People on the move

ANDERSON STRATHERN, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Haddington, has appointed corporate partner Bruce Farquhar as chair with effect from 1 April 2017. He succeeds Robert Carr, who stands down after 12 years but remains a partner leading the newly established Advocacy & Legal Opinions Unit.

BALFOUR+MANSON, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, has announced a number of promotions with effect from 1 April 2017. Three new partners will be assumed: Alan Gilfillan (corporate and charity law); Kirsten Knight (head of family team, Aberdeen office); and Sindi Mules (public law). Four associates have been promoted to senior associate: Karen Gibbons (family law, Edinburgh), Margaret Ross (chartered tax adviser, private client), Sarah Shiels (employment and discrimination litigation), and Irene Turner (residential conveyancing and property law). Two solicitors have been promoted to associate: Julia Cryan (residential property) and Stephanie McLaren (commercial property). Balfour+Manson has also appointed Amy McKay as an associate (private client and property) in its Aberdeen office. She joins from RAEBURN CHRISTIE CLARK & WALLACE.

BURNESS PAULL, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, has promoted Margaret Meehan to partner in its Pensions team.

FAMILY LAW MATTERS SCOTLAND LLP, Glasgow, intimate that Anne Dick ceased to be a partner in the firm with effect from 31 March 2017. Anne will remain with the firm as a consultant. The firm is also delighted to welcome Jane Blackwood, who joined the practice on 3 April 2017 from ALEXIS HUNTER FAMILY LAW, Glasgow.

GILLESPIE MACANDREW, Edinburgh, Perth and Glasgow, announces the promotion of Colin Hamilton and Isobell Reid to partners in the litigation team, effective from 1 April 2017, and the promotion to senior solicitor of Susan Young (energy and strategic land), Lynne McElroy (land and rural business), Andrew Leslie (housebuilder), Ashley McCann (litigation) and Jennie Elliot (corporate).

GRAHAM & FINLAYSON, Crieff, has announced that the firm will close by the end of May. Robert Bolton will retire from practice and David Smart will become an associate with MILLER HENDRY, Perth, Dundee and Crieff.

HARPER MACLEOD, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Lerwick, has promoted John Pringle to partner and Andrew Ronald to associate in the Banking & Finance team. Also promoted to associate are Richard Donaldson (Lerwick) and Grant Hassan (Inverness). Two non-legal staff are promoted to partner-equivalent status: tax manager Amber Heron, and Lerwick-based property manager Robert Bell.

LEDINGHAM CHALMERS, Aberdeen and elsewhere, has announced the promotion of Inverness-based senior associate Victoria Leslie to partner from 1 April 2017. From the same date, senior solicitors Jennifer Cham, Craig Falconer, Kim Smart and Craig Wilson (all Aberdeen) and Stephen Higgins (Stirling) become associates, and David Smith (Aberdeen) becomes a senior solicitor. Allan Collie and Graham Cooper (both Aberdeen) retire as partners. Mr Collie will stay on with the firm as a consultant; Mr Cooper will do so until the end of July 2017, before stepping down.

LINDSAYS, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and North Berwick, intimate that, with effect from 31 March 2017, David Reith retired as a partner of the firm.

Raymond McMenamin intimates his resignation as a partner in KW LAW, West Lothian with effect from 31 March 2017. He will continue to practise as an independent consultant and solicitor advocate in addition to his continuing roles as part-time sheriff, shrieval convener of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland and board member of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission.

MACNABS LLP, Perth, Blairgowrie and Pitlochry are delighted to announce that Gillian Ralph joins the firm as a partner, and head of their Property team, with effect from 19 April 2017. She joins from BRODIES.

J & H MITCHELL WS, Pitlochry and Aberfeldy, are delighted to announce the appointment with effect from 1 April 2017 of their senior associate, Sarah Rennie, as a partner in the firm.

MORTON FRASER, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London, announces the appointment of Ross Caldwell as partner in the firm’s Banking & Asset Finance team in the London office. He joins Morton Fraser in May from TAYLOR WESSING. Morton Fraser also announces the retirement of Linda Urquhart OBE from the firm after 33 years. She will be succeeded as chair of the firm by Maggie Moodie, who leads the firm’s Public Sector practice.

Thomas Murdock WS intimates that he has left his position as lead consumer attorney at MICROSOFT UK to become senior legal counsel at Canadian software firm OPENTEXT.

MURRAY BEITH MURRAY, Edinburgh are delighted to announce the appointment of Anna MacLeod as a solicitor with their Rural Property department. Anna joins from LEDINGHAM CHALMERS LLP.

PINSENT MASONS, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and elsewhere, has announced the promotion of Glasgow-based tax specialist Christine Yuill to its partnership, as one of 16 partner promotions globally.

RAESIDE + CHISHOLM, Glasgow are delighted to announce the appointment from 1 January 2017 of Malcolm Michael Anderson Goddard as a director.

T F REID & DONALDSON solicitors, Paisley are pleased to announce that Leanne McSherry has been promoted to partner in the firm as from 16 April 2017. Senior partner Alastair Davidson is also pleased to announce his retirement, after 40 years as a partner, on 15 April 2017. He will continue to be associated with the firm as a consultant for a short period of time.

Ann Ritchie, solicitor advocate, has recommenced practice on her own account as ANN RITCHIE SOLICITORS, 550 Paisley Road West, Ibrox, Glasgow G51 1RJ (t: 0141 427 7224; mobile: 07810 202529; e: ann@aritchiesolicitors.co.uk).

TLT LLP, Glasgow and Edinburgh, announces the appointment of Caroline Loudon, formerly head of licensing and gambling at LINDSAYS, as a partner, and of Michael McDougall, who joins from the same firm, as a solicitor.

WRIGHT, JOHNSTON & MACKENZIE LLP, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness, is to merge with BMK WILSON, Glasgow and Dunblane, with effect from 29 May 2017 (above). The merged practice will continue to be known as WRIGHT, JOHNSTON & MACKENZIE LLP in Glasgow, and WRIGHT, JOHNSTON & MACKENZIE LLP INCORPORATING BARTY’S in Dunblane. All five partners and 16 employees from BMK Wilson’s Glasgow and Dunblane offices will be joining Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie.