DESPITE a challenging period, Addleshaw Goddard has continued to see growth in Scotland, the rest of the UK and internationally with revenues for financial year 2019/20 rising to £288m – a year on year increase of 4%.
Its Scotland team has enjoyed success with several significant deals, acquisitions and appointments including:
Real Estate
- AG acted for German fund, KanAm, in the acquisition of the Aberdeen Standard HQ offices and retail development at 4/8 St Andrew Square –the largest mixed-use deal in Scotland in the last three years
- AG acted for Aberdeen Standard in relation to the joint venture with Quartermile and the subsequent acquisition and development funding of a 145 unit residential development scheme on the site of the former Napier University Craighouse Campus – one of the largest Real Estate Finance transactions in Scotland over the last year
- The Scotland team Acted for SSE in the transfer of a UK wide portfolio of 70 office and operational properties as part of the transfer of their retail business to OVO Energy Limited
Corporate
- Corporate Partners, Anna Brown and Murray Jack, led a team who advised leading specialist provider of bricks and construction materials, Brickability Group, on its £150m IPO and associated £57million institutional placing. The proceeds were used to de-leverage the Group and significantly reduce its annual interest charge and create a stronger balance sheet from which to pursue growth
- A team led by newly appointed head of Scotland, David Kirchin, advised the management shareholders of telecommunications and ISP provider, Commsworld, on a major investment into the company by mid-market private equity house ldc.
Projects and Finance
- AG advised Clydesdale Bank on the provision of an asset-based lending (ABL) facility to independent bottler Hunter Laing & Company Limited – one of the six ABL transactions undertaken by the firm in the past two years, highlighting its market leadership in this area
- The Scotland team advised on the funding of a number of significant wind farm transactions, including acting for Red Rock Power on the refinancing by NatWest of Afton Wind Farm and acting for Point & Sandwick Power on the refinancing of Beinn Ghrideag Wind Farm – the UK’s largest community owed project
Appointments
- Suzanne Moir, previously of DWF, was appointed as Infrastructure, Projects and Energy Partner in the firm’s Edinburgh office – bringing expertise in EfW, transport and telecoms infrastructure – an area of specific focus for the firm going forward
- Neil Hogg joined the real estate team as Partner from Pinsent Masons, bringing a wealth of expertise in the institutional investment market
- Gaenor Cassell joined the Edinburgh team in December 2019, from Burness Paull, bringing more than 20 years’ experience advising lenders and borrowers on all aspects of funding, both domestic and international
David Kirchin, head of Addleshaw Goddard’s Scotland team, said: “Working with a wider range of clients, as part of a larger international firm, has helped us grow our business in Scotland.
“We have continued to invest in our teams, developing new strengths in existing teams, and building new areas of focus including energy, fintech, and transport as well as financial regulation and major projects.
“In the year, we were pleased to support our clients make significant changes and developments for their businesses including acting as lead counsel to Barclays, HSBC and RBS on the multi-bank refinancing of A.G. Barr plc – one of the largest corporate refinancings to take place in Scotland in 2019.
“While the trading environment remains challenging, and we are not immune to those challenges, we face them head on from a position of strength with a continued focus on the development of our business and teams in Scotland.”
