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Scottish firm referred by legal watchdog

A legal watchdog has referred lawyers Shepherd & Wedderburn (S&W) to the Law Society of Scotland over its handling of the sale of Sheffield United and the advice given to the then co-owner, property developer Kevin McCabe.

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) has referred six complaints against S&W to the Law Society of Scotland. This is a normal course of events for conduct complaints, rather than an escalation of proceedings.

These complaints centre on alleged failures during a High Court hearing last year.

Saudi Arabian Prince

The dispute dates back to 2013, when Saudi Arabian Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz became co-owner of Sheffield United.

Complex agreements drawn up by S&W enabled the Prince to buy out McCabe’s 50% stake for £5 million at a time when it was valued at more than £50 million, and triggered additional obligations involving the club’s property assets, valued at £40 million.

Negligent

Last year a High Court judge found S&W’s advice had been negligent, but McCabe did not win the case because the ruling said there had been a failure to prove any loss was caused.

McCabe then lodged a protest with the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC), referencing findings from the High Court judgment.

The SLCC dismissed several complaints because they were time-barred.

In a statement, Shepherd and Wedderburn said that it does not accept or recognise the criticisms that have been made. 

"The High Court dismissed all of the claims against us and the claimants were refused permission to appeal by the Court of Appeal. 

"We are aware that a complaint has been made and it is progressing in the normal way," a spokesman for the firm said.