Harper Macleod Nominated in Credit Today Awards 2007

Harper Macleod LLP is celebrating after becoming the first commercial law firm in Scotland to be nominated in the highly coveted Credit Today Awards 2007.

The firm's Recoveries & Insolvency Group has been nominated in the category of Commercial Credit Team of the Year, in recognition of its outstanding reputation in handling the bulk collection of commercial and other debts for businesses of all types in both secured and unsecured recoveries, insolvency matters and defender work.

A key Practice Group within Harper Macleod, the Recoveries & Insolvency team achieved 38% growth in the number of instructions received during 2006 (following 114% in 2004-5), handling over 9000 instructions per annum, whilst experiencing an exceptional year in relation to independent recognition and market reputation.

The award winning Recoveries Team ('Debt Recovery Team of the Year', The Law Awards of Scotland 2004) is shortlised for Commercial Credit Team of the Year alongside organisations such as British Gas, BT Directories, Europcar and Npower. The winner will be announced at a glittering ceremony at the Grosvenor House in London on 17 May.

Harper Macleod Chief Executive Martin Darroch said; "It is a tremendous achievement for our Recoveries & Insolvency team to be nominated for this award and demonstrates that our business model for handling the bulk collection of commercial and other debts is highly successful. Harper Macleod is the first Scottish law firm to be nominated on this kind of business platform and we are thrilled to be recognised alongside such a prestigious list of national organisations."

Established in 1988 by Professor Lorne Crerar and Rod McKenzie, Harper Macleod has evolved into a firm with 39 Partners, 117 Fee Earners and a complement of 214 staff. The firm is renowned for its expertise in Corporate, Real Estate, Recoveries, Sports, Banking, Litigation, Public Sector & Housing and Employment.

Harper Macleod achieved turnover of £12.2million to the year ending 31 March 2007, up from £10.4million in the previous year, topping off 12 months of impressive growth for the firm. Cumulative growth in turnover for 31 March 2005 to 31 March 2007 is an incredible 72%, confirming that Harper Macleod's innovative approach to delivering legal services is a force to be reckoned with in the Scottish marketplace.

The fastest growing areas of the firm include Real Estate, Litigation and Recoveries and growth predictions for 2007-8 are already at 10%, making Harper Macleod undoubtedly one of the fastest growing medium sized commercial law firms in Scotland.