The Legal 500 2005 - good news for Semple Fraser
The Legal 500, the directory which independently reviews the practices of the UK’s leading law firms, once again shows Semple Fraser is making good progress.
We are "best known for contentious and non-contentious real estate, planning and environment work with solid corporate finance capabilities, and notable strength in insolvency work”.
Here are some highlights from the directory.
Environment
Our Environment team led by ‘first class’ Vincent Brown whose ‘depth of knowledge is second to none’ is a leader in the field of environmental and pollution law and moved into the top tier.
The team, which ‘continues to receive top-quality instructions from impressive clients, acting on both advisory and contentious matters’ has acted for a significant number of new clients this year on both UK and EU law matters including Marathon Oil, the WWF and the European Commission.
Commercial Property
Described as a ‘sound practice’, our Commercial Property group is once again rated highly. The group ‘acts on big-ticket property deals for high-profile clients’ and highlights this year include acting for British Land in their £500m retail partnership with Land Securities as well as advising Tesco on its growth programme throughout Scotland.
Insolvency and Corporate Recovery
Once again our 'strong reputation for insolvency work' is highlighted in the directory. Our team continues to act for the DTI's Insolvency Service's Directors Disqualification Unit in Scotland and also advised Citibank on the Scottish aspects of the British Energy restructuring.
Planning
Our Planning team is well placed alongside other top Scottish firms in the directory and was noted for successfully handling a Court of Session appeal against the proposed use of compulsory purchase powers by Glasgow City Council to assemble a high profile site in Buchanan Street. The litigation is currently heading to the House of Lords.
Corporate
Our Corporate team acted ‘on several significant deals in 2004’, such as advising Metron Technology on the UK aspects of the £100m sale of its worldwide business, and representing BLGGI on its £29m sale of Tay Properties.
Litigation
Our ‘impressive’ Litigation team, headed up by Ken Carruthers, is renowned for focusing largely on insolvency, employment and planning-related disputes. The directory noted that we advised Standard Life Investments and Land Securities in two challenges concerning a new town centre on the site of the former Ravenscraig Steelworks – a particularly high profile case which is now heading to the House of Lords.