Dispute Resolution: Scotland
The dispute resolution team at Brodies continues to be one of the dominant forces in the Scottish market with the capacity to handle the full range of commercial litigation. The commercial disputes practice is also supported by the firm's considerable expertise in financial services, banking, professional negligence and property matters. Recent high-profile work includes acting for global insurers AXA, Aviva, Zurich and RSA in judicial review proceedings relating to the Damages (Asbestos Related Conditions) (Scotland) Act.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Joyce Cullen leads the firm's banking and financial services litigation department. She also has extensive expertise in the employment sector. Robin Macpherson leads the corporate litigation department. He also offers expertise in professional negligence and insolvency as part of his practice.
This firm is highly regarded for its commanding commercial disputes practice. The team boasts expertise across the sector but has a particular strength in public sector, insolvency and financial services disputes. High-profile clients include Scottish Widows and the Lloyds Banking Group.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Ewan Easton leads the firm's property litigation department. He also has particular expertise in director and partnership disputes. Tim Edward is highly regarded as a solicitor advocate with expertise in shipping, insurance and professional indemnity matters.
Sources say this market leader boasts "really good client relations and an excellent team." The practice caters for the full spectrum of commercial dispute resolution matters, with expertise in contractual, company and energy litigation, as well as IP and construction matters. High-profile clients include BP Exploration Operating Co, McDonald's and Rolls-Royce.
Client Service "They were very diligent and response times were fantastic."
KEY INDIVIDUALS Craig Connal QC is highly regarded as one of the region's leading litigators. He sits as an arbitrator in addition to his regular appearances as a solicitor advocate. Clients value the "very considered approach" that Jim Cormack brings to his practice. He specialises in contentious IP, IT, regulatory and insolvency matters. Glasgow-based Laura Cameron leads the firm's commercial litigation offering. She brings considerable contentious property and health and safety experience. Edinburgh-based Jacqueline Harris leads the firm's planning group. She also has extensive experience in product liability, financial services and regulation. Clients praise Nicola Borthwick, saying she provides "excellent attention to detail" and is "very supportive."
This firm occupies a prominent position in the market. The firm's wide-ranging expertise encompasses employment and regulatory matters and professional negligence. Recent high-profile work includes acting for the Scottish National Party (SNP) in its challenge to the BBC's right to screen in Scotland a party leaders' debate, from which the SNP was excluded, during the UK General Election campaign.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Robert Fife leads the department. He is a qualified solicitor advocate and specialises in commercial litigation, as well as liability insurance matters.
Burness enjoys an excellent reputation for the quality of its disputes resolution department. The firm specialises in competition, IP and product liability disputes, as well as more general commercial litigation. The growing international aspect of the firm's practice is shown by its action for Norwegian company Venture Drilling in claims relating to the charter of a Russian ship.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Firm chairman Philip Rodney has extensive experience of product liability litigation, in addition to his commercial disputes expertise. He led the way on the Venture Drilling matter. Alan McMillan leads the firm's property litigation team. He is also a mediator accredited by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution.
Dundas & Wilson fields a three-partner commercial litigation team which is highly respected in the market. The practice handles a broad range of commercial matters encompassing banking and finance, regulatory and public inquiry work, as well as insolvency issues. The firm recently represented paper manufacturing company Tullis Russell in a £5 million breach of contract claim.
Commercial Awareness "They are technically legally very good and very sensitive to commercial realities."
KEY INDIVIDUALS Lorna Sibbald leads the dispute resolution group at the firm. She specialises in banking and insolvency litigation. Meanwhile, Colin Macleod is highly regarded for his banking and commercial litigation expertise, to which he adds a specialisation in professional indemnity claims. Sources are quick to praise Colin Hutton, saying: "He is always alive to commercial realities, which makes it very easy doing business with him."
This team has a strong reputation in the market for the breadth of its commercial disputes practice and it is also noted for its commitment to ADR. The firm's diverse and impressive client portfolio includes BP Oil UK, the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Government. Clients praise the firm for its client care and say the team is enjoyable to work with.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Rod McKenzie leads the litigation department. He brings impressive expertise in employment and sports law to his commercial litigation experience.
The team at Shepherd and Wedderburn enjoys an excellent reputation for the strength of its commercial litigation expertise, which includes contractual, property, IP and IT disputes, along with competition law issues. Recent high-profile work includes acting for the administrators of Heritable Bank in a dispute with the Landsbanki board during the winding up of this company. Market sources are full of praise for the practice, saying it is "unassuming and friendly" and its "teamwork is fantastic."
Client Service "They maintain a good relationship with the client."
KEY INDIVIDUALS John Mackenzie brings new strength to the firm with extensive expertise in IP and IT disputes. He is a qualified solicitor advocate. David Anderson brings extensive property and construction litigation expertise to the practice. He also frequently wins instructions relating to the energy sector.
This firm occupies a strong position in the commercial disputes market, with particular expertise in the insurance sector. Recent instructions include acting for Travelers Insurance in a high-value personal injury case.
Client Service "They are on the ball and very supportive."
Commercial Awareness "They take a long-term strategic view in terms of commercial benefit."
KEY INDIVIDUALS Head of department Peter Anderson enjoys a broad range of commercial dispute expertise, including professional negligence and aviation disputes.
This firm boasts the full range of commercial disputes expertise, including in classic contractual disputes, financial services litigation and property matters. The team has a particular strength in contentious corporate insolvency and recovery issues.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Head of department Brent Haywood is a well-regarded solicitor advocate. He specialises in commercial litigation, as well as media and IP disputes.
This firm's commercial disputes team has a wide range of expertise, such as in insurance matters, company law and IP litigation. Clients praise the practice for being "proactive, technically sound and pragmatic." The firm has an impressive list of clients including American Express Services Europe, Lloyds Banking Group and Scottish Borders Council.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Anthony Jones is a solicitor advocate with extensive expertise in commercial disputes. He frequently acts in banking, insurance and construction disputes.
CMS Cameron McKenna occupies a strong position in the market and often acts in disputes with a cross-border flavour. The firm acts in a broad range of commercial disputes and has particular expertise in the energy sector. Recent highlights include acting for Norwegian energy company Marine Subsea in the arrest of one of its vessels in a Scottish port.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Robert Wilson leads the disputes team and is dual-qualified in Scotland and England and Wales. He leads the firm's work on the Marine Subsea litigation.
This firm is a well-respected presence in the Scottish dispute resolution market. The team's expertise includes restructuring, IP, corporate governance and media disputes, in addition to its general corporate capabilities.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Peter Watson is the head of litigation at the firm. He has considerable expertise across a broad range of contentious matters, including employment, media and aviation disputes.
Market sources admire the strength of this firm's property disputes expertise. In addition, the firm has considerable experience in a range of commercial disputes with strong links the banking and insurance sectors.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Ewen Brown leads the litigation unit.
Semple Fraser continues to occupy a strong place in the commercial dispute resolution market in Scotland. It is well regarded for expertise in employment and property disputes. Recent highlights include acting for the Simclar Group in defence of a £22 million action by the liquidators of a former subsidiary.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Alison Gow is highly regarded for her contentious employment expertise, in particular. She led the firm's work in the Simclar litigation.
The team at Tods Murray is praised for its "great attention to detail and thoroughness." The firm enjoys a broad commercial practice, with an emphasis on commercial property disputes. The team recently acted for Wyman Gordon in a pipeline dispute relating to issues of repudiation.
Client Service "Their client-relation skills are great."
KEY INDIVIDUALS Sources say Elaine Brailsford has "great grasp of technical legal requirements." She is also praised for always delivering what the client needs.
This firm has a strong reputation for expertise in commercial contracts disputes. The team also acts in relation to professional negligence and property and insolvency disputes.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Tom McEntegart is a well-regarded solicitor advocate who specialises in contractual disputes. John Paul Sheridan is also a solicitor advocate and brings considerable expertise in property disputes to the practice.
This practice is supported by DLA Piper's national and international network of offices. The team acts in a broad range of commercial disputes, including banking and finance, IT, IP and property matters. Its client roster includes Barclays Bank and RBS.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Aisha Anwar is hailed as a "brilliant and very thorough" lawyer. She has a broad range of expertise in the sector encompassing professional negligence, contractual and shareholder disputes.
This firm is a well-established presence in the market with a comprehensive commercial dispute resolution offering. The practice possesses expertise in insolvency and property disputes. High-profile clients include EDF Energy, RBS and QBE Insurance.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Julie Hamilton specialises in professional negligence and procurement litigation. She is a solicitor advocate with experience in a wide range of commercial dispute matters.
The team at Morton Fraser has long experience of the commercial dispute resolution market. The team acts in a broad range of matters, including property, insolvency and banking disputes. Recent high-profile work includes acting for Scottish Lion Insurance in its application to the Court of Session for sanction of a scheme of arrangement.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Market sources are impressed by Joy Barnard, saying she is "diligent and of considerable ability." She was part of the team acting in the Scottish Lion Insurance case.