Originally set up in 1993 by Penelope Warne, Head of Energy, and Practice Group Manager for Energy, Projects and Construction to service the oil and gas industry, our Aberdeen office has expanded into a thriving full service practice.
The strong connection between our Aberdeen and Edinburgh offices and those in London, Bristol and throughout Europe means that in Scotland we are uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive legal advice and assistance on both domestic and multi-jurisdictional matters. While both offices provide specialist services to our local markets, we are part of a wider network that allows us to offer seamless legal support on any size of transaction.
While remaining industry leaders in oil and gas law, our team of experts now offers a range of corporate and commercial services, as well as real estate, employment, dispute resolution and health and safety law across a broad client base and a range of companies from small privately owned companies to global corporations.
Banking and Finance
Scotland has a strong and long tradition in banking and financial services and related professional services. Aberdeen is a particular 'hot spot' of lending activity due to, among other things, the current strength of the Energy sector.
Due to the way we are structured, we are able to provide help and advice on many types of lending transaction, ranging from small corporate overdraft loans to complex, multi-million pound transactions, many with international aspects. We act for domestic and international banks, other lenders and all categories of borrower on investment grade and all types of leveraged lending on Scottish law and English law transactions, and have a wealth of experience in deals which are not exclusively UK-based. If your transaction has an international aspect we can call on resources from our CMS network.
Corporate
Based in our Aberdeen office, our Scottish corporate team work closely with colleagues in Edinburgh, London and internationally to provide a comprehensive service to our clients. The focus is on delivering commercial, deal-focused solutions for clients in a format and to a timescale to suit each individual case.
Our clients tell us that, technical expertise aside, our ability to build and maintain strong business relationships is a key reason they keep coming back to us. Services include acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, reorganisation, management buy-outs and other leveraged transactions, re-financings, cross-border advice (Scottish and English law aspects), co-ordination of transactions across Europe and internationally.
Dispute Resolution
We offer a commercial and practical approach to dispute resolution and have extensive experience of mediation, arbitration and adjudication, as well as litigation. With our head office and a strong disputes team in London, we can offer advice on English as well as Scottish legal matters. With our strong links to CMS firms in various countries throughout Europe and worldwide, we can also advise on cross-jurisdictional disputes and on the law of many European jurisdictions.
Both our Edinburgh and Aberdeen offices have a strong focus on Energy, Oil and Gas and Health and Safety Matters, but we also have vast experience in a range of other commercial matters, such as professional indemnity defence work and pursuing and defending claims arising from the collapse of city centre buildings during demolition.
Employment
Our Scottish employment team, based in our Aberdeen office but covering all of Scotland, receives high praise for the strong understanding it builds of clients’ businesses, enabling timely, commercially aware advice to be provided on issues big or small. The team works closely with all other areas of the firm’s HR group, to offer seamless support across employment, pensions, immigration and tax.
Energy
As part of our Energy Group, which includes the largest oil and gas team in Europe, our teams in Edinburgh and Aberdeen offer specialist knowledge and advice to a range of clients throughout the industry. Our clients benefit from our track record and in-depth knowledge of the oil, gas and power sectors, and our ability to draw practical lessons from our achievements and apply innovative solutions and advice to new projects. While historically our focus in Scotland has been oil and gas, we are now increasingly involved in the renewables sector, as well as in assisting our energy colleagues in London in relation to major electricity projects.
Health and Safety
Our team has a reputation as the leading firm in the area of health and safety, providing specialist advice on regulatory requirements, risk management and corporate governance, as well as representing organisations facing enforcement action and claims for compensation. Our client base spans a number of industry sectors, including aviation, leisure, transport, manufacturing, energy, construction, renewables and communications.
We are able to provide assistance in every aspect of responding to an incident, whether that is incident investigation, dealing with witnesses, defending a prosecution or advising senior management on liaising with the Health and Safety Executive. In addition, we provide advice on corporate governance issues, assist in transactional due diligence on health and safety and assist with general updates, information and training to clients.
Real Estate and Construction
Your business may cover the length and breadth of the UK, but the legal system does not. With offices in Edinburgh and in Aberdeen we have Scotland covered, while as part of our wider firm we are able to advise not only on Scottish projects, but also on a variety of cross-border transactions with England and Wales, and with our partners in Central and Eastern Europe and around the world. Most of our solicitors are dual-qualified, and experienced in working with colleagues in other jurisdictions to ensure a smooth, joined-up approach to your transaction, no matter where your property is located.
Whilst much of our work consists of high value and complex acquisitions and disposals for our international client base, we are equally experienced in delivering outstanding results for smaller investors, developers and end-users in retail, office and industrial sectors. No matter what size the transaction, we will work to deliver a commercial, cost-effective result for you.
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