Gillespie Macandrew LLP advises on the full range of renewable energy projects across Scotland, England, and Wales, with particular strength in land, planning, and regulatory matters. The firm is active on onshore wind extensions, grid infrastructure issues and co-located hydrogen, battery and solar developments. Team head Derek McCulloch has a strong track record in brownfield M&A and PE transactions. Amy McDowell is active on large-scale onshore and offshore wind projects, advising both landowners and developers, while Simon Williams leads on major battery, solar and hydrogen matters, bringing extensive project development experience. Colin Hamilton and Alan White contribute planning and crofting expertise respectively, with Rae Gilchrist and Tessa Petrides offering broad support across the team.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Good landowner and developer practice in the solar and particularly battery storage clean energy space in Scotland. The team are friendly and collaborative.'
‘Tessa Petrides explains complex legal matters in simple terms to allow me, who has a very basic legal understanding, to make suitable decisions. She is diligent and logical in her work and very easily to get a hold of to discuss any matters.'
- 'Simon Williams is great at thinking of implications further down the line and trying to resolve them. He is also hands on and very much involved.’
‘The team are one of the best I have worked with - each person in the team is extremely capable and delivers sound legal advice in a very commercial manner. As in-house legal counsel, I see the Gillespie Macandrew team as being a seamless extension of our team - they understand their role and support the in-house function very effectively to help us deliver for the business. The team are all also very approachable and always at the end of a phone to chat through challenges with very clear and practical advice.’
‘Derek McCulloch, Colin Hamilton and Amy McDowell really stand out as being excellent leaders. They understand what the client needs and guide a really strong team including Rae Gilchrist (who also standouts for their quality advice). Derek, Colin and Amy lead by example and their team also approach matters in a very commercial and practical way whilst looking for innovative ways to solve problems.’
‘We work with GM in a co-professional capacity and find the team to be collaborative and communicative.’
Key clients
- SSE
- Invenergy
- Seagreen Wind Energy
- Berwick Bank Wind Limited
- Clyde Windfarm (Scotland) Limited
- Coire Glas Hydro Pumped Storage Limited
- Innova Renewables
- Viking Energy
- Tillicoultry Quarries
- Greentech
Work highlights
Advising in relation to the Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm with planned capacity of up to 4.1GW on onshore land requirements and offshore proximity and crossing agreements in both the Scottish and English onshore connections to grid.
Acting for Seagreen on phase 1 of what will be one of Scotland’s largest offshore windfarms in Scotland with potential capacity of 1.075GW to power 1.6m homes, most recently on the OFTO process.
Advising on a full range of aspects for a client’s circa 450-Megawatt windfarm development in Shetland.
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.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Rae Gilchrist
Practice head
Derek McCulloch
Other key lawyers
Amy McDowell; Simon Williams; Colin Hamilton; Alan White; Rae Gilchrist; Tessa Petrides