Shepherd and Wedderburn expands property and energy expertise with appointment of 11-strong team

Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP has appointed three new property and infrastructure partners and a further eight specialist lawyers and paralegals to its Property and Infrastructure Division, further expanding its market-leading clean energy and commercial property practices.

Joanna Hamilton, Anthony McEwan and Moray Thomson, all of whom have particular expertise in the energy sector, join Shepherd and Wedderburn from DWF. The appointments mark the return to Shepherd and Wedderburn of Anthony and Moray, who spent two-and-a-half years and six years respectively at the firm early in their legal careers.

Joanna, Anthony and Moray will be joined by eight other property and planning specialists – three associates, Magda Maclean (planning), Steven Stewart (planning) and Alison Bruce (property); three solicitors, Marc Peebles, Daniel Mackinnon and Elaine Kirk (all property); and two paralegals, Melissa Murray and Sharon Stoddart (both property).

The entire team will be based in the Glasgow office as part of the firm’s expanding Property and Infrastructure Division, bringing the total number of partners at Shepherd and Wedderburn to 81.

Joanna brings more than 10 years’ experience as a property lawyer, specialising in renewables and wider energy projects. She is regularly called upon by developers and funders to identify and resolve issues arising from grid connection projects, and her extensive experience spans large and small-scale solar, wind, hydro and biomass projects.

Anthony, previously head of DWF’s real estate team in Glasgow, has more than 20 years’ experience representing blue-chip property clients and public bodies. He has advised on commercial development, housebuilding, cross-country infrastructure projects and the electricity and energy sector generally, and has niche expertise in service station acquisitions and disposals.

Moray, who was previously Head of Planning at DWF, acts for clients across a variety of sectors, spanning energy infrastructure, thermal and renewable electricity generation, minerals, transportation and retail. He brings extensive knowledge of local government decision-making, having worked in development management for two Scottish local authorities before qualifying as a lawyer in 2001. He is highly experienced in dealing with contentious planning matters. Moray is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in planning law and is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Commenting on the new appointments, Stephen Gibb, Chief Executive of Shepherd and Wedderburn, said: “We are delighted that Joanna, Moray, Anthony and their eight-strong team are joining the firm and further expanding the trusted, high-quality service provided to clients across the UK by our top-ranked property, energy and natural resources, and planning teams. Their expertise will support clients active across the energy and commercial property sectors.