bto’s significant presence in the insurance market has been reinforced by top rankings in the latest UK legal directories which detail key players in the legal sector.
In The Legal 500, bto has maintained its band 1 rankings in six practice areas including Health & Safety, Medical Negligence (defender), Personal Injury (defender) and Professional Negligence.
bto’s Health & Safety team, led by Criminal Solicitor Advocate and band 1 ranked Clare Bone, is distinguished by Chambers UK for being “extremely approachable and pragmatic with super connections to the stakeholders in casualty claims.” Chambers UK also acknowledges that Clare’s “specialist knowledge of criminal health and safety sets her apart from her peers.” This team handles personal injury cases and criminal prosecutions related to health and safety, regularly acting on behalf of multinational insurers and their insured. It represents clients in high-profile fatal accident inquiries (FAIs) and health and safety investigations, and also provides non-contentious advice.
bto’s Clinical Defence team is described by Chambers UK as “the pre-eminent clinical negligence team in Scotland” and is particularly recognised for its work at FAIs and GMC disciplinary proceedings. Key members of the team Douglas Jessiman and Laura Donald are regarded by Chambers UK as leaders in the field of clinical negligence and are both ranked in band 1. Glasgow-based Douglas is described as a "shrewd tactician" and Edinburgh-based Laura is "superbly well organised, completely dedicated and fantastically practical." The team receives instructions from the Medical Protection Society and the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, among others.
The firm’s Personal Injury team “is very customer-focused and understands our needs, managing them skilfully," state clients familiar with this "solid, dependable and friendly" firm. Solicitor-advocate Catherine Currie heads bto’s personal injury team, which The Legal 500 acknowledges is “very strong technically”. Partner and Solicitor Advocate Stephen Bryceland is also recommended. High profile insurers regularly instruct the firm on EL/PL and high-volume claims.
bto’s "impressive" Professional Negligence team has a well-established presence in the Scottish professional negligence market. The team acts across the range of the professions winning numerous instructions from its top-tier insurer clients. The team's work also wins praise from its peers in the legal market since it "takes a team approach to claims and really puts everything into it" and “provides “high-quality advice.” The Legal 500 acknowledges that team head, Derek Allan, is “one of the leading lights in professional negligence work in Scotland” and Chambers UK awards him with ‘star individual’ status. Partner Alan Eadie is also ranked in band 1 by Chambers UK. He is well known in the construction sphere and remains "everything a client is looking for," since he is "knowledgeable, proactive and on top of his cases."
Of the Insurance team as a whole, Chambers UK states that “This highly regarded Scottish firm ...is noted for its expert advice on motor, property and public liability claims.”
Bill Speirs, Partner, who heads bto’s Insurance team commented: “We are delighted that our clients and peers continue to acknowledge our expertise in the insurance sector. This achievement recognises the hard work and enthusiasm of everyone in the team.”