Shepherd & Wedderburn

Turnover was flat at Scotland-headquartered Shepherd & Wedderburn in 2011–12, meaning Scotland-focused Brodies was able to squeeze the firm out of the so-called big four.

The firm’s turnover figure for the year was £37m, down marginally on the previous year’s £37.3m, while Brodies achieved £42.8m.

Shepherds’ energy and natural resources group had a particularly strong 2011–12, with turnover increasing by 25 per cent. Since corporate partner Stephen Gibb took over from Patrick Andrews as chief executive on 1 May 2012 the firm has restructured its sector focus along three specific lines: energy and natural resources; finance; and real estate. Respectively they generated 26, 18 and 13 per cent of total revenue in the 2011–12 year, with private client; public sector; food, drink and leisure; and pharmaceuticals making up a large chunk of the rest.

The firm boosted its energy and renewables practice in December 2012 with three new hires, including two lawyers from Pinsent Masons. The latter included Clare Foster, who was head of Pinsent Masons’ banking and finance group in Scotland, as partner in the firm's corporate team in Edinburgh, and senior associate Scott McCallum, who joined as partner in the firm's Glasgow planning team.