In Praise of Strategy and Teamwork

4 | SPECIAL REPORT The Scotsman THURSDAY 3 APRIL 2014 The Scotsman SPECIAL REPORT | 5 With two team awards, Harper Macleod led the field but other firms also excelled, writes David Lee In praise of strategy and Shoosmiths’ Richard Murray, partner, and Marika Franceschi, family teamwork law specialist, with Lorna Jack of the Law Society of Scotland ARPER MACLEOD’S habit of tion of business analytics. “This allowed Shoosmiths’ skills constantly winning awards has us to make well-informed decisions in become something of a cliché in line with our values,” says Darroch. “Back the legal profession, with regu- in 2009, we saw retraction in certain busi- Hlar jokes about them needing to increase ness areas and went through a lot of re- a win for clients the size of their trophy cabinet year on training as a result.” year. This approach certainly appears to Harper Macleod This year, the firm is 25 years old – and have worked, with every area of the busi- picked up the Family Law Team needs space for two more prizes, after ness showing growth in 2013. Darroch PRIVATE clients of law firms can the personal service of lawyers in of the Year and picking up the Family Law Team of the describes it as “a fantastic year on all levels be cautious types – and when Shoo- Edinburgh, with the strength and DX Firm of the smiths merged with Archibald, support of a big branded firm and Year and DX Firm of the Year. The Scottish – client retention, attracting new clients Year awards. Inset Legal Awards judges’ citation for the top and bringing new talent into the business below, Kirsty Campbell & Harley in 2012, there its massive infrastructure behind prize sums up the firm well: “A strong and – leading to an increase in growth, turno- Macpherson was the potential for feathers to them.” impressive organisation which over the ver and profitability.” Pictures: Rob McDougall be ruffled. How would private The approach clearly paid off as past 12 months has been busy, confident In addition, the “Glasgow firm” has www.robmcdougall.com clients of a long-established Edin- Shoosmiths picked up the Hotel and highly successful in the implementa- thrived in the east. It hired the Infrastruc- burgh law firm react to their busi- Missoni Private Client Team of the tion of their key strategic plan, delivering ture & Projects team from McClure Nai- ness being handled by one of the Year award, with judges noting an impressive set of results that counters smith, including Partners Euan Pirie and UK’s top 40 legal marques, and to the firm’s “impressive multi-de- the prevailing trend in many other Euan Mitchell, boosted its Energy and Nat- of necessity, not efficiency or improve- steadily grown in size and reputation and “Working across the sector, with atradi- land came out on top, impressing the that, as well as raising £100,000, the firm’s the Archibald, Campbell & Harley partment private client offering”, Scottish legal firms.” ural Resources Team with partner Steven ment.” we were thrilled to pick up this award. By tional energy providers and, to a greaater “We operate in a judges with “an excellent body of staff also devoted a huge amount of time. name disappearing as the transi- including services from family Busy. Confident. Successful. Strategic. Brown and added Ken Ross as a commer- This, he says, means Scottish firms have its very nature our work is extremely per- extent in recent years, with pdevelopers evidence which included a highly Shepherd+Wedderburn was praised for tional ACH Shoosmiths became law specialist Marika Franceschi. Impressive. Two of those adjectives are cial partner from Balfour+Manson and had to look closely at themselves and to sonal and we pride ourselves in providing and landowners involved in renewaable highly competitive, varied caseload of litigation work”. its firm-wide approach to developing a simply Shoosmiths? The words “integrated and ho- perhaps especially instructive about why Chris Noble, who will work in Real Estate “invest, enhance and improve what we clients with the best advice possible, guid- energy, allows us to understand the coom- very professional Other team awards were taken free legal advice clinic in partnership with “We handled that process very listic” were also used and Speed Harper Macleod does so well – confident and Construction across the central belt, do”. Darroch says HM continues to do this, ing them through often difficult times by plex nature of securing deals which mmeet by Digby Brown LLP (Commu- local Citizen Advice Bureaux, with the carefully, as there was a potential says this sums up the way the firm and strategic. One might also amend in a lateral hire from DWF. with announcements imminent of fur- utilising the full range of options open to the objectives of all those involved. I be- sector and to receive nity Contribution), McEwan Faculty of Advocates’ Free Legal Services for it to be unsettling,” says Richard works: “It’s about a good combi- “busy” to “business-like” – because Harper Then there is the small matter of the ther lateral partner hires. “It’s not about them. It is very gratifying to see this recog- lieve the judging panel clearly irecognised this accolade means a Fraser Legal (Millar & Bryce Unit highly commended in the Pro Bono Murray, a partner and wealth pro- nation of legal skills and business Macleod’s success has very much been Commonwealth Games, to which Harper being over-confident because you never nised by our peers.” the important role of the law firm in ccur- Innovation Award), category. tection specialist with more than skills and how you apply that to built on being a highly professional Macleod acts as legal adviser. Darroch says know what’s round the corner – but we Harper Macleod has previously won rent energy projects, as the arenewable great deal to all of us” Shepherd+Wedderburn Dundas & Wilson triumphed in the 20 years of private client experi- clients in a tailored way, with a business, and not just a law firm. the firm sees the Games as a great oppor- are genuinely firing on all cylinders.” the energy award, but this year the Wolffe sector is one of the fastest changing elegal Kirsty Macpherson, (Pro Bono) and Dundas trainee employer category with “excellent ence. “But the team had been in degree of empathy.” Chief executive Martin Darroch insists tunity to engage with people. He admits it This includes the Family Law team Design Energy Team of the Year was taken landscapes in which to operate.” Gillespie & Wilson (Barr Print- evidence” demonstrating how well it sup- place a long time so it was business Anne Pacey, a partner specialis- there is no magic formula that explains has not all been plain sailing (a favoured – partners Alan Susskind, Janice Jones, by Gillespie Macandrew, who pipped last Gillespie Macandrew is dinvolved iinn Macandrew ers Trainee Employer ports trainees and how it improved this as usual – with Shoosmiths’ experi- ing in residential property, wills the firm’s success. “We are not special,” pastime of chairman Lorne Crerar) with Amanda Masson and associate Alexis Mill- year’s Firm of the Year, Davidson Chalm- numerous developments in both hyydro of the Year). offering in 2013. ence and back-up the icing on the and power of attorney, says the he says. “We operate in an appropriate “big challenges from some unexpected er. Despite all Harper Macleod’s successes, ers. Kirsty Macpherson, Head of Energy, and wind, at the development, sdesignign The judges Judges felt McEwan Fraser was a de- cake. We were able to enhance our win shows Shoosmiths under- business-like manner and take the right new players from down south” entering this was its first recognition in this area, Climate Change & Natural Resources at and construction stages, and the djudges praised Digby served winner in the innovation category, service to clients and, without ex- stands the long game: “Private cli- decisions in terms of how we engage with the legal market. built on the range of options laid down Gillespie Macandrew, says: “We operate praised the firm’s excellent case studiess. Brown’s tremen- for its “high impact technological contri- ception, they have been delighted.” ent work is not about quick fixes, clients and how we treat our people.” Darroch adds: “While we wel- by the firm’s accredited specialists – in- in a highly competitive, very professional The hardest-fought team award wwas dous efforts for a bution to the conveyancing process for Janette Speed, partner and Head it’s about building relationships If the firm has found a way to stand out, come competition, this has led to very cluding negotiation, mediation and col- sector and to receive this accolade means a Litigation Team of the Year, with no fewwer number of good which they are now patenting intellectual of Office for Shoosmiths in Edin- and understanding what clients he suggests, it is through its early adop- low pricing structures, sometimes born out laboration. Susskind says: “Our team has great deal to all of us. than seven finalists. Irwin Mitchell cScot- causes – and noted property rights”. burgh, adds: “Continuity was key – need at different ages and stages.” Awinning combination. Whether aprivate individual, commercial body or public sector organisation, you will find us expert, experienced and above all approachable. GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND Winners of the Residential Property and Employment Law Team of the Year 2014. Managing Partner Scotland LawFirm Regional LawFirm of the Year of the Year of the Year Residential Property Team of the Year Employment Team of the Year Scottish LegalAwards2014 Who’s Who LegalAwards2014 British LegalAwards2013 Scottish Legal Awards 2014 Scottish Legal Awards 2014 ABERDEEN EDINBURGH GLASGOW BRUSSELS @BrodiesLLP www.brodies.com Legal Advisers to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Legal Advisers to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Another podium ﬁ nish for Team HM LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2010*, 2006, 2006* *Harper Macleod is the only ﬁ rm to twice win Firm of the Year at both the Scottish Legal Awards and Law Awards of FAMILY TEAM OF THE YEAR Scotland in the same year.

Load more