Hope Capital adds Gunnercooke Scotland to its Scottish dual legal representation panel for bridging loans
Bridging lenders offering dual legal representation in Scotland are doing so on differing terms, with Hope Capital Property Finance adding Gunnercooke Scotland to its Scottish dual representation panel.
The Liverpool-based specialist lender offers the service on loans of up to £1 million through its recently launched Max GDV residential bridging proposition. Max GDV offers up to 70% loan to gross development value (LTGDV) at a monthly rate of 0.87%.
Gunnercooke Scotland, an existing member of the lender’s legal panel, will now also offer dual legal representation for property transactions in Scotland.
The move builds on the working relationship between the two firms and gives brokers and borrowers another option, following the appointment of Aberdein Considine and Carters to the panel earlier this year.
‘A natural next step’
“We’ve built a strong working relationship with Gunnercooke Scotland during their time on our legal panel, so extending that relationship to include dual legal representation is a natural next step,” said Laura Carr (pictured above). Carr is the director of underwriting, compliance and stakeholder relations at Hope Capital Property Finance.
She said Gunnercooke Scotland’s team understands the lender’s approach and the pace of bridging finance, providing a foundation for a coordinated legal process. “We’re pleased to build on that relationship while giving brokers and borrowers more choice when placing cases in Scotland.”
Fewer routes north of the border
A bridging lender comparison from broker FD Commercial states that dual representation is less common in Scotland. Conveyancing there uses missives rather than exchange and completion, and lenders require a Scottish solicitor. The guide lists InterBay, Aspen and Greenfield among lenders that do not lend in Scotland.
Dual representation in Scotland remains less common than in England and Wales. Together extended the service there from October 2025 on unregulated loans up to £500,000 for commercial finance cases, while Hope Capital’s Scottish limit stands at £1 million.
The £1 million ceiling follows criteria changes made in the summer, when Hope Capital raised its dual legal representation limit to £1 million and extended the service to Scotland for the first time.
One solicitor under Scottish rules
Under the arrangement, one solicitor firm acts for both the lender and the borrower. According to Hope Capital, this can reduce duplication in the legal process. It can also help borrowers avoid some of the time and costs associated with instructing separate firms.
Law Society of Scotland rule B2.1 bars solicitors from acting for two or more parties whose interests conflict. One solicitor may act for both parties if loan terms were agreed before they were instructed by the lender. No actual conflict can arise.
Specialist brokers note that enforcement of securities in Scotland is more court-regulated than in England and Wales and, in some cases, requires formal notices and Sheriff Officer involvement.
Three Scottish appointments in 2026
Aberdein Considine and Carters were appointed in August, with the appointments aimed at speeding up completions and cutting transaction costs in Scotland.
Oliver Craig, director at Carters, said then that the model offered faster completions, lower costs and a more streamlined process.
Hope Capital has lent in Scotland since 2018. The lender said extending its relationship with Gunnercooke Scotland is part of its continued investment in its Scottish offering and the legal partnerships supporting it.
Lender and law firm comment
“Having worked closely with Hope Capital Property Finance as a member of its Scottish legal panel, we’re delighted to build on that relationship by extending our offering to include dual legal representation,” said Bryan Finlayson, partner at Gunnercooke.
Finlayson said the firms have developed an understanding of how their teams work together and share a commitment to helping transactions progress efficiently. He added that the arrangement would allow them to support more brokers and borrowers in Scotland.
Completion times under scrutiny
BDLA figures showed completions among its lender members fell to £1.6 billion in Q2 2026 from £2.3 billion a year earlier, with the association citing subdued transactions and often protracted completion times. Applications fell 26.3%, completions 15.2% and loan books 10.6% on the previous quarter.
Bridging Trends data showed average completion times fell from 53 days in Q1 2026 to 46 days in Q2.
Registers of Scotland recorded 104,408 residential sales in 2025–26, up 5% on the previous year, with a total value of £24.3 billion. Scottish Government analysis shows sales in the three months to May 2026 were down by around 1% on an annual basis.
