By Alyson Shaw
Whether you are party to a renewable energy or telecoms project, seeking to redevelop your land, or simply require advice on how best to structure your family business affairs, you need a team of expert lawyers to help guide you through the challenges you will face.
At Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP (WJM), we are at the forefront of the commercial property sector and agricultural & rural market, with over 20 years’ experience in the renewables, telecoms and family business sectors. From the moment you engage our firm, our industry-leading specialists will guide you through legislative changes, advise you on how best to utilise your land to maximise value and generate income and, above all, provide you with a bespoke, comprehensive, value for money service.
Our clients are important to us and we understand what is important to our clients…
We act for farmers, crofters, landowners and tenants across Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and for family businesses across Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. In collaboration with WJM’s independent, specialist family business consultancy – Family Business Solutions (FBS) – our agricultural and rural team provides pragmatic, holistic advice to rural, family run businesses.
We recognise that your personal and commercial interests will not always go hand in hand and our dedicated team is always ready to guide you towards the most workable solution for both your family and your business. With our legal expertise and sympathetic approach, we are able to offer a broad range of services including business review, strategy development, succession planning and support. At WJM, your family business will be guaranteed independent, impartial assistance from generation to generation.
We can hold our own, and so can you…
As one of the few remaining Scottish commercial firms, we have proven that size isn’t everything. In a crowded and competitive legal marketplace, our focussed and dedicated team of solicitors continues to distinguish itself. We know how to hold our own and we help our clients do the same.
Andy McFarlane, a partner at WJM and one of Scotland’s leading renewable energy lawyers, heads up a dynamic and talented team of industry specialists in our renewables group. The team has a proven track record for delivering renewable energy projects through to practical completion and their knowledge of the sector, and attention to their clients’ needs, is unparalleled.
“In an increasingly competitive market, energy projects need to move at a pace to gain a competitive edge. Whether we are acting for a developer, landowner or other stakeholder we will do that without sacrificing the quality of our advice or the particular concerns of our client” – Andy McFarlane.
Within WJM’s Renewable Energy Group, our expertise extends across technologies including onshore and offshore wind, hydro, solar and bio-mass. We work in partnership with our in-house tax team- which specialises in property, planning, tax and corporate structures- to ensure our clients achieve their project goals in the most tax efficient way, and liaise with our corporate department to further our clients’ business interests as far as possible.
With an established reputation in the industry, we offer clients an invaluable insight into both sides of the project. So whatever side of the table you are on, we can guarantee the best deal for you.
Our expertise doesn’t end there…
Noted for her 25 years’ experience in telecoms sector, network infrastructure expert Gillian Cowie advises on the introduction of the new Electronic Communications Code and its impact on UK landowners. The new code, implemented by the Digital Economy Act 2017, shifts the balance of power away from landowners in favour of mobile network operators and introduces new provisions governing the market value of land and how it is assessed.
“The complexity of the new Code is causing some uncertainty in the sector. Our team of experts will help guide you through the transition period” – Gillian Cowie.
At WJM, we have the technical knowledge and practical experience required to help our clients achieve their objectives on time and in budget. We are active in our field, representing both landowners and operators in negotiating lease renewals and terminations, and the sale and purchase of communications sites, and managing volume roll out programmes. We also assist with all manner of site management issues including wayleaves, access, rent review and site sharing.
Where do you come in?
You may be a farmer, estate owner, property investor or occupier looking to expand into the telecommunications or renewable energy markets. Alternatively, you may own or manage a family business and are simply seeking advice for the future.
Whatever your circumstances, WJM can provide an integrated solution to your problems and, what’s more, we can do it all under one roof. You’ll benefit from cross-sector analysis, multi-jurisdictional input from our dual qualified solicitors and, in all cases, a first-class client service.
Alyson Shaw is a trainee at Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP. Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie is a full-service, independent Scottish law firm, with a history stretching back over 160 years, operating from offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Dunblane.