Semple Fraser ranked alongside top Scottish law firms
Some highlights from the 2006 Chambers Directory which reviews the practices of the UK’s leading law firms.
BANKING & FINANCE
The Firm: This "responsive" firm has a banking and finance team which is especially respected for its property finance expertise. Clients value the "professional" group's ability to "produce documentation quickly and accurately." It "knows the banking world inside-out" and fields "friendly people to work alongside."
Clients include all the major high street banks and the directory highlighted that the team has recently advised the Bank of Scotland in the £80 million refinancing of Stainton Capital in connection with a portfolio of commercial properties located throughout the UK.
The Lawyers: Clients describe group head Alex Innes as someone who “understands banking transactions from a business angle, as well as from a legal position". Helpful, proactive and committed, he "understands why we are doing a transaction and so can provide useful input," claimed one source.
CONSTRUCTION
The Firm: "Making a positive impression on the market," the past year has seen this firm demonstrate its willingness to develop a genuine construction department. This five-member team, which includes two partners, is well-versed in both contentious and non-contentious construction law. According to sources, the standard of procurement advice is high, while dispute resolution is "handled in a commercially sensible way."
A highlight for the team this year is being appointed by Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd to act for them in a high-profile dispute connected to the Scottish Parliament building.
The Lawyers: Stuart Macfarlane, head of the construction department, is recognised by the directory as a leader in his field and is described as having particular interest in building contract arbitrations and adjudications.
CORPORATE
The Firm: Punching "well above" its weight, the corporate team boasts a stable of clients from a hugely diverse range of industries. The team includes six partners dedicated to pure corporate work. Market commentators observe that the practice's strength lies in its commercial property expertise, though this is only a part of a broader remit.
The team is currently undertaking all the domestic corporate work for Eden Springs UK, the second largest provider of water coolers in Europe. Along with an impressive number of traditional Scottish names, the firm's client roster has a decent smattering of UK companies and is developing business south of the border. The team is also gaining a foothold amongst Irish companies.
The Lawyers: The team has recently been bolstered by the addition of Bill Fowler, formerly of Archibald Campbell & Harley.
ENVIRONMENT
The Firm: Overwhelming feedback from both clients and peers warrants a decisive move into the top tier of Chambers. The general view is that "the lawyers are impressively skilled, consistently appear on all the big cases and draw the heavyweight clients". Over the last year the team has polished its European credentials, making advances in that market and strengthening its reputation as being "on the cutting edge" of the law.
The team has been appointed by the European Commission on its panel of advisors in respect of specialist environment law services at European Union level.
The Lawyers: Group supremo Vincent Brown attracts praise as "a master of his art." He acts for UK and European clients, and a recent highlight was the successful representation of Tyndrum in negotiations with SEPA on commercial sewage treatment. "Hard-working and skilled" Barry Love assisted the World Wide Fund for Nature to draft marine legislation. He is particularly well regarded in the contaminated land area.
LITIGATION
The Firm: This "well-resourced and highly efficient" litigation team advises on a number of matters including Companies Acts petitions, planning inquiries and challenges, construction cases, and landlord and tenant work. A laurel in its crown involves successfully defending a multimillion-pound challenge against the transfer of part of a significant property portfolio.
Clients included Allied Dunbar; Royal & SunAlliance; Whitbread Group; Kenmore Property Group; Manpower; Tesco Stores and The Laird Group.
The Lawyers: Alison Gow is well known in her field and is admired for her "experience and sound approach."
PLANNING
The Firm: The team has experienced steady growth in its planning instructions and has expanded its blue chip client base. A force in the retail sector, the team maintains its relationship with Tesco. It advised on a broad range of planning and road issues arising from its extensive development programme in Scotland. This includes developments in the four main cities: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee. One satisfied client reported, "They never let us down."
The group recently advised Sovereign Land (Mearns) in a successful judicial review against 'spot listing' of buildings by Historic Scotland. Other highlights include acting for Standard Life Investments and Land Securities Properties in a successful challenge to the decision by North Lanarkshire Council to grant permission for comprehensive development on the former Ravenscraig steelworks site.
The Lawyers: A popular figure on the planning scene, June Gilles is "very thorough and practically minded; she is the kind of person [who] clients really warm to."
REAL ESTATE
The Firm: Considered a particularly strong contender, this team of 12 partners amassed compliments for a large number of instructions in the retail and shopping centre investments throughout the UK; work on Glasgow's Buchanan Galleries and Aberdeen's St. Nicholas and Bon Accord centres are amongst the more significant projects associated with the firm. It is also delving into the marketplace through an increase of English referrals and cross-border work, benefiting from a growing team of dual-qualified lawyers.
This year the team acted for new client Land Securities Group in Scotland on all aspects of a property swap with Slough Estates, giving them a 50% share in the Buchanan Galleries.
The Lawyers: Commanding a "great deal of respect" is the "strong" Paul Haniford, a well-known operator who is key to the firm's relationships with the likes of Tesco, British Land and JJ Gallagher. He acted for Barchester Health Care on the Scottish property aspects of the £525-million acquisition of Westminster Healthcare from private equity firm 3i.
Simon Etchells, who advised Blackstone on the property elements of its takeover of cinema group Cine UK in a £175-million deal, was also recommended by the directory.
Entering the tables for the first time is key player Colin Keenan, described as an "efficient go-getter" who "can make deals happen smoothly." With significant development and investment experience, he has assisted a number of the firm's Irish investor clients.
INSOLVENCY
The Firm: Over the past year the firm's reputation for insolvency work has become firmly established thanks to its involvement in a number of high-profile directors' disqualification cases. As a result of the Enterprise Act, this group has also undertaken a number of large company restructurings.
The team acts for companies in Scotland and England including banks, corporates, IPs and government bodies including the DTI. The team was also recently involved in a ground breaking legal case when the Court of Session in Scotland ruled that a company proposing a solvent scheme of arrangement with its creditors must, as part of the usual preparations for the creditors' meeting, provide each creditor with a list of the names and contact details of the other creditors.