Specialists face off in talent show

Published on Sunday 28 February 2010 21:52

WITH just weeks to go until the winners are revealed at the Scott & Co Scottish Legal Awards, today we examine the contenders in one of the most hotly contested categories – the Pilgrim Systems specialist lawyer of the year.

As law firms seek to gain commercial advantage in an increasingly competitive legal marketplace, the experience and talent of specialist lawyers is a valuable commodity. The array of talent contained within the shortlist of finalists displays excellence in a wide range of legal areas, from private client work to the purchase and sale of ships.

"OK, it's not the Oscars but lawyers are more renowned for fighting amongst themselves rather than recognising each others' special skills and abilities," says Graham Walker on his nomination for his work at Road Traffic Law. "I was delighted to be shortlisted, but for my firm this event has been a great opportunity to meet with other firms and develop new business opportunities. I wish the other finalists luck. I am looking forward to the lunch and entertainment from comedian Kevin Bridges."

Alison MacNeil is an associate in the private client team of Miller Samuel based in Glasgow. She is a dual-qualified solicitor and has a specialism in charity law. "I think it is one of the most interesting and diverse categories," she says. "All the finalists are winners and I am happy to be in contention. It will be one of the hardest categories for the judges as all the finalists have made and make distinctive and diverse contributions to legal practice in Scotland."

An Edinburgh University graduate, Ed Watt is a partner in HBJ Gateley Wareing's shipping and transport department. He has a specialism in ship sales and purchases as well as all aspects of financing and registration and negotiating offshore industry contracts.

He, too, expresses his delight at his nomination, adding: "It is an honour to be recognised for my work in a very niche area such as shipping law. The past year has been a very good one for this part of our business, with the international sale and purchase projects upon which I am advising still going strong, and we are also seeing a significant increase in activity in the domestic vessel market required to service offshore renewable energy projects."

Karyn Watt is a partner in Anderson Strathern's construction and projects team. She has 23 years of construction industry experience and is an accredited specialist by the Law Society as well as being New York Bar qualified.

"I am absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for the specialist lawyer of the year award," she says. "Anderson Strathern and I have worked on some very high-profile, ground-breaking projects over the past 12 months and being nominated is a recognition of all our hard work."

Making up the finalists are Iain Nisbet, of the Govan Law Centre (GLC) and Andrew Rigby of Brodies. Mr Nisbet is a partner at GLC and head of its national Education Law Unit, which he set up in 2002 soon after joining GLC. He acts for parents and pupils in education cases involving discrimination or additional support needs, but also offers training or advice on all aspects of education law to education bodies and schools.

Mr Rigby has been nominated for his work in the field of outsourcing law, first making his name as a technology law specialist in a series of large scale IT infrastructure projects for financial institutions.

Elsewhere, the contribution made by paralegals to the running of firms will be recognised by the Scottish Paralegal Association paralegal of the year prize. Here two outstanding nominees will face off for the award.

Sarah Chambers of Archibald Campbell & Harley has worked in the legal sector for more than 14 years, taking her qualifications after joining the firm and now working as a senior paralegal in the firm's affordable housing team. The firm says she is "extremely personable, easy to communicate with and highly regarded by clients and colleagues".

Her competition comes from Mary Ann Swan of Nicholas J Scullion & Co, Hamilton, where she is a conveyancing paralegal. Nicholas J Scullion snr says: "I would like to thank Mary Anne on behalf of the firm for her outstanding achievement. We are delighted that her professionalism, hard work and dedication have been recognised at a national level."

&#149 The Scott & Co Scottish Legal Awards lunch takes place on 19 March. Limited tickets are available, book by visiting www.thelegalawards.com or e-mailing [e-mail]. Tickets cost 95+VAT or 900+VAT for a table of ten.