Appreciation: Professor Emeritus Robert Rennie

Like many others, I was saddened by the news of Robert Rennie’s sudden death. In an instant we lost a man who was a great inspiration to many and who made a stellar contribution to the Scots law of property. He was classic “old school” but, at the same time, he had a keen eye on developments which would improve legal practice and the underlying law.

Personally, he was an adversary, academic collaborator, colleague and, most of all, friend and on occasion mentor. Like the late Professor Alastair McDonald was to me and Professor Jack Halliday to him, Robert was above all an excellent listener and someone who always made time for you. That was, and is, a skill which only a few master and stems from an underlying care for other people. Robert had that in abundance.

Robert qualified as a solicitor in 1969, after studying at the University of Glasgow and training at Bishop, Milne, Boyd & Co, the firm of Professor Halliday who then held the (part-time) Chair in Conveyancing. Robert, in turn, held the same chair for 20 years until he retired in 2014, when he was given the title Emeritus Professor. In 1972 he joined the Motherwell practice Ballantyne & Copland – at the time, a significant piece of transfer news in the legal marketplace. He remained there until 2002 when he joined Harper Macleod, where he continued as a consultant until his death and contributed greatly to the work and, in particular, the ethos of the firm.

Robert was one of the few solicitors who combined a busy and successful legal practice with an academic career. He was a prodigious author of more than 150 articles and much-valued textbooks on a range of subjects including conveyancing, missives, execution of deeds, solicitors’ negligence, the law of minerals, standard securities, land tenure following feudal abolition, and electronic conveyancing. One of his last contributions was his leadership in 2015 of a small group of authors on a much-needed detailed review of the Scots law of leases. His contribution to, and appetite for, legal study was immense, and it was difficult, if not nigh impossible, to turn down a request from him to collaborate on a project.

He also served on a number of advisory groups to the Scottish Law Commission, including those that considered proposals on feudal abolition; title conditions; the law of the tenement; leasehold tenure; and the law relating to the seabed and foreshore. He was a member of the Law Society of Scotland’s Conveyancing Committee for more than 15 years, and convener for a period.

All of the foregoing led to him being in demand as a conference speaker and chair, as well as being someone the profession could turn to for an opinion on property law and professional negligence matters. Indeed, he delivered more than 4,000 opinions following his professorial appointment. He was the classic example of the old adage that if you wanted something done quickly, you should ask a busy person. Throughout, however, Robert displayed a generous attitude and a warmth of character and care for other members of the profession and clients alike.

It was always an honour and a pleasure to be asked to work with Robert, whether on an article, a book or in a conference. One such case was the Essays on Conveyancing and Property Law, gathered from 20 invited contributors from Robert’s peers in the judiciary, academia and legal practice. The collection was published on Robert’s retiral, when a special conference was held in the University of Glasgow followed by an informal dinner. Robert thoroughly enjoyed the day and was genuinely touched by the whole event.

As Douglas Cusine said in his appreciation, a lasting memory of everyone who encountered Robert was that he was always able to inject a bit of humour into the most serious of discussions, with a characteristic twinkle and an appropriate comment, very often with a straight face. He was, as they say, “one of the good guys”. That said, it was sometimes a challenge to feel quite so charitable towards the “Little Professor” (as his long-time friend and colleague, Lord Bonomy, once called him), after you had been embarrassed at one of his end-of-year dinners for honours students to which he invited a select band of “senior members of the profession”. Each guest knew to expect a colourful description of some facet of their past life which Robert had somehow managed to discover. He was an impish master of ceremonies at these dinners, which were enjoyed by everyone invited.

While we have all lost a valued professional colleague who, at all times, was modest and unassuming about his achievements, we also recognise a very sad loss to his family who provided the essential support which allowed Robert’s career to blossom. Robert was a dedicated family man and his values were grounded on that essential bedrock in his life. He was a loving husband, father, father-in-law and devoted grandpa to seven grandchildren. His caring personality meant that he never forgot to ask after the family of others if they had been ill. It was, quite simply, a pleasure knowing and working with him. It seems almost insufficient to say that he will be sorely missed. Thank you, Robert.