The PSG was formed in 2001 to produce agreed forms of documents and procedures for Scottish commercial property transactions. Over time our work has expanded to include residential documentation as well.
The four founder law firms: CMS (formerly known as Dundas & Wilson), Dentons (formerly known as Maclay Murray & Spens), Pinsent Masons (formerly known as McGrigors), and Shepherd and Wedderburn were concerned that too much time was being spent negotiating documents and agreeing non-contentious procedures. This approach was unnecessarily time consuming, because each firm had its own way of doing things to achieve the same end result.
Among the many benefits, standardisation of documents and procedures can:
- avoid wasting time on minutiae, allowing solicitors to concentrate on the commercial issues that really matter in the transaction;
- speed up the whole process for the client’s benefit;
- make transactions more profitable; and
- manage risk.
The PSG is grateful for the assistance given to them by other firms carrying out commercial property work, in reviewing final drafts of our documents prior to publication. Our consultees are: Addleshaw Goddard, Anderson Strathern, Burness Paull, Church of Scotland Legal Department, DLA, DWF, Ennova Law, Gillespie Macandrew, Harper Macleod, Morton Fraser, Property Litigation Association, Shoosmiths, TLT, Urquharts, and Wright Johnston & Mackenzie. The clear aim is however to agree forms of documentation and procedure which can be used by all firms engaged in commercial property work, not merely restricted to the firms involved in the PSG to date.
Our work
Over the years, the PSG has produced standardised documents for many aspects of typical commercial transactions. We also developed a suite of residential documentation in liaison with the Law Society Property Law Committee.
We have produced Scottish versions of standardised documents from the City of London Law Society (the Certificate of Title) and the Model Commercial Leases (MCL).
All of our documents are maintained, and updated when the law, or practice changes.
In the various sections of this website you will find details of standardised documents which the PSG has produced. PSG documentation is branded and accompanying guidance notes may be freely used in accordance with our standard Terms and Conditions.
We regularly liaise with the Law Society of Scotland, the Scottish Property Federation, the Property PSLs Group and other property bodies to share views and information about our activities. Production of new documents and material changes to existing documents are highlighted in the Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, in the “Latest Updates” section of the website, and on social media. We are always keen to hear from other firms who are interested in the PSG’s aims.