We offer high-powered legal services.
We are recognised experts in the field of oil, gas and energy.
Our experienced team is largely based in Aberdeen, as indeed is the
industry, and has worked closely with the energy sector over many
years to develop services to best meet their particular legal
needs. We count operators, contractors, suppliers and their
insurers among our clients, with such diverse business activities
as diving, helicopter supply, pipe laying, crane operation and
catering.
We understand the challenges of working offshore and
sub-sea.
The Workplace. With a physically demanding
enviroment, requiring a considerable skill set and highly paid
workers, there is significant potential for a large volume of high
value claims in relation to injury and employment. We are ideally
placed to assist clients resolve claims that arise efficiently and
fairly, and represent them in the Sheriff Court, Court of Session
and Supreme Court.
Technical Equipment. Our clients need us to
understand their tools and terminology. Our legal team are at home
discussing and defending a wide range of technical matters from
saturation diving through to offshore drilling operations.
Specialist Regulations. Our clients are
required to adhere to stringent regulations. We therefore have a
thorough knowledge of these and the industry's methods of work. In
addition, we are very familiar with the complex contractual
framework for the allocation of liability when claims arise.
Distinctly different claims. Our caseload and
experience of oil and gas claims is considerable. This
includes aviation and marine accidents and accidents
occurring on oil installations and under water. We have
represented clients following diving accidents, and have full
knowledge of how to assess injuries and financial loss. Our
employment lawyers have a thorough knowledge of the relevant issues
relating to employment in this challenging environment.
Our expertise extends to claims arising from the growing wind
energy industry.
Matters of Jurisdiction. Conflict of law and
jurisdictional issues are a common problem for our clients.
We look to resolve these complexities, and have a high degree
of success. We recently resolved one such case where a
Maltese citizen was injured on an US owned rig, operated by a
Scottish contractor in international waters.
Our Credentials
- Simpson & Marwick has advised and represented clients in
the aftermath of most of the high profile catastrophic accidents -
Brent Spar, Piper Alpha, Cormorant Alpha and the Sumburgh air crash
- which have resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, public
and fatal accident inquiries.
- Our employment lawyers successfully acted for Respondent
employers at recent appeals at the Court of Session in cases
brought by several hundred offshore workers under the Working Time
Regulations.
- Five of our Oil, Gas and Energy team are highly rated in
Chambers Legal Directory.
- Our advice has been instrumental in developing a law relating
to hold harmless indemnities.
- Our knowledge of the industry and its changes over the last 30
years has allowed us to establish significant contacts who can be
of great value to our clients as expert witnesses.
Contacts: Robert Leith, Mark Donaldson, Sandy Kemp, Douglas
Russell, Mike Jones