Sport
HARPER Macleod, whose sports law experience is, says Legal 500, "unparalleled", has strengths in regulatory work and disciplinary and constitutional issues.
Rod McKenzie is "a dedicated, enthusiastic and, above all, technically skilled lawyer", Michael Nicholson is noted for litigation expertise.
The Scottish Rugby Union and Hibernian FC are clients of Anderson Strathern, where John Kerr advised Sportscotland and the Scottish Institute for Sport on ethics and child protection issues.
Dundas & Wilson, which acted for Rangers FC on a rights issue, is strong in sports sponsorship deals.
Colin Massie is "a smart commercial lawyer with excellent client skills", Graeme Henry "a great person to have at the other end of a phone line".
Henderson Boyd Jackson, where AlistairDuff''s skills in representing footballers are admired, is known, says Chambers, for "disciplinary, commercial and disputes work, both within football and rugby".
Andrew Sleigh leads at Burness, which is seen by Legal 500 as "strong in advising on judicial reviews". The firm acted on disputes over the termination of players' contracts.
National hockey and rugby bodies are clients of Shepherd+ Wedderburn, which advised the Ladies Golf Union on commercial exploitation of IP rights.
MacRoberts' employment law expertise enables it to advise on the sacking of football managers.
Stephen Miller, now the SFA's legal chairman, handles appeals against decisions by that body.
McClure Naismith, strong in commercial work, acts for sporting bodies and sponsors. Euan Duncan's group advised Bank of Scotland on its sponsorship of the Scottish Premier League.
Tax
MACLAY Murray & Spens remains the leader in corporate tax. Gwen Souter heads a group which, says Legal 500, advises on acquisitions, MBOs and property and acted in the sales of Ben Sherman and Macrae Food Group.
Souterwins praise for her "technical ability and practical outlook", while Martyn Jones is "a valued corporate tax adviser and acknowledged expert in VAT".
Another admired figure is Isobel d'Inverno, MacRoberts' director of corporate tax. Peter Trotter also excels in a team which advised A McLelland & Son on tax aspects of its sale to Lactalis.
At McGrigors, Ian Gordon's group offers, says Legal 500, "excellent support on corporate and property-related matters". Gordon implements tax-efficient structures for project financing, while Victoria Linford has "a burgeoning reputation as an effective tax adviser".
Nial Tosh, "technically strong and clear in his advice", leads a practice at Dickson Minto which, says Chambers, "has capitalised on the thriving private equity market in London and Scotland, advising private equity houses and venture capital start-ups".
Susan Hoyle, "commercially aware and prepared to work hard for her clients in negotiations", leads a practice at Dundas & Wilson that helped set up a property unit trust for Scottish Widows Investment Partnership.
Alan Barr's team at Brodies advised an investment firm on VAT recovery and a property investor on the disposal of an investment company. Burness, led by John Rafferty, advised Kosaido on the sale of a St Andrews golf course and hotel and Royal Bank of Scotland on several property deals.
Shepherd+Wedderburn, where Jenny Cottrell heads the tax group, is seen by Legal 500 as "very good for property-related tax advice" and has strong performers in Stephen Hubner and Malcolm Rust.
Transport
IT is hard to compare the law directories on transport, as Chambers covers only shipping. However, both award Henderson Boyd Jackson a top ranking. Legal 500 describes it as "a market leader in both maritime and admiralty matters". James Lowe is an expert in ship finance and sale and purchase.
Another firm strong in shipping is Mackinnons which, says Chambers, has links with Aberdeen's port and harbour authorities. Keith MacRae, an expert in personal injury claims and casualty investigation, is "extremely able and knowledgeable".
Brodies displayed its transport skills in the re-let of the ScotRail franchise. Duncan McLean, retained by the Scottish Executive, is advising on reform of the law of ship arrest.
At Maclay Murray & Spens, AndrewMeakin's practice is, says Legal 500, "impressively strong" in litigation and financing and counts Lithgow's and SEPA as clients.
Dundas & Wilson acted for Transport Initiatives over Edinburgh congestion charges and Edinburgh City Council on the extension of its controlled parking zone.
Having recruited Alexia Henriksen, an aviation and shipping expert, Morton Fraser ha now entered Legal 500's table. The firm was appointed to the shipping and aviation panel of National Australia Group. Neil Amner's group at Biggart Baillie, which gained British Transport Police Authority as a client, advises ScotRail on railway contracts, while Alastair Burrow at Tods Murray is experienced in non-contentious shipping.
Unit Trusts, OEICs and Investment Trusts
BRUCE Minto of Dickson Minto is, says Legal 500, "Scotland's undisputed master of investment trusts". AndrewTodd, Colin MacNeill and David Mitchell are other key members of a practice that helped set up venture capital trusts forAberdeen Asset Managers and Invesco Perpetual.
Philip Mackay and Michael Polson display "in-depth knowledge and accessibility" at Dundas & Wilson, which won a tender to advise Scottish Widows Investment Partnership on a new property trust.
At Maclay Murray & Spens, investment trust work and private equity funds are defined by Chambers as "twin pillars of strength" of Michael Livingston's practice.
At Tods Murray, Chris Athanas' team is "arguably the leading practice in the OEIC and unit trust sector in Scotland". The firm acted for Britannic Fund Managers in setting up Britannic UK Property Fund.
Marian Glen is "rebuilding the practice" at Shepherd+Wedderburn, while Frank Doran excels at McGrigors, which advises on retail property and venture capital funds.
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