“Litigation work is hugely diverse and interesting. You can be pursuing multimillion-pound claims one minute and advising on a private client’s problems the next! In my 40-year career I think I have seen nearly everything, and happily share that experience with the rest of the team for our clients’ benefit.”

Elaine is a Consultant in our Litigation team. Working closely with our Real Estate, Banking, and Private Wealth and Tax teams, she advises on commercial and private client disputes as well as a whole range of rural-disputes.

Elaine has vast experience in the Court of Session, Sheriff Courts, Land Court, and Lands Tribunal. Since becoming a C, her focus has been to support the firm in relation to risk matters. She is the firm’s Professional Indemnity Insurance lead, and works closely with our General Counsel on a range of risk related matters.

Areas of practice include:

Admitted

1983: Scotland

Relevant experience

Acting for a Norwegian company in its long-running claim against CNSPC (an agency of the Chinese Government).
Acting for private client in an important property law case involving a prescriptive servitude for maintenance.
Acting for the Judicial Factor of a complex executry estate with estate in several different countries.
Acting in a cross-border farming executry dispute.
Advising on complex contractual disputes including a dispute concerning the delivery of whisky to Bulgaria.
Advising on cross border support in relation to English injunction against the transfer or registration of mortgages in English and Scottish Land Registers.
Acting in relation to Letters of Request from the United States Circuit Court St Clair County Illinois to the Court of Session.
Acting in relation to Letters of Request from United States District Court Southern District of New York to the Court of Session.
Acting for US bondholders on highly complex Scottish scheme of arrangement regarding multi-billion financial creditors of Premier Oil.

“Elaine is adept at guiding clients through challenging situations with pragmatic advice and relevant insight.”

Chambers (2023)

Further testimonials

“Advises clients on an array of commercial and financial disputes and has notable expertise in cross-border cases both within the UK and internationally.”

Chambers (2022)

“Elaine Brailsford is the key name for pursuing professional negligence claims against solicitors and surveyors.”

Legal 500 (2020)