Movers & Shakers: Scotland

2023

April

Lindsays has announced a number of promotions. Private client lawyer Alison McKay makes the step up to partner from director, having joined the Glasgow-based team two years ago.

Fraser Geddes has relinquished his position as head of Anderson Strathern’s dispute resolution operation to become its full-time chair from the start of April 2023, taking over the role from Bruce Farquhar.

Burness Paull has appointed media, entertainment and sports specialist Fraser MacKinven as a partner in its technology and commercial division.

Ledingham Chalmers LLP has promoted partner Craig Pike to head its private client team.

gunnercooke has made a number of partner appointments. In Scotland, the firm has welcomed employment and discrimination lawyer Katy Wedderburn and dual qualified corporate partner Alex Innes.

Senior associate, Greg Lawson has joined Balfour + Manson’s private client team in Aberdeen.

Lindsays has announced a number of promotions. Sharon Drysdale has been promoted to director within the rural team. Also in the rural department, Eilidh Robertson steps up from senior solicitor to associate. Kathleen Gaughan has been made an associate in the firm’s personal injury team, based in Glasgow. In the Dundee office, Lindsay Carr has been promoted to associate in residential conveyancing and Katherine McAlpine has been promoted to associate within the dispute resolution and litigation department.

Leanne Gordon has re-joined Lindsays’ rural services team in Edinburgh.

Ledingham Chalmers LLP has made a number of senior promotions with effect from 1 April 2023. Five are part of the private client team, including specialisms in residential property and rural work. In Aberdeen, Jenna Hendry, James Florance and Claire Woodward become associates, while Hannah Black and Joanna Milne become senior solicitors. Meanwhile, there are two promotions in the commercial property discipline. Mhari Michie in Aberdeen and Graeme Myles in Inverness are now both senior associates.

Garden Stirling Burnet has launched a family law division in East Lothian with three new additions to the team. Heading up the team, Claire Christie joins as legal director. Kathryn Wilson joins the firm in a consultancy role. Amanda Richardson joins the team as a family law paralegal with 20 years’ experience running high-value matrimonial cases. Meanwhile Angela Craig will now focuses exclusively on criminal matters.

March

Murray Beith Murray has made two private client partner promotions. Sophie Napier and Fraser Scott have taken up their new roles from 1 February 2023.

In the Spring 2023, Thorntons is set to move to a new office in Glasgow based at Lomond House, George Square.

Balfour + Manson has appointed Scott Foster as its new chief operating officer.

Anderson Strathern has appointed four new directors to strengthen its senior team. Lorraine Currie has joined the firm following eight-years at the Scottish Information Commissioner’s office. Tim Macdonald, an agricultural law specialist, joins with almost a decade of experience working on the purchase and sale of farms and estates, agricultural tenancies and farming partnerships. The firm has also appointed Caroline Pringle as a senior member of its private client team. Chris Weir has been appointed director within the professional regulation team, and will be applying his strategic and operational experience to a commercial environment.

Miller Samuel Hill Brown has announced the appointment of Jacqueline Alleyne as a senior associate in the commercial property department.

February

Burness Paull is to relocate its Aberdeen team to a new office in the Marischal Square development. The firm will occupy the entire second floor of 2MSQ.

Pamela Rodgers has been promoted to partner with PBW Law.

Blackadders has made a number of senior appointments in its private client team. In Edinburgh, James Hyams joins as a legal director, Rona Burns as a senior solicitor and Claire Metcalfe as a solicitor. Meanwhile, in the Glasgow office Taylor Henry joins the private client team as a senior solicitor.

Family Law Matters Scotland LLP has welcomed Morven Douglas as a legal director.

Inksters has appointed Adam Johnson as its chief operating officer in Glasgow. Meanwhile, Katherine Paulin has joined the firm as a consultant solicitor in Dunkeld.

McCartney Stewart joined Inksters as of 1 November 2022 and has moved to Merlin Business Centre, Hillington Park, Glasgow. Alan Stewart joins the firm as a consultant solicitor along with two members of McCartney Stewart’s support team, Yvonne Mavers and Lynda Carson.

Plexus Law has welcomed Bobby Murray to the casualty & personal injury team.

MBM Commercial has promoted Iain McDougall to partner in the Edinburgh office.

Mackinnons Solicitors has promoted three new partners across its property and marine commercial teams - Angus Easton, Gregor Sim, and Pamela Bursill.

Commercial property specialist Stephanie Nichol has been made a partner at Balfour + Manson.

Gilson Gray has opened of a new office at 2 West Marketgait, Dundee.

Private client lawyer Lisa Law has joined Ledingham Chalmers LLP as a partner in Inverness.

TLT has appointed two new senior hires to its commercial services group in Edinburgh. Commercial lawyer Dr Julie Nixon joins the firm as managing associate. In addition, to Nixon’s appointment, corporate lawyer Nimarta Cheema also joins the team in Edinburgh as senior associate.

Lindsays has welcomed Lauren McGhie as a solicitor in the private client team in Glasgow.

Lindsays has welcomed Omar Mohammed as a senior solicitor in the residential property team based in Edinburgh.

January

Thorntons has promoted three legal directors to partner as of 1 January 2023. Anne Miller and Mike Kemp, , have been promoted to partner in the dispute resolution and claims team in Dundee, while Graeme Dickson , steps up to partner in the private client team in Edinburgh.

Blackadders has welcomed back Karen Phillips as a partner in the private client team in Edinburgh.

Blackadders has announced the appointment of Lindsey Brown as a partner in the private client team based in Dundee.

Gillespie Macandrew has confirmed the appointment of Lois Newton as a trustee of the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI).

Paul Young has re-joined Shepherd and Wedderburn as a partner in the infrastructure team.

DAC Beachcroft has announced that Zoe McDonnell has joined the firm as a partner in its Scottish regulatory – safety, health & environment team.

DLA Piper has appointed Naomi Pryde as partner to its Edinburgh litigation & regulatory team.

DWF has announced a number of senior promotions. They include Lauren Rae (commercial litigation, Edinburgh) and Lynne Macfarlane (personal injury, Glasgow) who have been promoted to partner.

Blackadders has announced that associate solicitor, Joanne Murray, has been awarded accreditation as a specialist in child law.

Thorntons has expanded its Glasgow practice with the appointment of a new senior solicitor and legal director to its commercial real estate team. Richard Hart has joined the firm as a legal director. Also joining the firm is Abbi Armstrong.

Lindsays has welcomed Alasdair Craig, who joins the firm’s commercial property team as a senior associate.