The 2026 edition of the Legal 500 directory was released on Wednesday with Terra Firma ranked as a leading set (Band 1) for Employment, Private Client & Family, and Property, Planning and Construction. The stable also retained its ranking for Crime and Regulatory. In addition to receiving individual rankings in the aforementioned practice areas, Terra Firma members also received rankings under Administrative and Public Law and Commercial Disputes, gathering 30 individual rankings across core practice areas.

Described as the “go-to stable for private client and contentious executry matters”, Terra Firma remains the only stable recognised for its expertise in this area. In addition to Band 1 rankings for Philip Simpson KC and Roddy Macleod, additional Band 1 rankings were awarded to Gordon Watt: “A junior with a cerebral approach to disputes and a pragmatic advocacy style”; and Fergus Colquhoun: “An empathetic and articulate advocate.”

Terra Firma is one of only two stables recognised for its expertise in employment law with Graham Dunlop, Peter Grant-Hutchison and Maurice O’Carroll all receiving Band 1 rankings.

Terra Firma is hailed as “an excellent stable for advocates specialising in planning and environmental law” with no less than 12 individual rankings for Property, Planning & Construction, including “the pre-eminent planning silk in Scotland”, James Findlay KC. The rankings include two new recommendations for Fergus Colquhoun and Alan Innes.

Following his award as Junior of the Year at last year’s Legal 500 Scotland awards, Kenneth Young was again hailed as a ‘rising star’ for crime and regulatory and property, planning and construction.

In addition, the clerking team are described as “fantastic”; “efficient and reliable”; “proactive and responsive”; “helpful”; and “polite and friendly”: “The service from the clerks at Terra Firma is outstanding.”

Practice manager Emma Caskie-Potter said: “I am delighted with another strong showing in this year’s Legal 500 which recognises the expertise not only of our Counsel but also the clerking team. These recommendations once again highlight the collective strength across our core practice areas and the high-quality service upon which we pride ourselves.”