Bruce Caldow

Bruce specialises in employment law and heads the firm’s employment law practice. Bruce advises in relation to both contentious and non-contentious matters, acting primarily for employers along with executive and senior-level employees, including in disputes before the Employment Tribunals and Employment Appeal Tribunal.

Bruce advises on all aspects of employment law across each of the public, private and third sectors, with Bruce regularly working with clients to create and apply policy, to make decisions about risk management, with technically astute advice focussed on practical delivery of achieving objectives. Bruce’s practice extends beyond Scotland with Bruce regularly advising our clients who have UK-wide operations and beyond.

Equalities advice is also a key feature of Bruce’s practice, advising clients on compliance, culture and resolution of contentious issues, not only within the workplace but more widely, also in relation to property, goods and services. Business immigration is an increasing area of Bruce’s practice with clients recently including businesses and individuals alike seeking Bruce’s guidance and support through planning and implementing recruitment, or leave to remain issues. Bruce edits sections on Employment Precedents for Sweet & Maxwell and authors Lexis Nexis PSL section on the Public Sector Equality Duty – Scotland.

Bruce also leads the firm’s sports law practice. In this role Bruce advises the firm’s many sports clients in relation to regulatory, disciplinary and governance matters. Clients include Scottish Rugby, for whom Bruce is the national team’s lawyer, sportscotland, Scottish Swimming and Scottish Gymnastics Association. Bruce is a chairman for the SFA judicial panel and regularly chairs judicial and appellate panels further to the judicial protocol. Bruce writes regularly on sport and the law in a number of publications and is member of the editorial board of the leading publication “Sports Law Administration and Practice”. Bruce has previously undertaken lengthy secondments assisting In-House Legal Counsel to World Rugby.

Bruce also coordinates the India country desk, part of Harper Macleod’s international offering.

The Legal 500 names Bruce as a “Leading Partner” in Sport and a “Recommended Lawyer” in Employment Law and Immigration. He is also ranked as a “Top Lawyer” in Sport by Chambers UK, wherein he is regarded as one of the foremost sports law experts in Scotland.  Bruce is also a Law Society of Scotland Accredited Specialist in Employment Law.