Lindsays has gained top ranking in one of the professions two major ranking publications.

The Legal 500 Rankings are based entirely on client feedback, and their 2011 rankings have seen Lindsays achieve top ranking for Licensing, Gaming and Betting for the first time.

The firm’s chairman, David Reith, said: “This is a tribute to the fantastic work that has been carried out by a team that has unmatched expertise and strength in depth in Scotland.

“The fact that the rankings are based entirely on feedback from clients makes this achievement all the more worthy.”

Stephen McGowan, who is Director of Licensing and joined Lindsays in September 2010, said: “I am absolutely delighted for the whole team and particularly for my colleague Caroline Loudon, who put a tremendous amount of work into this and is on maternity leave just now – she was thrilled!

Lindsays have long had a strong licensing presence with Caroline, and John Loudon who is still a Consultant to the firm, but in the last twelve months we have expanded considerably, particularly with the addition of licensing doyen John Batters and his team. We are now the largest, most experienced licensing team in Scotland and this new ranking is testament to that. We quite simply live and breathe licensing - and pride ourselves not just on our grasp of the law, but in having a real world understanding of what our clients face at the coal face of the licensed and gambling trades.”

The firm has also achieved a top ranking for Education, again improving on its achievement of last year. Across all of its areas of expertise the firm has either seen improvement, or has maintained its status.

David Reith added: “It is pleasing that the firm continues to demonstrate the quality and depth of expertise and advice, and to show that we continue to build on that excellence and to seek continued improvement in all areas.”