People on the move

ABERDEIN CONSIDINE, Aberdeen and elsewhere, has acquired WALLERS SOLICITORS, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (pictured). The combined business will trade under the Aberdein Considine brand. Matt Wightman, formerly chief executive of HL INTERACTIVE, joins as partner to lead the new English & Welsh operation.

ANDERSON STRATHERN, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Haddington, has appointed Gregory Stachura as a senior associate in its Property Finance team. He joins from LINDSAYS. The firm has also promoted Margaret Coady (Edinburgh) and Jon McGhee (Glasgow) to senior associate in its Commercial Real Estate team, and appointed Hannah Currie, who joins from SHEPHERD + WEDDERBURN, as an associate in the same team.

BLACKADDERS, Dundee and elsewhere, has appointed Stephanie Carr, an accredited specialist in insolvency law, as a partner in its Glasgow office. She joins from HARPER MACLEOD.

BOYD LEGAL, Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy, has appointed three of its solicitors, Rachael Brandon, Claire Ferguson and Graeme Thomson, to its management board.

COULTERS, Edinburgh, has announced the appointment of Lauren Miller as an associate solicitor. She was previously with MORISONS LLP.

GIBSON KERR, Edinburgh and Glasgow, is delighted to announce that it has merged with MARWICKS SOLICITORS, Edinburgh, with effect from 9 September 2016. The partners in Gibson Kerr remain unchanged. Michael Marwick is now a consultant solicitor with Gibson Kerr. Marwicks’ staff have joined the staff of Gibson Kerr. The firm will practise from 46 India Street, Edinburgh EH3 6HJ, 38-40 Dundas Street, Edinburgh EH3 6JN, and 151 West George Street, Glasgow G2 2JJ, and will continue to use the trading name of Marwicks for a period.

GILLESPIE MACANDREW LLP, Edinburgh, Perth and Glasgow, has appointed Murray Soutar as a partner in its land and rural business team from 3 October. He joins from BRODIES.

GILLESPIE MACANDREW LLP has also promoted associates Amy McDowell (energy and strategic land) and Fiona Cameron (litigation) to partner, from 1 September 2016. Victoria Curren has been promoted to associate in commercial property, and newly qualified solicitors Jamie Reid, Grace Watson and Ross MacRae have been appointed in energy, litigation and corporate respectively.

HARPER MACLEOD, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Thurso and Lerwick, announces that it has acquired the practice of ALLEN & SHAW, Inverness, with effect from 3 October 2016. Partners David Allen and Donald Shaw join Harper Macleod as consultants, and three more employees also move to Harper Macleod’s Inverness office at Alder House, Cradlehall Business Park. Harper Macleod has also appointed Graham Horsman, previously with THORLEY STEPHENSON, as a solicitor in its Personal Injury and Reparation team.

Keith Leishman, solicitor, is delighted to announce that he has left the employ of THORLEY STEPHENSON solicitors and commenced practice as the principal solicitor of KEITH LEISHMAN & CO DEFENCE, Suite 181, 12 South Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1DD (t: 07590 315434; e: leishmandefence@outlook.com).

LINDSAYS, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and North Berwick, announces the promotion of Lucy Metcalf, a senior associate in the Family Law team, to director.

LOCH ASSOCIATES GROUP (below), a specialist employment law and human resources advisory practice which has offices in Kent, Brighton and London, has opened an office at 14-18 Hill Street, Edinburgh EH2 3JZ (t: 0131 322 3501). The business was founded by Pam Loch, who is dual qualified in Scots and English law, and has appointed Chris Phillips, an accredited employment law specialist who joins from CLYDE & CO, as a partner to run the office.

MACROBERTS LLP, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee, has announced the promotion of David McGuire (commercial property) from senior associate to director, of Nicole Cook (commercial property) and Angus Wood (dispute resolution) to senior associate, of senior solicitors Dawn MacPherson (real estate), Lisa Maguire (banking and finance), Alan Roughhead (private client) and Alan MacDonald (dispute resolution) to associate, and of solicitors Graham Horn (dispute resolution), Brian Jackson (private client) and Pauline McLachlan (energy resources and transport) to senior solicitor. MacRoberts also announces that it has promoted David Wilson, a director in the Construction group, to partner, based in Glasgow, and appointed Gavin Thomson, who joins from PINSENT MASONS, as a partner in the same group, based in Edinburgh.

MBM COMMERCIAL, Edinburgh, announces the retirement of Sandy Finlayson as a partner. Sandy remains with the firm on a consultancy basis. The firm also announces the promotion of Hannah Roche to partner, Iain McDougall to associate and Jennifer Noble to senior solicitor. Tracey Ginn has joined the firm as corporate and US partner from US law firm POLSINELLI, Gordon Herd has joined from HBJ GATELEY as a corporate solicitor, and Sarah Cashmore has joined from DLA PIPER as an IP and commercial contracts solicitor.

MELLICKS (incorporating NAFTALIN DUNCAN & CO), Glasgow, are pleased to announce the appointment, with effect from 1 September 2016, of Sophie Cargill as an associate.

MILLARD LAW LLP, Edinburgh are pleased to announce the commencement of trading from 1 November 2016 at 69-71 Dalry Road, Edinburgh EH11 2AA (t: 0131 322 7222). The partners are Richard G Mill and Lucy Millard, formerly of HUGHES WALKER. They are joined by Danielle Hughes, assistant solicitor.

RAEBURN CHRISTIE CLARK & WALLACE, Aberdeen, Ellon, Banchory, Inverurie and Stonehaven, are delighted to announce that Graeme Imrie has been promoted to associate solicitor, working in the Commercial Property department at Albyn Place, Aberdeen.