With ‘experience, knowledge, and confidence in equal measures’, Brodies LLP engages in a broad spectrum of domestic and cross-border disputes spanning industries such as oil and gas, corporate, food and drink, and sports. Iain Rutherford is an ‘exceptional litigator’ who is highly reputed for his IP, IT, and energy expertise, and he co-leads the practice with Stephen Goldie, who frequently advises on high-value contractual interpretation disputes. Joyce Cullen is a seasoned solicitor advocate who handles financial services, professional regulatory, and employment related litigation, while Craig Watt focuses on international disputes and contractual litigation. The firm features a strong team of senior associates including Fiona Chute, who concentrates on Court of Session litigation and alternative dispute resolution, as well as IP and IT specialist Monica Connolly.

CMS is recognised for its strong capabilities in the energy and financial services sectors, adeptly managing a wide array of disputes including contractual claims, shareholder disputes, and judicial review. The department is led by Colin Hutton, praised as ‘one of the finest strategic litigators of his generation’, who particularly focuses on collective redress cases related to mass harm events such as data breaches. Graeme MacLeod specialises in commercial litigation and professional negligence matters before the Court of Session. Harriet Munro brings expertise in professional indemnity claims within the construction and renewable energy sectors. Valerie Allan focuses on dispute management and resolution in the energy, construction, and infrastructure sectors. Senior associate Rory Thomson is known for his effective representation of professionals, financial institutions, and their insurers. Alison Gow retired from the practice in November 2023.

Pinsent Masons LLP boasts an ‘extremely experienced team’ with specialists across the banking, financial regulation, property, IT, and other sectors. The department is spearheaded by Joanne Gillies, who advises insolvency practitioners and corporates on distressed debt and recoveries. Jim Cormack KC, a highly reputed solicitor advocate, chairs the firm’s global risk advisory services group, bringing significant expertise in IP, IT, and media. Jacqueline Harris is seasoned in representing clients at all levels in the Scottish Courts, with a particular focus on product liability cases. Based in Aberdeen, Bruce Craig is well-placed to handle disputes in offshore energy and shipping. Laura Crilly is another key member of the team, specialising in financial services and pensions disputes.

Addleshaw Goddard fields a ‘strong team of experienced and very capable solicitors’ that adeptly handle contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, procurement challenges, and fraud claims. Simon Catto helms the disputes practice, bringing expertise in breach of contract and warranty claims. Douglas Blyth contributes his extensive experience in managing contract, shareholder, and boardroom disputes, while Lynsey Walker is known for her regular appearances in Sheriff Court and Court of Session actions. Claire Thornber focuses her practice on commercial property disputes and insolvency litigation.

Burness Paull LLP features a ‘highly efficient and effective’ team proficient in managing commercial disputes across the energy, real estate, and telecoms sectors, the latter being an area in which practice head Gary Moffat excels. Joanna Fulton specialises in product liability and product safety matters, bringing substantial experience in group litigation. Jody Crockett heads the firm’s English commercial disputes team from Glasgow, with a focus on High Court litigation and international arbitration. Stephen Farrell was elevated to partner in August 2023, supporting the firm’s real estate litigation and sports practices.

Shepherd and Wedderburn‘s ‘fantastic’ commercial disputes team serves a diverse client base that includes publicly listed companies, multinational corporations, trustees, and individuals. The group is led by John MacKenzie, a seasoned solicitor advocate with expertise in intellectual property and IT matters. Iain Drummond handles disputes in the contractual, negligence, and construction areas, and Gillian Carty is an expert in banking, finance, and insolvency litigation. Matt Phillip and Carly Duckett offer experience in breach of contract claims and shareholder disputes, enhancing the team’s capability to handle complex commercial challenges. The team recently saw the retirement of Elaine Brailsford from the partnership, who continues to support the firm as a consultant.

Harper Macleod LLP offers significant experience in handling contractual, shareholder, and post-M&A disputes, with increased instructions in group litigation. Practice head Sandy Hastie, praised as ‘one of the top commercial litigators in Scotland’, excels at corporate and shareholder litigation, handling disputes in the healthcare, energy, and financial services sectors. David Kerr manages complex post-M&A, tax, and banking disputes, E-Ming Fong brings expertise to corporate disputes and intellectual property matters, while John McHugh focuses on contractual disputes.

With Innes Clark at the helm, Morton Fraser MacRoberts is well-versed in managing company, professional liability, IP, and procurement disputes. Julie Hamilton handles a broad range of commercial disputes through negotiation, mediation, and litigation, and Richard McMeeken is an ‘impressive litigator’ who specialises in commercial contracts, shareholder disputes, and warranty claims. Nicola Ross focuses her practice on company and partnership disputes as well as contentious insolvency issues. Leon Breakey and legal director Lynsay Cargill are noted for their active courtroom presence, regularly representing clients in the Court of Session and Sheriff Courts.

Acting for Scottish, UK-wide and international clients, Aberdein Considine’s practice encompasses disputes concerning commercial contracts, partnerships, and intellectual property litigation. Euan McSherry, leading the department, offers ‘extensive commercial experience’ in the retail, food and drink, and sport industries. Meanwhile, Ross Webb focuses on finance litigation, contractual disputes, and commercial debt recovery, regularly appearing in Sheriff Courts and the Court of Session.

The ‘excellent commercial litigation practice’ at Anderson Strathern is a popular choice for listed companies, family businesses, and government agencies. Tom McEntegart, who now heads the department following Fraser Geddes’s appointment as chair of the firm, offers significant experience in retail and commercial lending disputes. Katrina Lumsdaine is skilled in multi-party claims, and Gillian Murray’s expertise includes contractual and delictual claims. At the director level, other key lawyers include Scott Flannigan and Mary Frances O’Neill. Alistair Dean and Gillian Jamieson left the firm in August 2023, and Michael Collins joined in March 2024 from BTO Solicitors LLP.

With Grant Hunter at the helm, BTO Solicitors LLP handles litigation arising out of corporate and commercial arrangements, including shareholder, post-M&A, and boardroom disputes. Supporting Scottish, UK, and multinational clients, Will Cole has extensive experience litigating in senior courts. Tim Edward joined the practice from MBM Commercial in November 2023, bringing significant experience in insolvency and company disputes. Angus Wood supports shareholders and directors through partnership, breach of duty, and derivative actions.

Led by the highly renowned Sheila Webster, Davidson Chalmers Stewart is adept at handling a broad range of contractual disputes and professional negligence claims. Magnus Miller left the firm in June 2024.

Utilising its extensive global network, Dentons offers support to Scottish and international blue-chip clients on a variety of commercial litigation issues. Practice co-leader Philip Knight joined in September 2023 from his former position as head of litigation at Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP, bringing a wealth of experience advising clients in the retail, energy, and banking sectors. He jointly leads the Scottish practice with Craig Neilson, who operates from the London and Edinburgh offices and focuses on financial services disputes and regulation.

DLA Piper’s Scottish litigation and regulatory division, under the leadership of Naomi Pryde, advises on litigation matters across the commercial goods, retail, real estate, and other sectors. The group assists corporations, financial institutions, and private equity houses in both domestic and cross-border disputes, including contract and IP disagreements.

DWF routinely advises on disputes such as commercial contracts, corporate insolvency, and professional negligence claims. Lauren Rae spearheads the team, offering substantial experience in real estate litigation, contractual disputes, and international arbitration matters. The dispute resolution practice is also home to director Ursula Carrie, who advises on contentious property and planning issues.

‘Well-placed to take on high-value and complex litigation’, the commercial litigation team, led by Rosie Walker, at Gilson Gray is particularly adept at handling commercial contract disputes in the Court of Session. Walker is additionally experienced in handling shareholder, property, and corporate disputes. The department also includes Alex Garioch, a solicitor advocate with expertise in contentious construction and procurement disputes.

Lindsays fields a ‘highly capable’ litigation team that handles commercial, regulatory, sporting, and agricultural disputes. With a strong focus on SME clients, department head John Bett also services a range of football clubs, high-net-worth individuals, and larger corporations. Brent Haywood’s commercial disputes practice includes contractual, company, and intellectual property issues.

The ‘highly knowledgeable’ group at Shoosmiths, under the joint leadership of Stuart Clubb and Andrew Foyle, is adept at handling a broad range of disputes, including commercial contract and shareholder disagreements. Clubb’s practice includes commercial, insolvency, real estate, and professional negligence litigation, while Foyle specialises in all aspects of banking and financial services litigation, with experience in commercial recoveries litigation.

With the Aberdeen-based Robert McDiarmid at the helm, Stronachs LLP is well-placed to handle commercial disputes in the energy and construction industries, representing clients in the Court of Session, Sheriff Courts, and various alternative dispute resolution procedures. In Inverness, Colin Sandilands supports businesses and investors in sectors including agriculture, real estate, and logistics.