Legal Directories: Quotes

Legal 500

Charities

Head of the team Eleanor Kerr 'has a very good practical approach to problems utilising her undoubted in-depth knowledge'.

Commercial property

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP is 'extremely strong in all aspects'.

Construction

The 'very knowledgeable' Mark Macaulay leads the construction team at Maclay Murray & Spens LLP, which 'has a helpful and commercial approach and sound judgment'.

Corporate and Commercial

Clients say the firm 'remains the first and only stop' for advice on commercial transactions, and 'provides an excellent service in a friendly but professional manner'.

highly respected Kenneth Shand, who 'has a very good overview of all the strands of a deal'.

Corporate Tax

The tax team is led by the 'commercially aware' Gwen Souter.

Employment

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP's 'business acumen and industry knowledge is first class and the depth of the team is excellent. They provide practical, no-nonsense advice in easy-to-understand terminology'.

Head of the team Jane Green 'never gets flustered or seems like anything is too much to deal with'.

Insolvency and corporate recovery

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP also attracts the highest-quality corporate restructuring and insolvency mandates, and has 'good strength in depth, commerciality and responsiveness'.

Michael Hughes 'has a relaxed but very effective personal style, but puts considerable effort in behind the scenes to deliver deals to time'.

Licensing

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP has 'good local knowledge, and provides proactive advice'

Local government

Amanda Jones, who is 'not afraid to deliver a view or advice which she expects to be unwelcome and does so in the easiest and least painful manner';

and Mark Macaulay ('very knowledgeable, to the point and responsive').

Parliamentary and public affairs

Michael Dean's team provides a 'very good, practical approach to problems utilising its undoubted in-depth knowledge'. 'They are expensive but worth the money.'

Personal tax, trusts and executries

At Maclay Murray & Spens LLP, 'work is expertly handled' and 'the level of service is excellent'.

Planning

Chris Smylie 'skills rank amongst the best in Scotland for this type of work'.

Property litigation

Ewan Easton's 'thorough' team. 'As they consistently win, their high fees seem merited. They are exceedingly able on all fronts'.

Chambers & Partners

Administrative and public law

"They understand the way we work and the issues that matter."

Banking and finance

"a great, balanced practice

Charities

According to clients, "such is their understanding of the sector that they only flag up issues when they need to - not like a waiter breathing down your neck."

Competition/European law

"The advice the team dispenses is always delivered with an invaluable commercial flavour."

Michael Dean - "He has built an enviable profile in this area".

David McGowan is "a sound and straightforward" practitioner

Construction

"very commercial and client-focused, with a high level of quality throughout."

Mark Macaulay is practice head and "gives a great deal of confidence because of the strength of his drafting".

Kirsti Olson provides "robust and commercial advice that is backed up by good results".

Corporate/M&A

"MMS maintains a great relationship with us - they are always open to chat, they are very responsive and they look after us well."

Dispute Resolution

"absolutely top-notch"

"sensible approach and fantastic resources."

"Pre-eminent litigation partner" Ewan Easton

Employee share schemes

"They are good at assessing the capability of their client, and communicating in a way the client can understand without skimping on legal matters."

Employment

"They go the extra mile to make you feel as though you are their only client."

Financial Services: Non-contentious Regulatory

"This team is always available when we need it and is great at tailoring its approach to our needs as an organisation."

Michael Livingston has a "great knowledge of our business and the wider industry."

David Young is extremely popular with clients, who praise him as being "commercial, creative, aware of our priorities and able to turn things around very quickly."

Information technology

Alison Bryce has impressed clients with her "excellent negotiation skills" and "very responsive" service

PFI/PPP

"You always get a lot of partner time."

Planning

"the depth of knowledge in the firm is very favourable."

Chris Smylie is a "very experienced lawyer who carries a lot of gravitas and is very thorough in terms of preparation."

Police Law: Mainly Defendant

Amanda Jones "She is great at summarising complex and lengthy documents in a precise way."

Sarah Gilzean has "a good pragmatic grasp of the inner workings of police organisations" and "produces work to an excellent standard."

Private client

Clients praise the "extremely measured, decisive and knowledgeable" Andrew Biggart, who is considered the "real strength behind the trust department." He impresses with his "great common sense and superb attention to detail."

Public Procurement

"One of the best practices north of the border"

Real estate

"top-flight practice"

Gordon Aitken "He is a committed lawyer who is keen to get the deal done."

Iain Macniven "an efficient practitioner who inspires confidence with his comprehensive overview of the deal process."

Jennifer Johnson "incredibly thorough but always with an eye to a commercial end result."

Real estate litigation

"Immediately one feels confident in their ability to solve the problem."

Ewan Easton "a lawyer who really sticks his neck out to achieve the very best."

"he treats each situation as a problem to be solved, rather like a game of chess."

Restructuring/insolvency

Michael Hughes is "very knowledgeable and personable."

Social Housing

"reliable and consistent"

"They are proactive, responsive and efficient." 

"very attentive" Wendy Wilks

Tax

Gwen Souter has "a broad scope and excellent commercial outlook."