Levy & McRae is ranked in Chambers UK 2009
March 25, 2009
LEVY & MCRAE
is ranked in Chambers UK 2009:
Once again Levy and McRae top the ranking tables in Chambers UK: A Client’s Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2009. Top in Crime. Top in Defamation. Top in Media. And very near the top in all other categories.
CORPORATE FINANCE
| Corporate Finance |
| Scotland |
| Leading Individuals |
| Band 3 |
| Sleigh Andrew Levy & McRae |
Other Notable Practitioners
Andrew Sleigh is another standard-bearer of the department whose vast experience is matched by his exceptional knowledge.
CRIME
| Crime |
| Scotland |
| Leading Firms |
| Band 1 |
| Levy & McRae |
Levy & McRae
This well-respected criminal law team has a unique position acting exclusively for privately funded clients, both businesses and individuals. It also has an in-house investigation team consisting of former police officers. Peter Watson is the main contact for criminal matters.
DEFAMATION / REPUTATION MANAGEMENT
| Defamation / Reputation Management |
| Scotland |
| Leading Firms |
| Band 1 |
| Levy & McRae |
| Leading Individuals |
| Band 1 |
| Watson Peter Levy & Mcrae |
| Band 2 |
| McCracken Angela Levy & McRae |
Levy & McRae
Renowned for its media law expertise, this firm is a favoured port of call for defamation, reputation management and privacy. It wins particular client acclaim for “always doing a fantastic job, thanks to its knowledgeable practitioners, who offer realistic, commercial advice.” Clients include Trinity Mirror, ITV and the Sunday Herald. Clients laud Peter Watson as “an excellent strategist and the big gun to call in when cases get tricky.” Angela McCracken is warmly endorsed by clients for doing “a great job of putting complex legal questions into an easily understood commercial language.”
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
| Dispute Resolution |
| Scotland |
| Leading Firms |
| Band 3 |
| Levy & McRae |
| Leading Individuals |
| Band 3 |
| Watson Peter Levy & Mcrae |
Levy & McRae
Levy & McRae remains well known in the Scottish market for the wealth of work it handles, much of which stems from the firm’s flagship contentious media department. Over the years, it has earned a reputation for acting in some of the largest cases in the area. Sources describe the lawyers as “sensible people of integrity,” who further impress by always being “willing to put in the extra hours.” Peter Watson is a name that echoes around the market.
Commentators attribute his “huge experience” and “knack for finding solutions” to his strength in contentious media matters. He is also a qualified mediator and is often involved in matters on the international circuit.
MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT
| Media & Entertainment |
| Scotland |
| Leading Firms |
| Band 3 |
| Levy & McRae |
| Leading Individuals |
| Band 1 |
| Watson Peter Levy & Mcrae |
Levy & McRae
This Glasgow-based stalwart offers a team well known for its defamation and reputation
management practice, acting for a range of newspaper, film, TV and music clients. In the past year, it advised author JK Rowling on reputation management issues. Guided by “tenacious and wellconnected” head of litigation Peter Watson, the group of four solicitors profits from its association with Goodman Derrick and advises clients including Scottish TV, SMG and Channel Four on programming, contracts and advertising issues.
PARTNERSHIP
| Partnership |
| Scotland |
| Leading Firms |
| Band 2 |
| Macreath William C Levy & Mcrae |
Other Notable Practitioners
Cropping up regularly on contentious matters, Levy & McRae’s William Macreath is regarded by many peers as “the first point of referral if conflicted out.” He commands great respect across the market.
PERSONAL INJURY
| Personal Injury: Mainly Claimant |
| Scotland |
| Leading Firms |
| Band 3 |
| Levy & Mcrae |
Levy & McRae
With expertise in the more complex cases and major disaster claims, this practice continues to thrive. It is also respected for its skills in international claims and is regularly instructed for catastrophic injury cases. Peers additionally note the strength of the group’s work for police and prison officers. The main contact is Angela McCracken.
RESTRUCTURING / INSOLVENCY
| Restructuring / Insolvency |
| Scotland |
| Leading Firms |
| Band 2 |
| Sleigh Andrew Levy & McRae |
Other Notable Practitioners
“No-nonsense corporate lawyer” Andrew Sleigh heads the practice and is popular with clients for being “very pragmatic and focused on getting the deal done.” Sleigh has led the team in the administration of the Edinburgh Crystal and Caithness Glass businesses and been involved in the Pacchini Oil Importing and Priority Courier Services insolvency cases.
SPORT
| Sport |
| Scotland |
| Leading Firms |
| Band 2 |
| Sleigh Andrew Levy & McRae |
Other Notable Practitioners
Andrew Sleigh remains one of the team’s most prominent members. His recent highlights include representing the SFA in a dispute following Alex McLeish’s departure for Birmingham City FC.
LEADERS
MCCRACKEN, Angela
Levy & McRae, Glasgow
amc@lemac.co.uk
Specialisation: Angela McCracken is a Partner with Levy & McRae and specialises in media law providing 24/7 advice to all of the firm’s media clients both in broadcasting and print. She has been involved in many ground breaking media cases and acted for The Scottish Countryside Alliance in challenging the validity of the Scottish legislation banning fox hunting. She also has wide ranging expertise in civil litigation, including international litigation and acts for a number of high profile clients and organisations.
Career: She was educated at Westbourne School for Girls and then went on to study law at The University of Glasgow and has practised law with Levy & McRae since leaving University.
Personal: Her hobbies include tennis, keeping fit and reading.
MACREATH, William C
Levy & McRae, Glasgow
(0141) 307 2311
billmccreath@lemac.co.uk
Specialisation: Partner in Litigation Department specialising in work for professionals particularly solicitors doctors architects etc. Partnership dispute resolution advice. LLP advice. Large divorce practice. Professional Memberships: Law Society of Scotland; Society of Solicitors in the Supreme Court; Director of the Legal Defence Union.
Career: Glasgow University; McLure Naismith Brodie 1974-76; Strathclyde Regional Council 1976-78; Paton and Co Partner 1978-90; Levy and McRae Partner 1990-date.
Publications: Articles in professional publications on professional ethics, complaints against solicitors and their handling, and articles on divorce and the valuation of business interests on divorce; on coping in private practice; articles on partnership. Regular speaker at professional seminars for medical and legal profession.
Personal: 55 years old and married. Interests in the arts, reading, cinema, golf, travel and politics. Former Member Greater Glasgow Health Board 1988-99; former Member Scottish Medical Services Committee 1994-97; former Council Member Royal Faculty of Procurators Glasgow 1998-2001; former Member Client Relations Supervisory Committee of the Law Society of Scotland.
WATSON, Peter
Levy & McRae, Glasgow
(0141) 307 2311
peterwatson@lemac.co.uk
Specialisation: Media; defamation; libel; aviation; international claims and litigation; personal injury litigation; public and fatal accident inquiries; civil and criminal litigation including cases which have been heard at the House of Lords and Privy Council; Legal Advisor to Rangers Football Club plc including successful appearances before Uefa disciplinary committee; Represented Shirley McKie and secured acquittal following the first successful challenge to finger print evidence in the world; Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise investigation; employment law; partnership law; Secretary of the Lockerbie Air Disaster Group; Secretary of Braer Disaster Group; Member of the Steering committee of the Piper Alpha Disaster Group;Member of the Stockline Disaster Group; Gecas v Scottish Television plc; Regina v Flight Lieutenant Williams; Cavendish v The Scotsman Publications & Others; representing the Dunblane Families at the Dunblane public inquiry; involved in litigation in more than 12 countries other than the UK.
Professional Memberships: Law Society of Scotland; SSC Society; sits as a Part Time Sheriff (Judge); APIL; ATLA; past President of the Society of Solicitor Advocates; past Chairman of the Scottish Mediation Bureau; Member of the IBA.
Career: BA in Economics,University of Strathclyde; Bachelor of Law,University of Edinburgh; research at Scandinavian Maritime Institute and thereafter at Dundee University, Centre for Petroleum and Mineral Law Studies; visiting scholar in International Law,Nova University, Florida, USA; on the board of Anglia Sports Law Research Centre.
Publications: Author of ‘In Pursuit of Pan Am’ and ‘The Search for Justice - A Case for Reform to the Civil Justice System in Britain’. Addressed the UN Summit on The Third UNECE/ REAG Land for Development Programme (LFDP) Forum,‘Property Rights for the Poor: A Global Perspective’ in Rome on December 12th and 13th December 2004 delivering the speech on the ‘Rule of Law and
conomic Prosperity’.
Personal: Golf, horse racing; travel; married with two daughters,Anna and Sophie.
LEVY & MCRAE
| Senior Partner |
Peter Watson
|
| Number of Partners |
6
|
| Assistant solicitors |
7
|
| Other fee-earners |
14
|
266 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, G2 5RL
Tel: (0141) 307 2311 Fax (0141) 307 6857/8 DX GW149 Glasgow
Email: peterwatson@lemac.co.uk
Website: www.lemac.co.uk
THE FIRM: Levy & McRae is one of Scotland’s leading law firms. The firm has a particularly strong reputation for litigation, media and personal injury.
PRINCIPAL AREAS OF WORK:
Litigation: Extensive litigation practice including representing British Sky Broadcasting Limited in the enforcement of all copyright and licensing matters arising in Scotland.
Media: One of the largest media law practices in the country providing advice to an extensive range of clients in the print and broadcast media. Dispute Resolution/Reputation Management: Prominent individuals from the world of business, TV, film, music and sport retain the services of Levy & McRae to ensure that reputations are protected from unwarranted intrusion and defamation. Retained by Rangers Football Club on a wide range of commercial and regulatory matters, the firm has enjoyed a number of significant victories before the Uefa disciplinary tribunal.
Crime: Uniquely, the firm has an in-house investigation team of senior ex-police officers and by using the latest technology in software and data management, the firm has achieved great success in a number of high profile and complex cases.
Personal Injury: The firm deals with a high volume of reparation claims arising from workplace, road traffic, aircraft and shipping accidents. The firm has extensive experience dealing with complex,multi-million pound claims, often involving high profile media interest.
Inquiries: The firm appears regularly in Fatal Accident Inquiries throughout Scotland representing the interests of families, police officers, prison officers and companies (most recently SEPA) to ensure its clients’ interests are fully protected or advanced at such Inquiries.
INTERNATIONAL: Levy & McRae are involved in litigation around the world including in France, Spain, Turkey, Italy and the United States.As part of Legal Netlink, the firm offers worldwide access to local counsel.
