Third Sector Team BTO’s dedicated team is here to support all of your business and legal needs. We appreciate that the Third Sector is a vital area of business in Scotland. An important focus of our work is on advising and collaborating with social enterprises, whether they are social firms, community interest companies, cooperatives, development trusts, registered social landlords or otherwise, to help them achieve their social and economic objectives.
"a team of knowledgeable individuals with a broad skill base… it really fights your corner, but at a far fairer price than many other Scottish firms." (Chambers UK)
Working with you
"essential to getting things done - out there getting ... hands dirty and sorting out our problems" (Chambers UK) "user friendly" and "deliver good results"
(The Legal 500)
Working with you The need for equality, community and wellbeing in Scotland is greater than ever and we are keen to support local Social Enterprise Networks (SENs) in navigating the challenges posed by the current economic and social circumstances. In order for SENs to provide the most effective services within their respective social enterprise communities, it will be beneficial for you to join forces on certain projects. Efficient partnership working can be achieved in a variety of ways and we are accustomed to undertaking due diligence and advising on the most appropriate options available. BTO’s team will collaborate with you and draw on our business acumen, and considerable insight and experience gained working in the Third Sector, to achieve commercial solutions for you. This document introduces you to key contacts in our team and provides a flavour of our credentials. We will blend our services to fit your particular needs and we look forward to sharing our expertise and business contacts with you, to help you achieve your vision of creating a fairer Scotland served by a thriving social economy.
"proactive, attentive and pragmatic … As we provide a variety of services over a sizable geographical area, BTO are particularly useful for us as they offer a "one stop shop…" - David Maxwell, Chief Executive McSence Group
CORPORATE
Mergers, Acquisitions, Disposals and Finance Arrangements
Advised on the recent merger of Social Firms Scotland and Senscot.
Longstanding advisor to Social Firms Scotland and a core adviser in its “Acquiring Business for Good” programme (creating template transaction documentation and providing advice and support in individual acquisitions).
Charites
Accredited Specialist in Charity Law.
Thorough understanding of charity regulation, OSCR’s requirements and regulatory role and complex governance and regulatory matters.
Advised multiple bodies on their transition to charitable status.
Successful track record of handling complex charity reorganisation applications to OSCR under the provisions of the Charities and Trustee (Scotland) Act 2005.
Act for many charitable registered social landlords (RSLs), addressing the complex regulatory regime in which charity RSLs operate.
Employment
Team includes two Accredited Specialists in Employment Law.
Advise on all aspects of employment law and human resources issues from recruitment through regulatory and disciplinary issues, to dismissal and high-level exits and TUPE matters.
Accustomed to having advice tested if Employment Tribunal claims are raised and have a solid track record of our advice being upheld at hearings.
Currently advising many clients on furlough, redundancy and related issues.
Alastair Dunn akd@bto.co.uk
CHARITIES
Marion Davis mda@bto.co.uk
EMPLOYMENT
Douglas Strang dst@bto.co.uk
Intellectual Property and Data Protection
One of very few teams in Scotland able to offer contentious/non-contentious IP advice.
Team includes a Solicitor Advocate with 36 years’ experience who appears regularly in the supreme civil courts to argue contentious IP matters.
Best known for cases such as trade mark prosecution and opposition, passing off, trade mark and copyright infringement, database infringement, restrictive covenant breaches, domain disputes, website IP disputes and content takedowns.
Recent experience of emergency court action to obtain removal and restraint of Facebook content and compensation for Facebook defamation.
Accredited Specialist in Freedom of Information and Data Protection law.
IP & DATA PROTECTION
Lynn Richmond lyr@bto.co.uk
PROPERTY
Property
In-depth experience of working with the public/quasi-public sector at the highest levels, handling the full range of commercial property work, including lease management, site acquisition, sale and disposal of property.
In recent years, handled some of the highest value property transactions of any comparable independent Scottish firm, including managing several of the highest value investment purchases and sales in Scotland.
Health & Safety, Regulatory and Criminal Defence
Largest team operating in Scotland: 100% specialism in Health & Safety and Regulatory law - top ranked in The Legal 500 and Chambers UK.
Clare Bone - one of only two Scottish solicitors to hold a place in the Legal 500’s Hall of Fame for Health & Safety Law.
Two Civil and three Criminal Solicitor Advocates.
An immediate response to incidents Scotland-wide.
Karen Brodie ksb@bto.co.uk
HEALTH & SAFETY
Clare Bone cbo@bto.co.uk
Working with you
BTO Solicitors LLP (SO305583): 48 St. Vincent Street Glasgow G2 5HS, T: 0141 221 8012 One Edinburgh Quay Edinburgh EH3 9QG, T: 0131 222 2939 77-81 Sinclair Street Helensburgh G84 8TG, T: 01436 671 221
www.bto.co.uk
Twitter: @btosolicitors