Brodies makes first foray outside Scotland with Brussels launch
Scottish firm Brodies has opened its first office on foreign soil with the establishment of a base in Brussels.
Bill Drummond
The office, which will be led by partners Mark Clough QC and Christine O’Neill, will provide advice on EU policy and legislative developments to the firm’s existing Scottish clients.
Managing partner Bill Drummond said in a statement that the launch was partly in response to the growing influence of the European Commission on Scotland’s corporate and public sectors.
“By giving Scottish businesses access to Scottish lawyers directly involved in, and attuned to, the work of the EU institutions we hope to help our clients contribute to the future growth and prosperity of the Scottish economy,” he said.
“We also believe it’s important to have an operational base in central Brussels where clients can both meet with our lawyers and access all Brodies know-how on the same basis as in our three main Scottish offices.”
Clough joined Brodies from Addleshaw Goddard earlier this year as part of a major expansion that also saw the firm launch in Aberdeen (21 January 2011). His practice focuses on competition and merger control law and he previously spent a decade working in Brussels. Prior to joining Addleshaws Clough was a partner at Ashurst (27 March 2006).
O’Neill, who featured in The Lawyer Hot 100 this year, is a solicitor-advocate in the firm’s public law and regulatory practice who last year successfully defended the BBC against a judicial review launched by the Scottish National Party in the run up to the UK general election.
Both lawyers will divide their time between Brussels and Edinburgh.
