Lawyers in Scotland

Rachel Dean

Rachel is a Senior Associate within our core Real Estate team, based in our Manchester office. She provides strategic and commercial advice on a wide range of real estate law issues, growing in specific expertise as a development lawyer. Rachel advises a broad spectrum of national clients, including a number of well-known national housebuilders and developers as well as retail clients across a range of sectors including commercial development, residential development, retail and student living. Rachel has experience in acquisitions and disposals, conditional contracts and asset management work as well as gaining more exposure to larger site assembly and title reporting matters. Rachel prides herself on knowing her client's businesses and building strong relationships with development managers, property teams and the agents that support them.

Shoosmiths

Rachel Munro

Rachel is a Senior Associate in the Real Estate team, with extensive experience in residential development work. She acts for housebuilders, landowners and land promoters, assisting them on site acquisitions, affordable housing acquisitions and sales, conditional contracts, option agreements, strategic land acquisitions as well as advising on complex title issues, both in isolation and as part of any transaction. Her recent experience includes: Acting for a housebuilder in the property aspects of a large-scale re-cladding project, providing advice and guidance throughout the project including drafting complex minutes of agreement; Acting for housebuilders in the acquisition of sites across Scotland, including the negotiation of often complex conditional contracts as well as complex title issues; Acted for a national housebuilder in the contractual negotiations and sales of various affordable housing sites, including both golden brick and turnkey style contracts; Acted for a national housebuilder in a residential development site, which involved the strategic acquisition of various land parcels to ensure seamless access across the site, involving very complex title issues and contractual negotiations; Acting for a LLP in the acquisition of various blocks of flats and houses from a local authority at various developments, involving complex title issues which required various title documentation to be deployed to regulate maintenance of the developments going forward; Acted for a RSL in the acquisition of a 300 unit site (which formed part of a larger wide-scale development) which involved a complex conditional sale contract and complex title issues; Acted for various housebuilders in the site set-ups for developments and the drafting of deeds of conditions (involving the drafting of provisions to regulate the installation and operation of EV charging points within developments); Acted for a national housebuilder in the conveyance of SUDS ponds and drainage infrastructure within developments to Scottish Water; and Acted for a RSL in the property aspects of a corporate acquisition of properties in Glasgow, which involved complex title due diligence but also identifying any issues going forward considering the strategic development plans.

Shoosmiths

Richard Baker

I am a construction and engineering lawyer with wide ranging experience of contract drafting and dispute resolution. I have previously worked in-house at the contractor, Taylor Woodrow (now part of Vinci) and at US consultant, AECOM, where I gained an insider’s perspective on the industry. I have acted for developers, contractors, consultants and public bodies on a wide range of projects undertaken in the UK and abroad. This has involved giving strategic advice at the start of a project (procurement, risk analysis, drafting of contracts, framework agreements, bonds warranties and other ancillary documents), providing ad hoc commercial guidance as the project progresses, through to resolving, where required, complex disputes via negotiation, mediation, adjudication, arbitration and litigation. Examples of contract drafting include: Strategic review of a developer’s approach to procurement, including drafting a suite of bespoke contracts and amendments; All aspects of the construction procurement for a multi-phase, award-winning residential scheme including a bespoke contract “call-down” agreement; Coordinated procurement of contractor and large consultant team for a major hotel/ residential development; Risk appraisal of consultant appointments and frameworks for domestic and international projects in oil & gas, urban master-planning, aerotropolis and hotel developments. Examples of dispute experience include: Successful defence of three concurrent adjudication claims, including defeating one on the ground of the adjudicator’s lack of jurisdiction; Successful defence (following mediation) at a TCC trial of a claim by the production architect on a flagship regeneration project, arising from a letter of intent; Concurrent arbitrations up and down the contract chain against an employer and a subcontractor, arising from complex concrete defects in the diaphragm walling of the A406; Obtaining trial judgment in client’s favour in relation to claims arising from his oral contract for hotel renovation works.

Shoosmiths

Richard Lester

Richard is a senior associate in Shoosmiths’ Commercial Recoveries Services section, managing a small number of staff, and deals with over 1000 non-contentious legal actions for large commercial clients on a weekly basis. He has considerable experience in relation to undefended commercial legal actions as well as all methods of enforcement of Monetary Judgments and Insolvency, and is also experienced in dealing with Return of Goods claims. He also specialises in legal updates and technical issues within the section, having attended various continuing professional/development courses.

Shoosmiths

Rob Wilson

Partner

CMS

Robert Forman

Robert is a partner with the firm, heading up the delivery of Scottish Real Estate legal services to a variety of developers, funders, retailers, investors and private individuals on commercial property acquisitions, disposals, leasing, development and secured lending (including cross border/international deals with a Scottish element).

Burges Salmon LLP

Robin Hutchison

Partner, Planning and Environment

CMS

Robin Mitchell

Robin has particular expertise in landlord and tenant matters. He advises a number of local, national and international high street retailers and also a number of other occupiers, investors and developers. In recent years, Robin has also acted for a number of property companies in their acquisition and disposal of commercial property investments. Clients particularly appreciate Robin's ability to understand their business and goals and to apply this in providing pragmatic legal solutions. His recent project experience includes: advising a major occupier on the Scottish aspects of the re-organisation of a portfolio of properties valued at in excess of £380m; representing a number of national high street retailer in all their acquisition, disposal and portfolio management matters in Scotland; acting for the purchaser of a retail park in Central Scotland, and continuing to advise on estate management issues; and representing a serviced office provided in acquisitions of space in some of Scotland's most high profile office developments. He advised the RICS in the preparation of the Scottish Code of Practice on Service Charges in Commercial Property and is co-author of the book Commercial Leases, published by Bloomsbury Professional. Robin also sits on the Law Society of Scotland panel which awards specialist accreditation in commercial leasing.

Shoosmiths

Roland Smyth

Of Counsel, Real Estate

CMS

Rosalind Morgan

Partner

CMS

Rowena Williams

Senior Associate

CMS

Ryan Kellingray

Ryan is a Registered and Chartered Trade Mark Attorney, working in Dentons' Glasgow office. He is a member of the Intellectual Property practice. Ryan specializes in advising clients on all aspects of the protection and enforcement of their brands, including the development and execution of bespoke "full lifecycle" trade mark strategies for clients of all sizes, helping entities protect, enforce and enhance the value of their IP. He is well versed in filing and prosecuting trade mark rights directly through the UK, EU and World Intellectual Property Offices, as well as further afield through Dentons' offices and agents throughout the world. Ryan also has extensive experience working with clients on a wide range of portfolio management matters, and frequently advises on opposition and invalidity proceedings at the UKIPO. Since joining the firm in 2021, Ryan has advised clients in a wide range of sectors, and has recently advised a major private equity house in relation to a large, global rebranding project, acted for a major US-based restaurant chain in a set of complex cross-proceedings at the UKIPO, and provided extensive trade mark counsel to a number of innovative clients operating in the metaverse and NFT fields.

Dentons

Samantha Mackie

Samantha is a Senior Associate and provides contentious and non-contentious support on employment matters in sectors ranging from social enterprise, retail, food & drink, utilities and manufacturing (pharmaceutical). Samantha has retained immigration experience and can support with corporate and personal immigration in the post-Brexit world, particularly with issues relating to sponsorship and right to work. Samantha's interests sit within discrimination and equal pay. Samantha has represented both employers and employees in the full breadth of discrimination claims. Currently, she is supporting the defence of an equal pay and sex discrimination class action. Recent litigation work requires consideration of the issue of trade union blacklisting, whether a pandemic mandatory face mask policy could be discriminatory to employees with disabilities and representing a claimant in an unfair dismissal claim against an employer in liquidation. Recent advisory work consists of dismissals due to statutory restriction, cross-border contract work and redesigning holiday pay processes as a result of updated case law. Samantha values thought leadership and have had work published by the Employment Law Journal, Lexology and Lexis Nexis.

Shoosmiths

Sarah Alexander

Sarah has more than 14 years’ experience in construction and engineering dispute resolution. She is qualified to practice law in Scotland and England and is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in construction law. Sarah advises on dispute resolution work, with a particular focus on resolving issues arising in high-value onshore and offshore construction projects. She has been instructed to act and/or provide advice in relation to numerous adjudications, arbitrations and court actions. Sarah drafts detailed letters of claim, as well as documenting extra-judicial settlements. She provides advice to parties on both bespoke and standard form contract terms during the currency of the project and post-completion. Sarah is frequently consulted on PFI projects, giving advice in relation to obligations under Interface, Services/FM and Project Agreements. Sarah is also a Notary Public.

Dentons

Sarah Letson

DLA Piper

Seonaid Busby

Seonaid is a partner and solicitor advocate with extended rights of audience in the Court of Session, the UK Supreme Court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Her active role as a solicitor advocate has assisted in reducing costs to clients. Seonaid has dealt with a wide spectrum of liability claims including all levels and values of road traffic, public and employers’ liability and occupational disease. She has particular experience in dealing with personal injury, discrimination and Human Rights claims brought against a legacy Scottish Police Force. She also has extensive experience in the regulatory field including prosecutions in the field of road traffic, health & safety and environmental, proceedings before the Traffic Commissioner and Fatal Accident Inquiries. Her breadth and depth of experience also includes work in the Marine field. More recently she has been involved in the successful defence of Judicial Review proceedings against a client involving complex jurisdictional issues along with vessel arrestment proceedings. Seonaid has regularly prepared and presented training to a wide variety of clients. Seonaid is an active member of FOIL Scotland.

Weightmans LLP

Sheelagh Cooley

Sheelagh is a Partner in the Real Estate Division who specialises in Real Estate Finance, acting for many major financial institutions and lenders and also provides advice to borrowers on their funding requirements and associated documentation. Sheelagh also undertakes a range of real estate work such as acquisitions, disposals, and all aspects of leasing work. Sheelagh is listed as an “Up and coming” lawyer in the 2021 Chambers Directory. Having spent time on secondment to a City of London firm in 2006, Sheelagh has significant experience of acting on large portfolio and multi-jurisdictional finance work, gained both during her time on secondment and subsequently. Sheelagh is also regularly involved with insolvency and restructuring, acting for a range of insolvency practitioners and banks in, for example, reviewing security packages, advising, on real estate strategy and disposals. Her recent notable transactions include: acting for lender in relation to £12 million refinance of mixed use development site in Central Scotland; acting for borrower in relation to £28 million refinance in relation to a significant student accommodation development in central Edinburgh; acting for High street lender in £40m refinance of major national logistics company; acting for lender in £1.3 million asset finance deal involving materials being supplied for major infrastructure project in Scotland; acting for lender in £8m refinance of renewable energy company including multiple wind farm sites in Scotland acting for borrower in Scottish aspects of UK wide refinance of onshore wind portfolio acting for major lender in £3 million financing of open space land management company and; acting for residential development client in disposal of significant portfolio of their UK properties.

Shoosmiths

Shona Frame

Partner

CMS

Simon Catto

Simon is head of the dispute resolution team in Scotland and a solicitor advocate. He regularly handles complex and high value cases in both Sheriff Court and the Court of Session with a particular focus on commercial, contractual, insolvency and sports related disputes. Simon specialises in the full range of commercial, contractual and insolvency disputes. His clients range from insolvency practitioners, banks and public limited companies to small privately owned companies and partnerships. Clients also include UK football clubs and professional sportsmen in the fields of football and athletics. Simon is the appointed solicitor member of the board of the Scottish Court Service. He is also a member of the firm’s Scottish and UK managing boards.

Addleshaw Goddard

Simon Dawes

Legal Director

Shoosmiths

Simon Rae

DLA Piper

Steph Innes

Steph is a partner in the Technology, Media and Telecoms practice based in the Firm's Glasgow office. She advises UK and international clients on commercial contracts, intellectual property transactions and strategy, technology projects and data privacy matters across various sectors, including engineering, technology, retail, financial services, food and drink, and life sciences. Having trained at the Firm, Steph spent more than 10 years in the TMT team before taking up a role with a FTSE-250 global engineering company for five years. Her in-house experience as Head of Group Legal allows her to bring a commercial view, pragmatism and a solid understanding of the client's perspective to her advice. Steph is qualified in Scotland and has also passed the New York Bar Exam. She has been a member of the Law Society's Technology Law and Practice Committee, and tutors in Commercial Contracts at the University of Glasgow. She has been recognized as a rising star by Legal 500 and as most notable by Managing IP.

Dentons

Stephen Phillips

Partner

CMS

Steve Edgecombe

DLA Piper