Shepherd and Wedderburn possesses a team of ‘highly skilled professionals who are the top of their game’ and the group ’provides excellent advice in distressed situations’. The firm demonstrates expertise across the full array of restructuring and insolvency issues and is well geared to act for a range of clearing banks and financial institutions, insolvency practitioners, directors and distressed companies. Spearheading the team is Fiona McKerrell who is equally skilled acting for both administrators and company directors in sensitive, often multi-jurisdictional insolvencies, while Gillian Carty takes the reins on contentious mandates. Suzanne Knowles ‘is an experienced and trusted adviser’ who is well versed across a range of sectors including the real estate, retail and charity spaces, and Laura McMillan’s ‘attention to detail and efficient turnaround of work makes her the director of choice’ in relation to contentious instructions. Serena Weir also comes recommended.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The insolvency team has a long established team who provide excellent advice in distressed situations.’

  • ‘Fiona McKerrell and her team continue to be the best specialist corporate restructuring offering in Scotland. The depth of experience and understanding of the practical and commercial issues involved in sizeable corporate insolvency and restructuring assignments is unapparelled.’

  • ‘The are highly skilled professionals who are the top of their game.'

  • ‘S&W are a great team. They are technically excellent and really know the law in this area. They are also commercial in their approach, very proactive, 100% reliable and very pleasant and easy to work with. Nothing is too much trouble. Stand out partner is Gillian Carty.’

  • ‘Suzanne Knowles is an experienced and trusted adviser who has provided invaluable support and guidance for our ongoing project. ’

  • ‘S&W have a great team over a number of service lines. They have strength throughout the firm and call upon subject matter experts whenever needed.’

  • ‘Laura McMillan's attention to detail and efficient turnaround of work makes her the director of choice to handle the complex work we have. Laura is quick to understand the legal issues and implications of a problem and present well reasoned and detailed recommendations which her clients can follow.’

Key clients

  • Interpath Advisory
  • FRP Advisory
  • Ernst and Young
  • BDO
  • Alvarez & Marsal
  • Grant Thornton
  • Manolete Partners
  • Henderson Loggie
  • Leonard Curtis
  • Azets

Work highlights

  • Acted for Azets as administrators of Bridges Antonine LLP in relation to a sale of the Antonine Shopping Centre in Cumbernauld – a trading retail centre with over 40 retail units.
  • Advised the directors of Hunter Boot Limited in connection with the administration of the company in June 2023.
  • Provided Scots law advice to a group of companies on a landmark complex multijurisdictional strategy involving an English law scheme of arrangement and a parallel Dutch WHOA.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Fiona McKerrell

Other key lawyers

Gillian Carty, Suzanne Knowles, Laura McMillan, Serena Weir