With an ‘excellent pool of lawyers’, CMS supports public and private sector clients in energy, infrastructure, and town centre regeneration projects across Scotland and the UK. Robin Hutchison brings extensive experience in offshore wind farm projects, making him a key asset in energy-related planning. He co-leads the practice with Mark McMurray, who offers specialist knowledge in compulsory purchases, compensation, and heritage planning. The team additionally benefits from Keith Campbell’s expertise in consenting regimes. June Gilles retired in June 2023.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘This is a strong planning team with complementary skills and ready access to a wider range of related skills including in-depth knowledge and experience of commercial conveyancing in Scotland. There is also strong in-house support from the litigation department, which is experienced in public law remedies and proceedings in the Lands Tribunal for Scotland.’
‘Robin Hutchison has considerable expertise in the environmental aspects of planning law and practice, with in-depth knowledge concerning the legal requirements for renewable energy projects and increasing involvement in litigation.'
'Mark McMurray is experienced in a wide range of planning and compulsory purchase work including litigation and planning inquiries. He has the ability to draw out the best from a multidisciplinary team which is often necessary in complex planning and related cases.’
‘The team presents as highly experienced and tackles a wide range of planning and environmental issues at the forefront of energy development, particularly renewables. The team has excellent connections with their clients, who clearly have confidence in the firm's ability to bring together expertise to deal with often urgent questions of law and practice.'
‘Robin Hutchison and Mark McMurray have a strong background in energy transactions dealing with a wide range of planning and consent issues. When instructing counsel, there is a good team spirit and excellent attention to detail.’
‘Mark McMurray and Keith Campbell are both reliable, conscientious, and attentive.'
‘CMS has an excellent pool of lawyers to choose from when it comes to planning issues and a lot of relevant experience working on big projects for big clients’
‘Mark McMurray is very experienced and has an excellent list of clients with a variety of specialist needs. Kathryn Nolin and Keith Campbell are extremely organised and helpful.’
Key clients
- abrdn (formerly Aberdeen Standard)
- Amp Energy
- Bakkafrost (formerly The Scottish Salmon Company)
- City of Edinburgh Council
- Community Windpower Limited
- Copenhagen Offshore Partners / Highland Wind Limited
- East Dunbartonshire Council
- EDF Energy
- Electricity Supply Board (ESB)
- Energiekontor UK Limited
- Falkirk Council
- Flotation Energy
- Hargreaves Services (Blindwells) Limited and Hargreaves Land Limited
- Inch Cape Offshore Limited / Red Rock Power
- Kincardine Offshore Wind Limited
- Kirsty Young & Nick Jones / Sunax Limited
- Landsec
- National Grid
- North Lanarkshire Council
- Nuveen Real Estate
- Renfrewshire Council
- Resources Unlimited LLP
- Scottish Enterprise
- ScottishPower Renewables and Shell – ScotWind joint ventures
- SSE plc
- Stirling Council
- Trump International
- Vattenfall
- Vengada Estates Limited
Work highlights
- Advised SSE on all aspects of the planning and consenting of the Dogger Bank Zone.
- Advised Nuveen Real Estate on all planning, compulsory purchase and roads matters for the £1bn redevelopment of the St James Quarter.
- Advised Falkirk Council on the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Robin Hutchison, Mark McMurray