The Murray Stable of Advocates, whose members include Valerie Stacey QC, Iain Mitchell QC and Ian Truscott QC, has formed a specialist practice group offering advocacy services on commercial and insolvency matters, to fill a perceived gap in available legal services for the insolvency professions and the wider community in Scotland.

The Commercial and Insolvency Group is composed of nine advocates all of whom have a special interest in developing professional services in this area of law.  Murray Stable practice manager Iain Murray said that the demand for expertise in the commercial and insolvency areas has definitely increased.

""The legal and accounting professions have undoubtedly become more discerning," he added.

"To satisfy the accelerating demand for expertise in the insolvency field a group of senior and junior counsel has been formed within the stable. Insolvency work, which has always been cyclical, was big business in the last decade and not just for the accountants.

“The senior end this group includes advocates who were prominent the last time the cycle came round and for example took part in House of Lords cases such as Clydesdale Bank v Davidson as well as more junior members who are equally keyed up.

“The result is the Murray Stable now has a team of Advocates already geared to providing advice and advocacy quickly in the insolvency field, for example concerning securities, preferences, trading, actions against former directors, personal guarantees as well as the multitudinous actions and petitions involving Liquidators and Trustees.”