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Media Releases
2008

26 February
2008

Firm Scoops Two Top Legal Awards

Leading UK law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn has been named Firm of the Year and its Corporate Finance Group has been named Corporate Team of the Year at the Cuthbert Scottish Legal Awards 2008.

The firm was selected by the Scottish Legal Awards business academy, which gathers votes from over 100 of Scotland's most senior business professionals, beating off stiff competition from some of Scotland's top firms to win the accolades at a gala lunch at the Glasgow Hilton today (Friday, 22 February).

The firm was involved in some of 2007's biggest transactions, completing corporate finance deals totalling more than £18.7 billion.

Deals included:

·    Acting as lead legal advisors to Cairn Energy PLC when it successfully launched its subsidiary, Cairn India Limited, on the Indian National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange – one of the largest IPOs in India to date (US$6.3 billion)

·    Advising ScottishPower in the £11.6 billion recommended offer by Iberdrola S.A., the Spanish utility company, in steering the scheme of arrangement through the courts

·    Advising on other key M&A deals such as the £595 million acquisition of Whyte and Mackay, the £856 million sale of the Scarborough Property Group and the £240 million bid for Teesland

The judges admired the way the firm had not only acted in many of Scotland's biggest deals in 2007, but also how it had successfully internationalised its corporate finance practice and grown both a City of London office focused on top-quality City corporate finance work, and an Aberdeen office focused on the oil and gas sector.  Key overseas markets where the group has been active include India, South Africa, Canada and Russia.

Patrick Andrews, Shepherd and Wedderburn’s Chief Executive said: "We are thrilled to come home as winners from these influential industry awards.

"This award is an excellent endorsement of our business and highlights the strength and expertise of the firm, both nationally and internationally, across a number of sectors."

James Will, head of corporate finance at Shepherd and Wedderburn, said: "We are delighted that the firm has been recognised with this prestigious award. It was an extremely active year for the corporate team and we are very fortunate with the clients for whom we work." 

So far in 2008, Shepherd and Wedderburn has acted for Australian property group Valad in the launch of a £500 million joint venture fund which will target opportunities in the UK commercial property market - as well as acting in the IPO of gambling services company AsianLogic, raising US$100 million and the £175 million rights issue by mezzanine financing specialist Intermediate Capital - where the firm acted for one of the joint lead managers.


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