SLCC appoints law firms to its advisory and litigation panel
The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission has appointed three law firms to its advisory and litigation panel following a competitive tender process.
Brodies, Burness Paull, and Harper Macleod were appointed to the panel, which will provide legal services to the SLCC from 1 October 2026 for four years.
SLCC chief executive, Neil Stevenson, commented,
“At a time of significant change for the SLCC we were delighted to see so many law firms submit tender responses to our public procurement exercise. We ran a robust competition through Public Contracts Scotland which tested the ability of firms to provide strategic advice and respond to litigation against the SLCC.
“Currently, appeals of SLCC decisions go to the Inner House of the Court of Session, so we were looking for strong public law and litigation experience, and insight into how our strategy and values influence our approach to litigation as we test law and seek to improve the complaints process. In all our work we seek proportionality, risk confidence, and clear and concise advice.
“Firms will also help us prepare for a new system, with the courts replaced by an internal review mechanism, following the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025. We hope to see the government implement the legislation in July 2027, two years on from its passing, creating a transition period over the next few years.
"Our legal panel is vital in securing the outcomes we seek, but also in challenging our thinking, assisting with training for our staff and Board, and ensuring we are compliant across all our functions and statutory responsibilities.
“We’d like to thank all law firms that submitted bids. We know the time and effort that goes into submissions, and the wider team that plays a part in that from the legal experts to the often unsung heroes behind the scenes of tender submissions.
“We are delighted to start work with our new panel and my congratulations go to Fiona McLeod, Louise McErlean and Hazel Moffat, and Sandy Hastie, on the bids they led.”