What Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP does

Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP is an independent Scottish-headquartered law firm tracing its origins to 1768, operating as a Limited Liability Partnership from five offices across Edinburgh (headquarters), Glasgow, Aberdeen, London, and Dublin. The firm delivers legal services through eight practice areas (Banking and Finance, Commercial Property, Corporate and Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Employment and Immigration, Pensions, Private Client, Procurement, Risk and Regulation) and eleven sector teams (Energy and Natural Resources, Financial Services, Private Wealth, Real Estate and Infrastructure, Technology and Life Sciences, Charities, Education, Government and Public Sector, Hospitality and Leisure, Rural Property and Business, Sport/Entertainment/Media), serving corporate organisations and private individuals across the UK and Ireland.

The firm’s commercial model is relationship-led and sector-embedded, combining technical legal expertise with industry knowledge to deliver transactional, advisory, and dispute resolution work. Pricing is structured through standard professional-services arrangements — typically hourly rates, fixed fees, or retainers — although specific rates are not publicly disclosed. Revenue is generated from legal services fees across both business and private client segments, with no subscription, platform, or technology-licensing revenue streams. Marketing and business development emphasise sector authority: the firm has been headline sponsor of the All-Energy exhibition for twelve consecutive years, maintains a LinkedIn presence of 71,124 followers, operates a knowledge hub and Client Hub portal, and runs a webinar programme. Notable enterprise engagements span energy (Hitachi Energy, SSEN, Enercon, Nordex, Schneider Electric), retail (Halfords, Greggs, Subway) and government (Crown Estate Scotland).

The firm operates with limited proprietary technology — its capabilities are rooted in human legal expertise rather than software platforms. Underlying technology consists of a secure Client Hub portal for document management and communications, with information-security credentials including ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials Plus, and SOC 2 Type II. Headcount is reported in the 251–500 band, with 91 partners as of the most recent reporting period. The partnership is independently owned (no external PE/VC), with managing partner Andrew Blain completing seven years of tenure before handing over to Andy Hall effective May 1, 2026. The firm is not an AI-native business; no AI/ML capabilities, products, or research are disclosed.

Name

Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP

Legal name

Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP

Website

https://shepwedd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1768

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP is an independent Scottish-headquartered law firm founded in 1768, operating from five offices across the UK and Ireland and delivering sector-specialised legal services across nine practice areas to corporate and private clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK)

Keywords

• Legal services
• Commercial law
• Corporate legal advice
• Litigation services
• Real estate law

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services Fees: Traditional law firm revenue from providing legal advice and services to clients across multiple practice areas and sectors, including transactional work, advisory services, and dispute resolution.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP is an independent Scottish law firm delivering legal advice and representation across multiple practice areas (Banking and Finance, Commercial Property, Corporate and Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Employment and Immigration, Pensions, Private Client, Procurement, Risk and Regulation) and sector-focused teams (Energy and Natural Resources, Financial Services, Real Estate and Infrastructure, Technology and Life Sciences, Government and Public Sector, among others). The firm serves corporate clients and private individuals from five offices across the UK and Ireland, with a digital Client Hub portal supporting document management and client communications.

Product overview

Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP is an independent Scottish law firm providing comprehensive legal services across multiple practice areas and sectors. The firm operates through a combination of specialized legal expertise groups (Banking and Finance, Commercial Property, Corporate and Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Employment and Immigration, Pensions, Private Client, Procurement, Risk and Regulation) and sector-focused teams (Energy and Natural Resources, Financial Services, Real Estate and Infrastructure, Technology and Life Sciences, Charities, Education, Government and Public Sector, Hospitality and Leisure, Rural Property and Business, Sport Entertainment and Media). The firm offers client-facing digital services through its Client Hub portal alongside traditional legal advisory services delivered across offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, London, and Dublin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Banking and Finance Legal Services Legal advice and representation for clients across banking and finance matters, including transactional work, lending, and regulatory compliance.
• Commercial Property Legal Services Legal advice on commercial property transactions, development projects, and property-related disputes for investors, developers, landlords and tenants.
• Corporate and Commercial Legal Services Legal advice and support on corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, and corporate governance matters.
• Dispute Resolution Legal Services Legal representation and advice for resolving commercial disputes, including litigation, arbitration, adjudication, and negotiation.
• Employment and Immigration Legal Services Legal advice on employment law matters (contracts, disputes, tribunals) and immigration issues for employers and employees.
• Pensions Legal Services Legal advice on pension schemes, compliance, and data protection for trustees, employers, and scheme administrators.
• Private Client Legal Services

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OPITOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2026Shepherd and Wedderburn's All-Energy exhibition and conference has partnered with OPITO to launch a Future Talent Hub focused on workforce development and skills in clean energy. This initiative aims to address skills gaps in the low-carbon energy sector by creating opportunities for professional development and training.
• Highland Women Growth SummitminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 February 2026Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP participated as a speaker organisation at the Highland Women Growth Summit, an event organised by inpurpose associates to encourage investment in female-led businesses in the Highlands. The summit addressed the gap in investment access for women-led businesses, noting that only 2% of venture capital funding goes to women-led ventures.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Burness Paull LLP: Independent Scottish law firm of comparable size headquartered in Edinburgh and Glasgow, offering broadly overlapping practice areas across corporate, real estate, energy, employment, and dispute resolution. Direct competitor for Scottish talent, clients, and mandates.
• Brodies LLP: Largest independent Scottish law firm, headquartered in Edinburgh with offices in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, and London. Competes head-to-head across all of Shepherd and Wedderburn's core practice areas and sector specialisms.
• Lindsays LLP: Scottish law firm with Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen offices, offering corporate, real estate, private client, and family law services. Direct competitor in the Scottish mid-market for legal services.
• MacRoberts LLP: Scottish law firm with offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen, providing corporate, real estate, employment, and dispute resolution services. Similar size and independent positioning make it a direct peer for Scottish mandates.
• Morton Fraser MacRoberts: Edinburgh-headquartered Scottish law firm with Glasgow and Aberdeen offices, offering full-service legal advice. Overlaps with Shepherd and Wedderburn across corporate, real estate, private client, and employment work.

Broad incumbents

• CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP: Major international law firm with a substantial Edinburgh office, competing for Scottish energy, real estate, and financial services mandates. Larger resource base and global network position it as a broader incumbent competitor.
• Dentons UK and Middle East LLP: World's largest global law firm with a significant Edinburgh office (following absorption of Maclay Murray & Spens). Competes across corporate, energy, real estate, and disputes work in Scotland.
• Pinsent Masons LLP: UK-headquartered international law firm with an Edinburgh office, focused on energy, infrastructure, financial services, and real estate. Competes for higher-value Scottish mandates where cross-border capability matters.
• Addleshaw Goddard LLP: UK law firm with an Edinburgh presence, offering corporate, real estate, finance, and dispute resolution services. Competes for mid-market and upper-mid-market Scottish mandates.
• Weightmans LLP: UK-wide law firm with offices including Scotland, providing insurance, real estate, corporate, and public sector legal services. Overlaps with Shepherd and Wedderburn in regulated sectors and real estate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Shepwedd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/71124
• Xx.com/shepwedd

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP