Acting for a mixture of private sector clients, public authorities and private individuals, Harper Macleod LLP is often called upon to handle commercial tenant disputes, including dilapidations and leases, as well as issues pertaining to title boundaries and conditions in rural and agricultural property-related matters. The team is led by the Glasgow-based Andrew Upton and sits within the firm’s wider litigation practice led by Sandy Hastie from Edinburgh. John McHugh is a popular choice for owners of shopping centre.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘A very strong team with dedicated specialists in property litigation.’

  • ‘Andrew Upton is an excellent lawyer with impeccable instincts - knows when to twist and when to stick.'

  • 'Jennifer Grosvenor is very impressive - pragmatic but not scared to push for her clients.’
  • ‘They are a well-resourced firm with impressive litigation experience.'

  • ‘John McHugh is an astute and commercially minded litigator who combines a practical mindset with a strong legal understanding.’

Key clients

  • Scottish Government
  • Forestry and Land Scotland
  • Energiekontor UK Ltd
  • National Car Parks Ltd
  • William Hill Organisation Limited
  • Halfords Limited
  • Cairngorms National Park Authority
  • J.G. Martin Plant Hire Limited
  • The Glenmorangie Company Limited
  • The Highland Council

Work highlights

  • Acting for Energiekontor UK Ltd in a £10m dispute with a contractor regarding access to land to carry out operations under a contract entered into by an agent acting without proper authority.
  • Defended Denny Enterprises International Ltd and its director in Court of Session proceedings for payment of damages valued at £450k.
  • Acting for Chigwell Estates Limited in its dispute with its tenant regarding whether the lease between them has been properly terminated by the tenant.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Harper Macleod LLP
Partner Andrew advises clients across both public and private sectors in relation to all litigious matters. His experience incorporates litigation at Sheriff Court and Court of Session level, principally contractual and property disputes, as well as actions at both the Scottish Land Court and the Lands Tribunal for Scotland. Andrew regularly represents clients in the Sheriff Courts throughout Scotland, including Commercial Actions, and at the Lands Tribunal for Scotland and Scottish Land Court. Through his experience in complex litigations, Andrew has developed forensic analytical skills, reviewing substantial volumes of documents and preparing reports on relevant facts, legal issues and prospects of success. He also has experience representing clients in quasi-judicial proceedings, including making written and oral representations to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland and various disciplinary panels of regulatory bodies. Recent work highlights include: Advising Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority in their successful appeal to the Sheriff Appeal Court against a decision to quash an Access Rights Enforcement Notice under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (reported case: Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority v Renyana Stahl Anstalt, 2017 S.L.T. (Sh Ct) 138), and the subsequent appeal to the Inner House of the Court of Session (reported case: Renyana Stahl Anstalt v Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, 2018 S.L.T. 331). Successfully advising and representing Inverclyde Council in an appeal to the Sheriff Principal on the validity of pre-irritancy notices (reported case: Inverclyde Council v Prince of Wales Bar, 2015 Hous. L.R. 14). Advising Scottish Natural Heritage in their successful defense of an appeal to the Scottish Land Court by an owner of fishing rights concerning their refusal of consent to repair and replacement of croys and revetments in the River Tummel (reported case: Tummel Valley Leisure Limited v Scottish Natural Heritage, 2015 S.L.T. (Land Ct.) 117).

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Andrew Upton, Sandy Hastie

Other key lawyers

John McHugh, Carolyn Morgan, Jennifer Grosvenor