The Law Society of Scotland and the Court of Session have recognised the experience and capabilities of two partners at Stronachs LLP, with their appointments as specialist in employment law and Solicitor Advocate.
Eric Gilligan, who leads Stronachs’ employment team has been re-accredited as a specialist in employment law by the Law Society of Scotland. Colin Sandilands, who leads the firm’s Inverness office, has qualified as a Solicitor Advocate in a ceremony at the Court of Session.
Stronachs, a full service law practice headquartered in Aberdeen with 16 partners and 115 lawyers and legal support staff, is one of the largest independent law firms based in the North-east.
David Rennie, managing partner of Stronachs, said: “Eric and Colin are members of a key group of specialists within the firm, leading their teams with real enthusiasm and providing the highest standard of service to a varied group of clients across the sectors.
“When we appointed him as head of our Inverness office, Colin Sandilands brought a superb pedigree developed with larger firms earlier in his career. His qualification as a Solicitor Advocate means he is able to offer his vast experience to clients personally at the Court of Session, across activities including commercial contract and property dispute actions, as well as personal injury cases.
“Having joined the firm in October 2014 to lead our growing employment team, Eric Gilligan’s re-accreditation as a specialist in the field by the Law Society of Scotland further bolsters our offering to employers, which was recently also complemented by the arrival of David Chalmers as a partner.”
Eric Gilligan’s team has seen a significant rise in activity involving employers in the energy industry in the past six months, supporting companies responding to issues related to cost-cutting, resulting from instabilities in the oil and gas sector.
“What has been of particular interest has been the number of TUPE transfers we have been involved in supporting, brought about by companies outsourcing work as fluctuations in the energy sector have continued to influence how projects are being completed,” says Mr Gilligan.
“The employment practice has a broad base of expertise and we are seeing real growth in all areas, including our work for manufacturing organisations, charities, higher education institutions as well as the supply chain to the offshore sector.”
Mr Sandilands says that a significant rise in corporate activity, in relation to company acquisitions going ahead, and an increase in commercial property work has been evident across the Highlands and Moray in 2015.
“There is real buoyancy in the north and our ongoing expansion has involved working closely with our clients and with the Chambers of Commerce and other organisations. Businesses increasingly need specialist legal advice and we aim to provide that locally whether that is resolving a commercial dispute or acquiring a business” says Mr Sandilands.
“I also expect to see rising activity related to personal injury claims, as new rules coming into force will involve those cases being heard in a specialist court – which will see us working ever-closer with clients as they prepare to pursue or defend those actions.”
With its roots firmly in the North-east and a legal heritage stretching back over 150 years, Stronachs continues to grow through an ambitious five year plan which will see further appointments in the coming months.
The firm provides legal services to private and commercial clients in all sectors including agriculture, banking, energy, property and construction from its base in Aberdeen as well as Inverness.