Burness Paull LLP's projects team maintains a strong presence across the Scottish market, advising on high-profile infrastructure, energy transition, and digital connectivity projects. With experience spanning public sector strategies, procurements, operations, and disputes, the team is active across the full project lifecycle and has continued to support key clients including NHS bodies, local authorities, and Scottish Futures Trust. Team head Gavin Paton is a key adviser to hub West and plays a central role on numerous projects. Co-heads James Forbes, Andrew Little, and Chris Horsley bring their construction expertise to a wide range of operational issues and project contracts. Richard Lockhart focuses on project delivery, leveraging his extensive knowledge of various delivery models.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The firm provides access to all relevant capabilities and is effective in providing an integrated service drawing these together.'
- 'The knowledge of our business and the sector context that it operates within is wide and deep and continuity of working together for many years has facilitated an efficient operating model and the ability to focus on what is material and act proactively.’
‘Gavin Paton provides excellent client management and oversight of our relationship and the services provided. He is a very strong communicator who quickly and effectively identifies the crux of issues and presents pragmatic solutions and is always available when needed.'
- 'Chris Horsley provides very strong leadership and a commercially focused approach to assignments. He is skilled in shaping and selling proposals, providing reassurance as well as persuasive reasoning when negotiating points.’
Key clients
- NHS Lothian
- Perth & Kinross Council
- Highlands and Islands Enterprise
- hub West Scotland Limited
- Albany Infrastructure Management
- Scottish Futures Trust Limited
- Scot Roads Partnership Project Limited
- Scottish Enterprise
- University of St Andrews
- Galliford Try Construction (UK) Limited / FM
- Graham Construction
- Ancala Water Services
Work highlights
Advising hub West Scotland Limited on a £35m phased project to develop a new state-of-the-art education and community campus in Faifley. The campus will include a primary school; an early learning and childcare centre; an additional support needs base; a community centre and a new community library.
Advising Scottish Futures Trust Limited in connection with developing innovative approaches for the financing and delivery of public EV charging infrastructure across Scotland.
Advising Port of Cromarty Firth in connection with its proposed development aimed primarily at supporting the floating offshore wind industry including in connection with ScotWind.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Chris Horsley
Practice head
Chris Horsley; Andrew Little; James Forbes; Gavin Paton
Other key lawyers
Richard Lockhart