Harper Macleod

Scottish firm Harper Macleod continued its upward trajectory in 2011–12, with turnover rising by 13 per cent to £19.3m, in part a result of the firm’s push into insurance, energy and the public sector over the past few years, a strategy driven by chief executive Martin Darroch.

Litigation remains the largest practice, contributing 55 per cent (£10.6m) of total turnover. A large part of that is insurance litigation. Harper Macleod has a team based in RBS Insurance’s Glasgow base handling defendant insurance litigation work.

Other key clients include the Scottish government and the Department for Work and Pensions, while a trophy win during the 2011–12 financial year saw Harper Macleod named as the official law firm to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. As a tier-two sponsor the firm will provide around £1m of services in areas including commercial contracts, sponsorship, broadcasting, anti-doping and licensing.

The firm hired a number of partners in 2011–12, including company and commercial lawyer David Eason from Munro & Noble, and property specialist John Meehan from Semple Fraser.