Peter Lawson

The firm, which has topped the table of corporate dealmakers in Scotland a record five years running, collected the Dealmakers accolade at the annual black-tie ceremony in Glasgow.

Mark Ellis, head of corporate finance at Burness Paull, said: “I am tremendously proud of the team, who grew, adapted and excelled in one of the most unpredictable and dynamic markets that we have seen for many years.”

Dealmaking highlights for Burness Paull included advising abrdn on its acquisition of AI platform Exo, the Calnex Solutions’ IPO (Scotland’s first IPO in more than two years) and advising TDR and I Squared Capital on the Scots law aspects of their £2.3bn acquisition of Aggreko plc.

Notable technology deals it advised on included the sale of Scottish global software provider Axios Systems plc to Swedish HQ’d IFS, backed by PE firms EQT and TA Associates, and supporting wearable tech company PlayerData on its equity investment by Hiro Capital.

Burness Paull’s investment in respect and inclusion was also recognised this week as its Menopause at Work programme won the D&I initiative (law firm) category at the UK Diversity Legal Awards held at Plaisterers’ Hall, London.

Burness Paull was the only Scottish law firm shortlisted at the event, and took the honours in its category in the face of competition from some of the world’s largest legal businesses.

The award follows hot on the heels of Burness Paull becoming the first accredited “Menopause Friendly” employer in Scotland - as well as the first law firm in the UK to achieve the status.

Peter Lawson, chair at Burness Paull, commented: “We are focussed on what matters to our people and the menopause campaign is a great example of that.

“Through our colleague forum BeValued we knew it was an issue impacting women in the workplace and that people wanted us to do more to tackle it.

“It’s a real achievement to have received this major award along with our recent menopause friendly accreditation.”