the purchase and sale of renewables assets in the secondary and tertiary markets; conducting property due diligence on operational and non-operational energy assets both onshore and offshore and reporting on complex title issues. Claire also has experience in all aspects of real estate and can turn her hand to complex developments and deliver work in a timely and pragmatic way.

Neal Richardson

Neal is a Partner in the Banking & Finance team at Brodies. He takes pride in developing strong client relationships and providing clear, commercial advice. Acting for financial institutions, borrowers and investors, Neal has particular expertise in leveraged finance (especially in the North Sea oil and gas supply industry), real estate investment and development finance, shipping/marine finance, general corporate lending and cross-border international financing.

James Roscoe

James has extensive and wide-ranging experience across a number of real estate sectors and is qualified both in Scotland and in England. Proactive, user friendly and result driven advice is at the heart of his approach and is highly valued by clients. James focuses in particular on high value and complex development, investment and real estate financing transactions and also acts for corporate occupiers on high value pre-lettings. He acts for UK and overseas clients including Brockton Everlast, Drum Property Group, Nuveen Real Estate and Resolution Property.

Iain Rutherford

Iain is chair of Brodies LLP. He advises clients in relation to a broad range of commercial disputes with an emphasis on IT, IP & telecoms, oil & gas, corporate and financial services disputes. He has represented clients in relation to various IT/IP related disputes including trade mark and patent infringement, outsourcing, domain name and IT supplier disputes. Iain has also acted for banks and financial services institutions in relation to high profile and high value professional negligence, misrepresentation, contractual and pensions disputes and has acted in a wide variety of corporate litigation including warranty claims, unfair prejudice petitions and related shareholder disputes. Iain is a Solicitor Advocate and his practice is primarily in the UK Courts. He is, however, an enthusiastic proponent of alternative dispute resolution, with recent experience of mediation, international arbitration (IT, Oil & Gas, international trade) and expert determination (both financial and technical).

Brenda Scott

Brenda is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer. Her practice focuses on corporate governance, education and charities. She is a great lateral thinker and gives assured incisive advice.Brenda leads Brodies' education team acting for many clients across the education sector which is described in Legal 500 as a ‘responsive‘ team regularly advises higher and further education sector clients as well as local authorities and government agencies on various governance structures, including new governance arrangements and sensitive reputational matters, sector-specific employment, immigration and corporate issues.

Fiona Scott

Senior Associate

Fiona Sharp

Fiona is a specialist family lawyer with 20 years' experience in this area of the law, based in our Glasgow office. She deals with all aspects of family law covering financial disputes and issues relating to child law to include residence and contact disputes and adoption. This often involves representing clients in both the sheriff court and the Court of Session although Fiona also regularly succeeds in helping clients to resolve their difficulties without the need for litigation which is achieved by her pragmatic approach. Fiona also has experience in dealing with cases which have an international aspect to them.

Louise Shiels

Louise is head of dispute resolution and risk and head of Brodies contentious construction team. She is a recognised expert in dispute resolution, gained from circa 20 years' experience of dealing with highly contentious, high profile, complex disputes throughout the UK and internationally. Louise is dual qualified in both English and Scottish Law. Louise regularly represents clients, both domestically and internationally, in all forms of dispute avoidance and dispute resolution. Louise is currently engaged in some of the largest, most technically complex construction, engineering and energy disputes in the UK. She leads and advises on high value disputes and provides strategic advice to help clients achieve the best possible outcome. She is highly regarded by her clients and colleagues alike for her commercial awareness, technical ability and work ethic.

Martin Sloan

Martin is an experienced lawyer specialising in IP, Tech and Data. He combines technical knowledge with an interest in understanding his client's business to provide pragmatic advice and practical solutions.Martin's expertise includes technology procurement, IT outsourcing, business process outsourcing, commercial contracts, intellectual property, data protection, ePrivacy and cyber risk. Martin regularly helps clients in relation to the legal and commercial risks relating to the development and use of new technology, such as cloud-based services, and projects involving AI, blockchain and big data. Martin works with clients across a range of sectors including financial services, media, food and drink, charities and the third sector, and the public sector. Martin also advises technology businesses and innovative tech start-ups, including fintech and adtech.

Karren Smith

Karren is a Partner in the Rural Business team and has over 20 years’ experience across the full range of commercial and rural property disciplines. Based in our Inverness office, she advises in relation to all aspects of leasing (acting for both landlords and tenants), the acquisition and sale of properties for investors and occupiers and she acts for a number of clients across a variety of development projects. In the rural sector, her work includes advising estate owners, forestry, sportings, renewables, developments sites and option agreements. Karren also has particular expertise in relation to crofting law and knowledge of the fish farming industry, including advising in relation to off-shore leasing.

Richard B Smith

Richard's wide-ranging practice includes all areas of real estate law and he regularly acts for developers, tenants and funding institutions in retail, investment and development work.A respected dual-qualified lawyer holding practising certificates in Scotland, England and Wales, his experience working in London has resulted in his frequent involvement in cross-border deals where he has a clear knowledge and understanding of what is required to enable UK transactions to complete in today's market. Richard brings a commercial and client-focused approach to transactions.In recent years his development experience has been used to assist experienced developers on residential, mixed use, care home and student developments across the UK which has involved strategic site acquisition, site assembly, joint ventures and development management agreements to suit innovative funding structures which are now commonplace in todays’ markets.

Bruce Stephen

Bruce has over 20 years' experience in all aspects of banking and finance work. Recent activity includes acting in a significant proportion of funds finance deals in the market for a range of lenders, advising in regulated industry financings such as energy and transport sectors and assisting in complex asset finance deals including advising a major European manufacturer in respect of its aircraft financing arrangements. A number of deals relate to assets and businesses which have particular strategic importance to the economy. The team have advised on large scale acquisitions and related financings including review and due diligence in respect of financial regulated businesses and products. Bruce is relationship partner for a number of key client connections of Brodies including NatWest, JP Morgan, Hampden and DNB Bank and is a member of the operational board of the firm. He is co-author of Scottish chapters of ICLG 'Securitisation and security over receivables: an international handbook' published by Oxford University Press. Bruce was also involved in drafting Scottish secondary legislation relating to bank insolvency and bank administration pursuant to the Banking Act following the financial crisis. He has acted on advisory boards relating to law review projects undertaken by the Scottish Law Commission including in respect of the draft Moveables Transactions Bill. Bruce is a member of the law society's banking and company law sub-committee and is one of the key contacts with Scottish Financial Enterprise and its membership. He is also English and Scots law qualified and leads the derivatives practice at the firm.

Mike Stephen

Mike has over 30 years' experience of commercial real estate across a broad spectrum of work streams, specialising in all aspects of real estate development and investment work. Mike represents a number of City-based investors, including pension funds, investment companies and property asset managers. Mike plays a key role advising many of the firm’s public sector clients including various NDPBs, local authorities and the Scottish Government. On the development / investment front Mike has considerable experience of joint venture, partnership and collaboration agreements and in working on forward fund and strip lease structures. He acts for a number of developer and investors, ranging from the locally-based and national housebuilders to overseas investment funds and local authorities. He has acted for residential developers and landowners in complex residential developments and for a variety of commercial developers in mixed use development projects, including major city centre redevelopments. Mike also acts for the UK’s largest forest investors and has been involved in a number of high-profile cross-border forestry investments.

Mark Stewart

Mark heads up the firm's Personal and Family Practice area. His principal areas of practice include succession planning, asset protection, trusts, executries and personal tax planning. Mark acts for a broad range of individual clients and trustees, including some of the wealthiest families in the country. They rely on him for his practical and technical advice and appreciate his ability to clearly communicate complex legal and tax matters. With 25 years of experience, Mark is very much a private client specialist. He believes that it is necessary to advise clients with an overall understanding of their unique objectives, assets, business interests and family relationships. Mark is based in the firm's Aberdeen and Inverness offices, although he is often spotted in all corners of the country, meeting clients or speaking at conferences.

Michael Stoneham

Michael is Brodies' Head of Energy & Infrastructure Finance. He is recognised as the leading project finance lawyer in Scotland, and has extensive experience of renewables, oil & gas, infrastructure, housing and public sector finance. He utilises that experience to identify pragmatic and lasting solutions to difficult financing issues and to assist clients in creating new and innovative debt products. Michael acts for private and public sector clients, whether providers or recipients of debt, in each of these finance sectors. Recently he has become involved in a number of capital markets financings, including acting for Aberdeen City Council on its market first £370 million-listed and rated bond issue to finance its capital expenditure programme and also for UK issuers in the energy and shipping sectors on Cayman Islands and Norwegian bond markets.

Derek Stroud

Derek is a partner in the corporate group. He has over 25 years' experience in corporate transactions, including cross-border transactions. This covers: mergers and acquisitions; disposals; acting for companies in receipt of private equity; acting for private equity investors; joint ventures; group re-organisation and corporate governance. He has a strong focus in both renewable energy and the oil service sector. Derek has advised clients (both utilities and investors) on numerous acquisitions and disposals of both operating windfarms and windfarm development projects. He has advised many international oil service sector companies on acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures. Derek has also advised Strathclyde Pension Fund on a multitude of private equity, renewable and infrastructure investments with a total commitment value in excess of £1.5 bn.

Jacqueline Stroud

With over 20 years experience practicing a broad range of family law, Jacqueline leads our Edinburgh family team. A highly experienced mediator and litigator, she acts for a diverse range of clients. Jacqueline advises on a wide range of family law issues, from complex child contact and residence disputes to all aspects of financial provision matters. She works with her clients to achieve a negotiated settlement and utilise alternative dispute resolution methods wherever possible. Jacqueline is regularly appointed by the court to provide child welfare reports and to act as a curator to protect children's interests.

Heather Thompson

Heather is a partner in Brodies corporate tax team with expertise in advising on tax issues for family businesses and private wealth structures, both onshore and offshore.She has extensive experience in dealing with complex trust structures, particularly offshore trusts and companies.

Victoria Varty

Victoria is recognised as an expert litigator in family law, based in our Edinburgh office. With over 16 years' experience, Victoria handles all aspects of family law, including resolving financial issues which arise from the breakdown of relationships and disputes concerning children. An accredited specialist in child law, Victoria believes that wherever possible resolving disputes by negotiation or mediation is in everyone’s best interests. However, when necessary, Victoria is an experienced litigator at all levels. She has conducted a number of proofs in the Sheriff Court, and is regularly instructed not only by individuals but by other solicitors throughout Scotland to deal with complex or high value family actions raised in the Court of Session. Victoria also has been instructed in appellate proceedings at all levels, including the UK Supreme Court. Victoria has a particular interest in cases with an international dimension and often receives referrals from clients, solicitors and Counsel in cases involving relocation and other cross border matters.

Craig Watt

Craig is an experienced commercial litigator. He advises clients in the commercial, financial services and energy sectors how to resolve disputes, with a particular interest in interpreting and advising upon complex contracts. Craig is increasingly called upon to advise clients on the defence of group proceedings in Scotland. Whilst he has significant experience in conducting the progress of court cases in the Court of Session and Sheriff Court, he has also represented clients in International Arbitrations, under both the Scottish Arbitration and ICC Rules. Craig is a Solicitor Advocate within the 'Advocacy by Brodies' set, and can appear before all Courts in Scotland and the Supreme Court and Privy Council in London. He has extensive Court, Inquiry and Tribunal advocacy experience.

Richard Whyte

Richard leads Brodies’ real estate investment team, alongside Johane Murray, working at the forefront of the investment market. Richard is one of the best known names in Scottish real estate, having built his name acting for UK and overseas investors on some of the highest profile transactions over the 15 years. Richard is also an expert in development work, particularly on assets primed for sale to the investment market. Richard sits on the Scottish Board of the Investment Property Forum – exemplifying his market profile.Richard nurtures a strong and loyal client base. His clients value his personal commitment to them, coupled with his outstanding project management skills. Richard has an incisive ability to cut through the most complicated issues, with an intuitive understanding of 'risk'. Richard is an 'out and out' team player. He thrives on delivering transactions on time.