Harper Macleod Goes Public With New Practice Group

Harper Macleod LLP, one of Scotland's leading commercial law firms, is reinforcing its position as a leading provider of legal services to the public sector with the formal launch of its new Public Sector Practice Group.

The firm's capability for handling public sector instructions was recognised in 2003, when Harper Macleod became the smallest firm to be appointed to the Scottish Executive's legal panel.  Significantly, the firm went on to win the competition for the first two contracts tendered under the Framework agreement and was re-appointed to the slimmed down panel in March 2007. Other members of the panel include Anderson Strathern, Brodies, Dundas & Wilson and Maclay Murray & Spens.

Harper Macleod's expertise in the public sector marketplace is well known and covers a number of the firm's practice areas, including Debt Recovery, Commercial Property, Employment and Social Housing.  The new Public Sector Practice Group draws together these specialist areas and provides a dedicated marketing, training and legal resource to support a much wider range of projects and assignments.  Recently promoted Partner James McMorrow, who is recognised as a 'leading individual' in the Chambers UK Guide to the Legal Profession for his social housing work, is heading the new Group up.

Professor Lorne Crerar, Chairman, Harper Macleod commented; "The firm is highly regarded for its public sector expertise and the launch of the new Group allows us to pull together the resources of numerous practice areas within the firm to provide a dedicated focus for public sector instructions. Harper Macleod has a unique grasp of the very different dynamics of the public sector - the importance of efficient spending, citizen focus, the political imperatives - which distinguish it instantly from the profit drive of the private sector.  That understanding has been the foundation of our success in this arena."

Established in 1988 by Professor Lorne Crerar and Rod McKenzie, Harper Macleod has evolved into a firm with 39 Partners, 108 Fee Earners and a complement of 203 staff.  The firm is renowned for its expertise in Public Sector & Housing, Sports, Recoveries, Corporate, Real Estate, Litigation,  Banking and Employment and includes The Scottish Executive, The Child Support Agency, The Scottish Premier League, Whitbread, William Hill, BP, Airtricity, Optical Express and Tulloch Limited in its impressive list of clients.