Brodies LLP has a ‘leading Scottish market presence and knowledge’, often receiving instructions from the foremost publicly-owned companies and public authorities in the transport space. Rail and maritime mandates continue to be a key component of the team’s work, overseeing commercial agreements, procurements, and IT and software issues and complex, highly sensitive claims. ‘Technically excellent‘ team head Duncan MacLean is a ‘very experienced shipping lawyer who knows the market and industry very well’, specialising in investigatory work and port developments. Co-head Karen Hamilton is a go-to name for road mandates, acting for local authorities, developers and landowners, while co-lead Robert Ross specialises in the rail sector and is equally equipped at handling corporate, commercial and IT projects. Malcolm Gunnyeon has notable expertise in substantial contractual and delictual claims regarding rail accidents. Victoria Anderson carries out investigatory, regulatory and criminal inquiries for clients across the shipping, transport and construction spaces, while Fehmida Hanif excels in contentious work. Roger Cotton and Jackie McGuire retired in December 2023.

CMS is one of the pre-eminent transport practices in the market, providing a full-service offering and acting on premium mandates across the road, rail, marine and aviation sectors. The firm was appointed to the Network Rail Scotland Panel in April 2024 and recruited seasoned rail expert Barry Edgar from Dentons, who arrived in September 2023. Eleanor Lane leads the practice and spearheads the firm’s large-scale public transport projects, including the A9 dualling programme and the Glasgow Subway Modernisation Project. Mark McMurray is a road and traffic regulation specialist, while Christine Worthington‘s far reaching practice encompasses instructions pertaining to investment, procurement and commercial issues. Wendy Nicolson is a key port of call for public authorities for procurement and competition instructions, and Christopher Dickson focuses on construction mandates. Keith Campbell is present on a range of projects, chiefly acting for developers in major road ventures.

Handling a steady stream of multi-jurisdictional deals for a mix of leading industry players, Addleshaw Goddard has a transport practice that encompasses road, rail, airport, port and shipping matters, with demonstrable evidence of premium work across procurement, M&A, financing and commercial issues. Ed Watt helms the shipping offering, regularly overseeing the full gamut of non-contentious matters including commercial, employment, property and environmental work, as well as M&A. Suzanne Moir heads up infrastructure and projects group and has worked with key client ScotRail Trains Limited on its rolling stock procurement programme, while Sarah Baillie is reputed for her planning and infrastructure expertise. Carrie Armstrong and Ian Le Pelley split the ports and terminals work, with the latter handling domestic mandates and the former excelling in international instructions. Sophie Black is a key adviser for aviation clients, and Chloe Oakshett and Daniel McKinney are also key names to note.

Advising notable infrastructure developers, public sector bodies, and rail and marine operators, Burness Paull LLP‘s transport offering covers a variety of corporate, commercial and contentious work. The team's transport work focuses heavily on the maritime and shipping spaces, with the team advising on the design and construction of new quayside developments, contractual negotiations and agreements, health and safety incidents, and complex disputes. Group lead and skilled construction lawyer Andrew Little brings ‘tact, knowledge, ability and clarity’ to a host of port and harbour matters. Andrew Forsyth ‘combines a deep knowledge of the law with an ability to cut to a clear conclusion’, receiving a steady stream of contentious work from P&I clubs, marine insurers, and claims managers. James Forbes is recognised for his road and infrastructure work and receives instructions from both public and private sector bodies. Co-head Mark Kirke joined the team from CMS in May 2023.

Dentons' transport work centres on procurement, construction and real estate matters, with expertise in the rail, bus and coaches, and aviation sectors. Philip Knight joined the team from Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP in October 2023 to strengthen the firm’s litigation offering; the group has recently seen an increased flow of contentious mandates. Helming the practice is Mark Macaulay who has over three decades of experience and works with a UK-wide portfolio of transport clients on procurement and commercial contracts; he often works alongside David McGowan who is another skilled procurement practitioner. Roddy Cormack‘s non-contentious offering concentrates on construction and engineering related issues. Euan Wilson left the firm to join Addleshaw Goddard in January 2024, and Barry Edgar joined CMS in September 2023.

Pinsent Masons LLP is especially well regarded for its experience in the maritime and shipping spaces, covering the full waterfront of contentious and non-contentious issues. The group also excels in community developments and the associated transport links, road-related operational issues, and inner city tram and rail ventures. Team lead Bruce Craig is highly regarded for his expertise in high-profile and sensitive marine health and safety incidents, while Gavin Farquhar is a key name for developers, vessel suppliers and public authorities involved in offshore wind enterprises, harbour expansions and renovations, and commercial shipping operations. Fellow co-head Stuart Barr is well equipped to act on road and rail mandates, and Gillian Frew acts on issues at the intersection of transport and infrastructure projects. Neil Hehir and Sarah Munro are recommended for their respective oil and gas and employment law expertise.

Harper Macleod LLP is well positioned in the market to advise on maritime and shipping mandates, with a particular focus on port and harbour developments, financings and investments. The firm’s cross-disciplinary team attracts instructions from a host of government and local authorities, financial institutions, underwriters, and industry players. Tony Cameron helms the practice and has a wide corporate and commercial remit that encompasses the entire marine sector. Co-head Chris Kerr is largely focused on corporate matters and has recently advised on port investments and shipping and logistics acquisitions. James McMorrow specialises in subsidy control and procurement issues, whereas Ricardo Matteo is the go-to name in the team for financing instructions, and Euan Pirie is a PFI/PPP expert.