Harper Macleod LLP

Senior Solicitor Andrew can provide advice to employers and employees on all aspects of employment law including TUPE, restructuring and business reorganisation, redundancy, unfair dismissal, employment status, equal pay, discrimination generally, discrimination arising from disability, complex disciplinary and grievance process and settlement agreements on a frequent basis. Additionally Andrew has significant experience of drafting and revising bespoke employee-related documentation such as contracts of employment, HR policies and procedures, and employee handbooks specifically tailored to the needs of individual clients taking into account best practice and each organisations own unique culture. Andrew has successfully delivered training on employment related matters both in-house and externally to clients, including collective consultation, disciplinary investigations, absence management, mediation and discrimination. Andrew’s knowledge, experience and relatable manner mean he can advise companies and individuals at any level.

Partner Bruce specialises in employment law and heads the firm's employment law practice.  As a Law Society of Scotland Accredited Specialist, Bruce advises in relation to both contentious and non-contentious matters, acting primarily for employers along with executive and senior-level employees, including in disputes before the Employment Tribunals and Employment Appeal Tribunal.  Bruce advises on all aspects of employment law across each of the public, private and third sectors, with Bruce regularly working with clients to create and apply policy, to make decisions about risk management, with technically astute advice focussed on practical delivery of achieving objectives.  Bruce’s practice extends beyond Scotland with Bruce regularly advising our clients who have UK-wide operations and beyond.  Equalities advice is also a key feature of Bruce's practice, advising clients on compliance, culture and resolution of contentious issues, not only within the workplace but more widely, also in relation to property, goods and services.  Business immigration is an increasing area of Bruce’s practice with clients recently including businesses and individuals alike seeking Bruce’s guidance and support through planning and implementing recruitment or leave to remain issues.  Bruce edits sections on Employment Precedents for Sweet & Maxwell and authors Lexis Nexis PSL section on the Public Sector Equality Duty – Scotland.   Bruce also leads the firm’s sports law practice. In this role Bruce advises the firm’s many sports clients in relation to regulatory, disciplinary and governance matters. Clients include Scottish Rugby, for whom Bruce is the national team's lawyer, sportscotland, Scottish Swimming and Scottish Gymnastics Association. Bruce is a chairman for the SFA judicial panel and regularly chairs judicial and appellate panels further to the judicial protocol.  Bruce writes regularly on sport and the law in a number of publications and is member of the editorial board of the leading publication "Sports Law Administration and Practice". Bruce has previously undertaken lengthy secondments assisting In-House Legal Counsel to World Rugby. Bruce also coordinates the India country desk, part of Harper Macleod’s international offering.

Partner Tom specialises in intellectual property and technology related matters (including outsourcing) as well as mainstream corporate acquisitions, sales, structures, drafting and negotiating commercial arrangements, and agreements. Tom also has extensive experience within the renewable energy and sport sectors. Tom is senior partner in the firm's Intellectual Property & Technology practice and is listed in the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers. He was previously a member of the panel of independent experts appointed by Nominet UK, the UK level domain name authority, to adjudicate on domain name disputes. His experience includes: Acting for the Scottish Professional Football League (formerly the Scottish Premier League) in relation to its broadcast and sponsorship agreements since 1998 including recent agreements with Sky, BT Sport, the BBC, YouTube, BBC ALBA and overseas rights distributor MP & Silva. Advising Glasgow 2014 Ltd in relation to the host broadcast agreement for coverage of the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow; advising sportscotland and various sports governing bodies in relation to corporate and commercial matters. Advising the Forestry and Land Scotland in relation to various wind and hydro renewable energy initiatives and their implementation. Advising the Highlands and Islands Enterprise in relation to its £146million next generation broadband agreement with BT. Advising various agencies and directorates of the Scottish Government in relation to commercial contracts and corporate matters Advising a Scottish public body in relation to an outsourcing and shared IT services venture with several other Scottish public bodies. Advising various community organisations in relation to renewable energy projects. Advising Webhelp in relation to various outsourcing agreements to the mobile telecommunications and financial services sectors in the UK. Tom is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Intellectual Property Law.