The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Aberdein Considine lawyers named among UK’s best by The 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.
AC lawyers feature 29 times in the 2022 edition of The Legal 500, which ranks and rates the finest lawyers operating in Great Britain today.
The firm itself has been ranked across nine areas – and for the seventh year in a row 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, Commercial Real Estate (two rankings), Commercial Litigation, Dispute Resolution, Insolvency, Private Client and Family Law work.
The partnership has a second Debt Recovery ranking in England, where there is a rapidly-expanding Litigation and Debt Recovery practice.
Managing Partner Jacqueline Law said: “We are delighted to receive this recognition in the new Legal 500 guide – a guide which is highly regarded due to the independent nature of its research. “These rankings reflect the results of detailed analysis of law firm submissions along with thousands of interviews. What shines through is how much our solicitors care about their clients – and that is something we are very proud of.”
Leading Individuals
For the second year running, Head of Family Law, Ruth Aberdein, has been ranked as a leading individual, with the guide describing her as “one of the leading family lawyers in Aberdeen” and an “all-rounder in terms of children and finance”.
Four other partners in the firm’s Family Law team
– Karl Brown, Isabelle Douglas, April Campbell and Leonie Burke – were also mentioned by the guide, with Leonie being described as “very good in high-value and complex finance cases.”
Alongside the firm’s ‘Top Tier’ ranking in Debt Recovery, the firm’s Head of Lender Services, Myra Scott, was also named as a leading individual in the sector.
The guide praises Aberdein Considine for the “first-class support” it offers in the debt recovery space, and its “unsurpassed strength in representing lenders, including banks, building societies and asset-based lenders.”
Thomas Lillie, Isabelle Clough and Laura Browne are also ranked, as is Ross Webb, multiple times, for both his commercial debt recovery work and his corporate insolvency expertise.
One of the leading family lawyers in Aberdeen, an allrounder in terms of children and finance
“He always has his eye on the deal”
The firm’s Commercial Real Estate and Corporate & Business Advisory teams also received strong praise for their work with a diverse range of clients, from local authorities and national retailers, through to SMEs and owner-managed businesses.
Commercial Real Estate lawyers Paul Jennings and David Orr were praised for completing deals “efficiently and effectively”, with one client describing Paul as “one of the most commercially sensitive solicitors in the market,” adding: “he always has an eye on the deal and is willing to give the right advice even when that might be unpalatable”.
Ritchie Whyte, Jacqueline Law and Anthony Quin were noted for their Corporate and Commercial work. The guide said the department was well-known in the energy sector for handling M&A, sell-side exit strategy planning and implementation, MBOs and equity fundraising, as well as the financial services, food and drink, and healthcare sectors.
One client said: “Ritchie Whyte is technically excellent, pragmatic and personable – working with him is an extremely positive experience”.
One of the most commercially sensitive solicitors in the market, he always has an eye on the deal and is willing to give the right advice even when that might be unpalatable
Wealth of knowledge
The guide also notes the firm’s growing national reputation for matters concerning wills, trusts, executries, estates and succession planning issues.
It adds: “Aileen Entwistle in Glasgow has a track record in executry administrations; Edinburgh-based James MacKinnon focuses on tax-efficient solutions for succession planning work; while Ryan Fox, who splits his time between the firm’s Stonehaven and Aberdeen offices, has a wealth of knowledge in dealing with estate administrations.”