01 Oct 2020
Aberdein Considine lawyers named among UK's finest by Legal 500
Aberdein Considine solicitors have again been ranked among the best in the UK by one of the world’s most respected legal guides.
Family Law Partner Ruth Aberdein has today been named among the Legal 500’s ‘Leading Individuals’ - its elite list of the best lawyers practising in Great Britain today.
She is one of 27 mentions of Aberdein Considine solicitors in the newly-published 2021 guide, which ranks and rates the best lawyers in the world based on client feedback.
The firm itself is ranked across eight practice areas and for the sixth year running has been awarded coveted ‘Top Tier’ status.
The accolade is in the field of Debt Recovery – and the firm has also been recognised for its Corporate and Commercial Law, Commercial Real Estate, Commercial Litigation, Dispute Resolution, Insolvency, Private Client and Family Law work.
The partnership has a second Debt Recovery ranking in England and Wales, where it has a rapidly-expanding Litigation and Debt Recovery practice.
Managing Partner Jacqueline Law said: “These guides are highly regarded due to their independent research-based assessment of firms and we are delighted to receive this recognition.
“The glowing feedback from clients fills me with immense pride, as it represents exactly what this firm is about – high quality legal advice dispensed by solicitors and teams who really care about their clients."
Here’s what the guides said about our teams:
Corporate & Commercial
Named lawyers:
What the guide said: "Aberdein Considine’s corporate offering is well regarded for M&A, including exit strategy planning and implementation, MBOs, and start-up and young company equity fundraising. The team handles mandates in the energy, professional services, healthcare, and food and drink sectors. 'Fantastic commercial lawyer' Ritchie Whyte heads the Aberdeen practice"
One client told the guide: ‘I have been using them for different reasons for over 34 years and they have always acted in a professional and efficient manor achieving excellent results’.
Commercial Real Estate
Named lawyers:
What the guide said: "Aberdein Considine handles a broad range of commercial real estate matters, including acquisitions and disposals, finance, development and leasing. Clients include developers, retailers, banks, hotels and football clubs. Glasgow-based Paul Jennings is the overall head of the practice, with Ritchie Whyte being the name to note in Aberdeen. Anthony Quin is the key contact in Stirling."
Debt Recovery (Scotland)
Named lawyers:
What the guide said: "Working in close conjunction with the firm's financial litigation team, Aberdein Considine is well placed to assist a broad client base, including banks, asset-based lenders, building societies, debt purchasers and mortgage services, with the recovery of a wide range of assets and debt such as secured mortgages, commercial and business debt and asset-based lending recoveries. Myra Scott heads the lender services group."
One client told the guide: "The team is flexible, approachable and knowledgeable. They understand issues from a client’s point of view and offer first-class advice and service."
Debt Recovery (England & Wales)
Named lawyers:
What the guide said: "An established name in the financial services sector, Scottish law firm Aberdein Considine has a notable presence in Newcastle, where Thomas Lillie leads the lender services group and 'provides first-class advice'. The team is praised by clients for providing debt and asset recovery services to secured lenders and acts for a varied client roster of banks, asset-based lenders, building societies, debt purchasers and other lenders. The practice also has a particular strength in banking and finance litigation."
One client told the guide: "The team is always willing to offer assistance, notwithstanding how big or small the query is. The team members will deal with a standard query with as much professionalism and attention to detail as they would with a non-standard query. The partners have a broad range of knowledge and a team of solicitors and paralegals who can also provide help and advice."
Family Law
Named lawyers:
What the guide said: "Aberdein Considine’s family law team is headed up by Ruth Aberdein, whose particular expertise lies in high value separation and divorce cases, as well as in drafting pre-nuptial agreements for individuals with significant assets at stake. The firm is experienced in complex child cases, concerning child abduction, residency and contact arrangements, and allegations by one or both parties of abusive behaviour towards the children or spouse. Karl Brown is well-versed in such cases, while Leonie Burke, who joined from Brodies LLP in late 2019, is adept at handling financial provision arrangements where forensic accountancy has been required. April Campbell serves clients in the west central belt of Scotland, heading up the Glasgow team, while Isabelle Douglas is another key member of the team."
One client told the guide: "Over the course of my interaction with Aberdein Considine I met regularly with the lawyers from the practice. Within a practice covering all aspects of law, I was provided with a specialist solicitor in family law who took the time to understand my case and at every stage, provided me with clear feedback and guidance on taking my case forward to a successful conclusion. The key thing for me was that I was confident that I had top quality advice in my corner throughout the process."
Commercial Litigation
Named lawyers:
What the guide said: "Aberdein Considine's sector expertise in energy, retail, food and drink as well as hospitality attracts various high-net-worth private individuals alongside SMEs and large corporations. Team head and solicitor advocate Euan McSherry has a specialism in commercial, corporate and property litigation."
One client told the guide: "The dispute resolution team at Aberdein Considine is very knowledgeable, has strength in depth and an offering that is able to punch well above its weight. Excellent advocacy and negotiation abilities but also an ability to calmly deliver advice even in challenging circumstances."
Insolvency & Corporate Recovery
Named lawyers:
What the guide said: "Aberdein Considine is noted for its focus on the real estate sector, where it handles insolvency and corporate recovery matters. Clients include high-net-worth individuals, SMEs, large corporations, insolvency practitioners and financial institutions. Ross Webb in Edinburgh is the head of the team. David Orr was promoted to partner."
Private Client (Personal Tax, Trusts and Executries)
Named lawyers:
What the guide said: "Aberdein Considine has ramped up its focus on private client work in recent years with a series of hires including James MacKinnon and Aileen Entwistle, who joined from Gillespie Macandrew LLP and Anderson Strathern respectively. The firm is notable in that it has 18 offices across Scotland, making it more accessible for prospective clients. The team handles wills, trusts, executry estates, estate and succession planning, and also has expertise in complex inheritance tax matters and cross-border matters. MacKinnon heads the team in Edinburgh and the Lothians; Entwistle leads the Glasgow department, while the 'extremely knowledgeable' Ryan Fox is north east practice head."
One client told the guide: "I used Aberdein Considine for executory work on my late father’s estate. Aberdein Considine have in-house expertise in an extensive range of disciplines that together enable them to provide a complete executory service. These disciplines include finance, personal tax, inheritance tax, conveyancing. Key to the team’s success was the establishment of a clear timeline of activities required to complete the executory process, identifying the risks to the timeline, and providing clear, comprehensive and timely updates."