Burness Paull LLP has a ‘market leading team that is a force to be reckoned with in the Scottish restructuring and insolvency market’, possessing a vast contentious and non-contentious offering. The widely lauded Michael Thomson spearheads the team and has overseen a number of high-profile restructurings across a vast array of sectors, including the real estate, infrastructure, food and drink, financial services, and retail industries. The ’highly respected’ Allana Sweeney’s far reaching practice is largely concentrated on non-contentious issues, while Gary Moffat is the first port-of-call for clients seeking litigation expertise, often working closely with Sophia Harrison. Fiona Carlin, Claire McKellar, and Riccardo Alonzi are also key names that contribute to the practice. Sophia Harrison has since left the firm.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The Burness Paull restructuring and insolvency team is excellent. They are available, engaged, on top of the market and super user friendly. They are also solution orientated and client focused. They are very much a "go to" firm for Scottish R&I work. ’
- 'Allana Sweeney is visible and respected in the market. She provides very competent technical advice delivered in a clear and understandable way, and the advice is always clear and demonstrates technical and sector knowledge.'
‘Key individuals are Michael Thomson and Allana Sweeney. They epitomise the can-do, user friendly and hard working attitude of the team. They make themselves available and always deliver. ’
‘Michael Thomson and Allana Sweeney are very client friendly and to the point. They know when and how to involve the specialist areas and manage an overall transaction.'
‘Michael Thomson has built up a market leading team that is a force to be reckoned with in the Scottish restructuring and insolvency market. The team are wonderful to deal with. They always get what you are trying to achieve and help you get there the best way possible; keeping the legal documents simple but robust.'
‘Michael Thomson is brilliant to deal with. He is my go to person for advice. He has such a lovely way about him. I forget sometimes that he is my lawyer and not a trusted friend. He is robust and takes control when he needs to. He has great strategic and commercial thinking.'
Key clients
- Stewart Milne Group
- Interpath, as administrators of Lloyds Developments Limited
- Heathrow Airport Limited
- The shareholders of Hunter Boot Limited
- Highland Spring Limited
- The Insolvency Service
- FRP
- Alvarez and Marsal
- Grant Thornton
- Investec Bank plc
Work highlights
- Acting in the administration of Stewart Milne Group.
- Acting for the lender to the owner of the Virgin Hotel building in Glasgow and handling the subsequent administration.
- Acting on the group rationalisation of Heathrow Airport Group.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Michael Thomson
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Allana Sweeney
Practice head
Michael Thomson
Other key lawyers
Allana Sweeney; Gary Moffat; Fiona Carlin; Claire McKellar; Riccardo Alonzi