Shepherd and Wedderburn‘s ’fantastic’ commercial disputes team serves a diverse client base that includes publicly listed companies, multinational corporations, trustees, and individuals. The group is led by John MacKenzie, a seasoned solicitor advocate with expertise in intellectual property and IT matters. Iain Drummond handles disputes in the contractual, negligence, and construction areas, and Gillian Carty is an expert in banking, finance, and insolvency litigation. Matt Phillip and Carly Duckett offer experience in breach of contract claims and shareholder disputes, enhancing the team’s capability to handle complex commercial challenges. The team recently saw the retirement of Elaine Brailsford from the partnership, who continues to support the firm as a consultant.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Matt Phillip's pragmatic and hands-on approach stands out. Matt understands the needs of the customer, has the ability to listen, analyse and quickly understand complex problems.’
‘They provide advice and advocacy in the Court of Session. We are very happy with the excellent service they provide.’
‘The team is small but well-formed and integrated into other departments of the firm. They are quick to react to client needs and have a good grasp of wider market practices that enables them to be proactive at highlighting important areas.’
‘The disputes team was fantastic and excelled in their response time, making us feel comfortable and always being prepared and ready to fight on our behalf. They were impressive at taking away our stress and making us feel confident in their ability to handle our dispute without dropping any balls.’
‘Matt Phillip and Carly Duckett worked brilliantly together bringing different strengths to the table. They both always thought of everything and were incredibly strategic, so we always felt prepared for all outcomes.’
'Carly Duckett is one of the hardest workers I have ever worked with. The passion, finesse and smarts to which she tackles the job really goes above and beyond expectation. She is incredibly organised, a perfect problem solver and incredibly diligent. I had to call her in a panic many times during our dispute and she always calmed me down, offering solutions and following up in the same hour. This attentiveness to her clients is so important for a disputes team where things happen very quickly.'
‘Matt Phillip and Carly Duckett demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to providing clear and sound advice. Their approach was characterised by a balance of empathy and strategic guidance, ensuring that we felt supported and informed throughout the entire process.’
‘Matt Phillip exemplified extraordinary intelligence and strategic prowess throughout our legal journey. His meticulous planning and foresight ensured that every aspect of our case was carefully considered, with contingencies in place for various scenarios.'
Key clients
- Manolete Partners plc
- Balfour Beatty Group Limited
- PCI PAL plc
- The Scottish Professional Football League Limited
- The British and Irish Lions DAC
- Scottish Sea Farms Limited
- PeoplePlus Group Limited
- Investec Bank plc
- Macdonald Resorts Limited
- Crerar Hotels Group
Work highlights
- Acted for Secret Garden Distillery Limited (SGDL) in relation to claims against the former owners and directors of SGDL in an action brought in the Commercial Court of the Court of Session.
- Acted for PCI Pal in relation to the proceedings for injunction before the Patent Court in London, in which the claimant Sycurio sought injunction.
- Advised the British and Irish Lions in relation to claims against companies marketing unofficial travel and hospitality in advance of the Lions Tour to Australia in 2025.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Matt Phillip
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Carly Duckett
Practice head
John MacKenzie
Other key lawyers
Iain Drummond; Gillian Carty; Matt Phillip; Nathaniel Buckingham; Carly Duckett