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Fergus McDiarmid
PartnerAs head of Scotland’s largest dedicated Property in Pensions team, Fergus is widely recognised as a market leader in SIPP and SSAS real estate, advising the majority of the UK’s top pension providers on high-volume, high-value transactions.
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Emma Carmichael-Stewart
Legal DirectorEmma combines her commercial property and energy sector expertise to support complex pension-backed real estate deals, contributing to MFMac’s reputation as one of Scotland’s most experienced legal teams in this space.
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Lisa Blackwood
Senior AssociateLisa is a senior associate with standout experience in SIPP and SSAS transactions, acting for a wide range of pension providers, landlords and investors across Scotland’s commercial property market.
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Yana Dychakovska
Senior ParalegalYana is known for her precision and proactive support in managing complex commercial property transactions for SIPP and SSAS providers.
Property in Pensions
Our Property in Pensions team is the largest, most dedicated of its kind in Scotland with unrivalled experience in relation to SIPP and SSAS real estate.
The go-to legal team for pension-backed property deals
We complete hundreds of pension real estate transactions every year, acting for many of the UK’s leading SIPP and SSAS commercial property providers. Several of these providers appoint us exclusively, trusting us to deliver fast, accurate and commercially focused advice.
Our team advises on every stage of the property lifecycle—buying, managing and selling commercial assets through pension structures. We understand the regulatory landscape, the commercial pressures and the need to get deals done without delay.
Built for the pace and complexity of the SIPP and SSAS market
We’re not just legal advisers—we’re strategic partners. Our team supports pension providers with the setup and evolution of their legal frameworks, including:
- Scalable, compliant documentation
- Bespoke case management systems
- Advice on the most effective legal vehicles and structures
As active members of AMPS and a Legal 500-ranked real estate team, we combine technical strength with deep sector insight. We know what matters to your clients and we deliver advice that helps you move quickly, manage risk and stay ahead of change.
Our property in pensions experts
With a cross-disciplinary team, our legal offering is agile enough to handle any real estate deal.
MFMac advises on new letting at Princes Square by M to Anthropologie
We were pleased to recently advise Sheet Anchor Investments Limited on securing a new lease at Princes Square by M' Core Property, Glasgow, for Anthropologie — the internationally acclaimed womenswear and lifestyle brand.
Landlord and lender update
Eviction for rent arrears and the test of reasonableness: Upper Tribunal clarifies reasonableness in Mackellar v Carlin.
Spotlight on the Community Right to buy to further Sustainable Development as landowner loses appeal
Since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, Scottish legislators have embarked on a programme of community orientated land reform, with community ownership of property being a key priority. As a result of these changes, communities in Scotland now have fairly significant powers and rights to buy land, although to date these powers and rights have been put to limited use.
REITs in recovery: Why REITs are entering a new valuation phase
UK-listed REITs have had to adapt to shifting ground for some time. Brexit uncertainty, the long decline of retail property and the rapid rise of logistics and industrial assets have all reshaped the market. The latest challenge has been soaring interest rates, which pushed average discounts to NAV to around 24% in 2023 . Now, as economic conditions start to settle, there are early signs of a cautious recovery.