We cover these selling points in more detail below, alongside other relevant firm facts and characteristics.
Practice areas / services
Anderson Strathern is a full-service law firm, with a broad range of practice areas including:
- Agriculture and Rural Law
- Charity Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Commercial Property
- Corporate Law
- Education Law
- Employment Law
- Energy and Renewables
- Family Law
- Health & Safety and Corporate Crime
- Hotels and Tourism
- Immigration
- Local Government Law
- Medical Negligence
- Personal Injury
- Professional Regulation
- Tax
- Transport Law
- Trusts
- Wills and Succession Planning
Chambers and Partners, a leading analyst of the legal market, has awarded Anderson Strathern its highest ‘Band 1’ ranking for the following departments: Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Charities, Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant, Education: Institutions, Professional Discipline and Transport: Rail. See here for more information
Key sectors / industries
Anderson Strathern services a broad range of industries, with some of its highest-value clients operating in the following sectors:
Work
Anderson Strathern advises an impressive client base, including some of Scotland’s largest estates (e.g. The Crown Estate Scotland, The National Trust for Scotland) as well as Scotland’s major educational institutions. Highlights include:
- University of Strathclyde: The firm advised the University of Strathclyde on an investment into diagnostics company Microplate DX, which has developed a patented test that’s helping to tackle the problem of antimicrobial resistance by reducing the overuse of antibiotics.
- Almero Ventures: Anderson Strathern acted on behalf of Almero Ventures in its £1.5m investment into Carbon Capture Scotland, which is a Perthshire-based technology company.
- Aveni.ai: The firm helped Aveni.ai, a Scottish AI company, with its receipt of £2.75 million investment to help it deliver the expansion of its Aveni Detect platform to the financial services and utility markets across the UK.
Older examples
- Advising Crown Estate Scotland on the Scotwind leasing round, which aimed to grant property rights for seabed in Scottish waters to facilitate up to 27GW of offshore wind generation. Negotiations were conducted for 17 separate projects.
- Advising Ripple Energy on the development of the 18MW Kirk Hill Wind Farm, the world's largest consumer-owned wind farm. Ripple Energy operates as a consumer owner co-operative, allowing individuals to invest in and own part of the wind farm.
- Advised the University of Strathclyde on a wide range of technology issues, IP spin-outs, and complex international data sharing arrangements.
- Advised Almero Ventures in its £1.5m investment into Carbon Capture Scotland.
Offices / global footprint / expansion
Headquarters: Edinburgh, Scotland
Offices: Glasgow, East Lothian and Shetland
International: Anderson Strathern is the only Scottish member firm of Meritas, an international referrals network providing access to over 7,000 lawyers across 90 countries.
Insights, internships and other opportunities
Anderson Strathern offers several opportunities for individuals wishing to gain experience in the legal industry and learn more about life at the firm. Opportunities for interested applicants include: the chance to hear from and network with firm representatives at events such as university law fairs, and summer vacation schemes that are open to both students and graduates seeking to pursue a career at the firm.
Training contract
Anderson Strathern offers a four-seat rotational training contract. Trainees are offered a dedicated buddy and mentor in each seat, allowing them to benefit from the guidance, support and knowledge of legal specialists, whilst increasing their professional network.
The firm encourages trainees to get involved in committees, attend social events and participate in D&I initiatives.
Secondments
Anderson Strathern does not offer trainee secondments.
Technology and innovation
Anderson Strathern’s ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ has led to the firm creating ‘some of the most exciting innovations in Scottish law'. Examples of its technology and innovation initiatives include:
- Scottish Referrals Network: The firm has developed a legal referral and advice network which enables the firm to support others with their clients where additional expertise is required. This may be because a firm has capacity issues or because a legal matter falls outside its specialism and expertise.
- HALO #ROCKME Scheme: The firm became one of six Gold Partners in the HALO’s #ROCKME Scheme which enables participating start-ups, SMEs and scaling companies located at the HALO centre to access top quality legal advice.
- Meritas Law Firms Worldwide: The firm took part in the Maritas Law Firms Worldwide lawyer exchange program, which saw members of the firm undertake an exchange with lawyers from English and Irish law firms.
Corporate social responsibility
Anderson Strathern is committed to pursuing responsible business practices in the workplace, environment and community.
- TrustLaw: The firm is a member of TrustLaw, an organisation which offers lawyers an easy way to connect with non-profits and social enterprises seeking free legal help.
- Social Bite: Anderson Strathern has supported Social Bite since 2014 and has helped the organisation with conveyancing work and by taking part in Sleep in the Park fundraisers.
- Schools Mock Court Project: The firm takes part in the Schools Mock Court Project, a cross-curricular skills development opportunity for primary schools, helping to build pupils' communication and presentation skills.
Diversity and inclusion
The firm has an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee which meets regularly. Related initiatives include: creating a carers’ group, raising awareness and funds during Pride Month, Black History Month and Purple Friday, and supporting external campaigns and causes, such as the Women in Law Project, Social Bite and the Mock Court Project. In addition, all of the firm's offices are fully accessible and, where further provisions are needed, the firm will "always make an effort to accommodate".