Full-service legal firm Gilson Gray is celebrating further success in the landmark litigation against its client, US-based private equity house Lime Rock Partners, by renowned oil and gas businessman, Robert Kidd. The claim was understood to be the single biggest damages claim in Scottish legal history.
In March 2024, after having heard weeks of evidence, the commercial judge (Lord Tyre) found in favour of Lime Rock Partners and the other defenders. Mr Kidd appealed that decision to the Inner House of the Court of Session, which was heard over four days in January 2025. In its decision today, the Court has again ruled in favour of Lime Rock Partners and the other defenders.
The case centred on an investment in ITS Tubular Services, a North Sea drilling company set up by Mr Kidd in 1989. A minority stake in the company was sold to Lime Rock in 2009. Mr Kidd had made a number of allegations arising from that deal. The commercial judge found in favour of Lime Rock and the other defenders, ruling against Mr Kidd on every point. That decision has been upheld on appeal.
A team of litigation and dispute resolution specialists from Gilson Gray acted for Lime Rock, including Alex Garioch, Fraser Cameron, and Iain Grant, all of whom welcomed the Court’s decision.
Alex Garioch, partner at Gilson Gray, said: “In what has been an extremely complex, lengthy and high value litigation we are delighted that our client’s position has been entirely vindicated and that they have won on every line of defence advanced. Gilson Gray are proud to have successfully represented Lime Rock Partners and two former employees in this very challenging and hard fought litigation. The team’s experience, application and collaboration with counsel, Kenny McBrearty KC, Alasdair McKenzie KC and Elisabeth Roxburgh contributed to such a positive outcome for our client.”
Glen Gilson, chair and managing partner of Gilson Gray, added: “This landmark case represents one of a series of high profile and extraordinary litigations that our team has successfully handled in recent months. From the definition of a woman in the Supreme Court, to the handling of complex Judicial Reviews and high value court actions, our Dispute Resolution division has helped establish Gilson Gray as one of the leading up and coming brands in UK law.”
Independent Scottish law firm Anderson Strathern has strengthened its senior team with the appointment of one new partner and a new director in the Commercial Real Estate team.
The new hires bring a wealth of expertise across commercial, public sector and rural property, as well as the legal aspects of financial risk, to the firm’s award-winning Commercial Real Estate team which includes 13 specialist partners and four directors.
Edward Gratwick is ranked in the Legal 500 as a ‘rising star’ in property litigation and by Chambers and Partners as ‘up and coming’ in real estate litigation. He returns to Anderson Strathern joining the Dispute Resolution team as a partner. Edward has more than 17 years of experience litigating in property disputes involving commercial landlords, rural estates, public sector and private clients – including high profile public procurement cases and regular appearances in the Court of Session.
Edward is joined by Fallon Spencer, a newly appointed director at Anderson Strathern specialising in commercial property. Since qualifying ten years ago, Fallon has honed her skills across financial risk and property – and has particular expertise in investment portfolios, having advised on a range of investments from student accommodation to the private rented sector.
The appointments serve to strengthen the full-service firm’s Commercial Real Estate department, which supports clients locally and internationally to deliver Scottish-specific aspects of transactions, and to fully manage cross-border transactions.
Over the past 12 months, the team has been involved in several high-profile projects across the hospitality, retail and commercial property sectors in Scotland, both in the UK and internationally, representing a variety of clients.
Murray McCall, Managing Partner at Anderson Strathern, said: “We are building on the success and significant growth achieved during the past 12 months so having the right people in place is key. Fallon and Edward are exceptionally experienced, and I have no doubt they’ll deliver further strength and depth to our commercial real estate team.”
A new online exhibition has been launched featuring forty historic photographs of Roslin. The photographs, part of The Bryce Collection, include archive images of Rosslyn Chapel, Rosslyn Castle and the village, and can now be seen in the first online exhibition on Rosslyn Chapel’s website.
From around 1880 to the 1940s, two generations of the Bryce family lived and worked in a draper’s shop and post office on Roslin Main Street. One of the family married a keen amateur photographer, Thomas Ritchie and, in the early years of the twentieth century, Ritchie took many photographs in and around the village, some of which were made into postcards and sold in the post office. By the 1940s, Meg Campbell (nee Bryce), the great niece of George Bryce, moved from Glasgow and took over the family business in Roslin. The collection of photographs had been stored away and largely forgotten but, in 1993, Mrs Campbell donated the collection to Midlothian Local Studies and stipulated that it should be known as ‘The Bryce Collection’. Subsequently, members of the Roslin Heritage Society researched and identified many of the locations.
The Bryce Collection images are used with permission from Midlothian Council Libraries and Archives and forty photographs are now on display in the online exhibition.
Ian Gardner, Director of Rosslyn Chapel Trust, said: ‘We are delighted to launch this fascinating exhibition on our website and, very appropriately, to feature these historic photographs of the Chapel, Castle, Glen and village from The Bryce Collection. This is the first exhibition on our online gallery, which has been funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, administered by Midlothian Council, and we look forward to adding more exhibitions there in the months ahead.’
The exhibition can be viewed free of charge at www.rosslynchapel.com
Photo credit: Midlothian Council Libraries and Archives
Thomson Cooper is proud to announce its 75th anniversary, marking three-quarters of a century of growth, innovation and commitment to client service. Formed in Dunfermline on 21 November 1949 by founder T. Hunter Thomson and his business partner Harold Cooper, the business has expanded significantly and now employs over 100 staff across its Fife and Edinburgh offices. The firm remains an independent practice, and has built a strong legacy of trust, expertise and reliability.
Thomson Cooper is driven by a passion for fostering long-term relationships and evolving to meet the changing needs of clients. The partner group are supported by teams of trained professionals committed to providing tailored solutions that drive success. This forward-thinking approach harnesses the latest technology to deliver streamlined processes and effective digitisation.
“We’re incredibly proud to celebrate 75 years of service excellence,” said Managing Partner Alan Mitchell. “As we reflect on our years in business, we are reminded that the foundation of our success has always been the relationships we’ve built with our clients and employees. This milestone is not just about celebrating the past, it is about looking forward to the future. Our commitment to client service and professionalism has positioned us well for the future. The core values that have sustained us – listening, advising and supporting clients to achieve their goals – remain the foundation on which we will continue to build our success.’’
To celebrate this significant anniversary, Thomson Cooper will be hosting a series of events over the next 12 months which highlight the firm’s appreciation of those who have been integral to its success, as well as raising funds for charity.
From Saturday (1 March 2025) UK alcohol producers will benefit from easier reporting and online payment services, as the new Manage your Alcohol Duty online service goes live.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has launched the new digital system to simplify and modernise the administration of returns and payments, working closely with alcohol producers and trade bodies on its implementation.
Around 5,000 UK alcohol producers will now account for Alcohol Duty with one monthly return and one monthly payment online, covering all alcoholic products they produce (beer, cider, wine, other fermented products, and spirits) across all their production premises.
This return must be completed by the 15th day of the month for the previous month’s production activity. Producers will then make their Alcohol Duty payment online, which must be cleared and received by the 25th day of the month. Example:
On 1 February 2025, the new Alcoholic Products Producer Approval (APPA) legislation went live, which replaces the previous alcohol production registrations and licenses.
Businesses, approved to produce alcoholic products before 1 February, have been migrated from a registration or license to an APPA, and will have continuity of approval.
During February, existing producers should have received a letter from HMRC with their APPA ID and information on how to enrol for the Manage your Alcohol Duty service, using their APPA ID and one of the following:
Businesses need to enrol as soon as possible after they receive their APPA ID, and by 15 March 2025 to submit their first return.
If producers did not receive their APPA ID and enrolment letter by 25 February, they should email nru.alcohol@hmrc.gov.uk and include the following information:
New producers of alcoholic products can apply online for approval. They can enrol for the service after they receive their APPA ID.