People on the move

ABERDEIN CONSIDINE, Aberdeen and elsewhere has made three appointments to its Lender Services practice group: Neil Patterson has joined as a partner in its Banking Litigation team, from ASCENT PERFORMANCE GROUP, Diane Gundersen has joined as a senior associate from TLT; and Curtis Broadhead joins as a legal executive.

ADDLESHAW GODDARD, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and internationally, has announced that the promotion of corporate lawyer Laura Falls to partner based in the Edinburgh office, as part of a 20-strong partner promotion round across the firm effective from 1 May 2022.

ANDERSON STRATHERN, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Haddington, has hired commercial real estate and renewables specialist Dixcee Fast from EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND as a partner. 

BELMONT SOLICITORS has begun practice from 1 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 1RW (t: 0141 729 8848; e: info@belmontsolicitors.co.uk). Founded by personal injury solicitor Kirsten Morrison (managing partner), it has appointed Lyndsey McLean, who joins from HORWICH FARRELLY, as a senior associate.

BTO SOLICITORS, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Helensburgh, announce the retirement from practice of Alastair Hope, whose Helensburgh practice RAEBURN HOPE merged with BTO in 2019. 

BURNESS PAULL, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, has appointed Euan Fleming as a partner in the Private Client team based in the Edinburgh office. He joins from GILSON GRAY, where he was partner and head of Private Client. 

CLYDE & CO, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and globally, and BLM, Edinburgh and UK wide, are to merge under the name CLYDE & CO from July 2022. 

CMS, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and globally, has appointed Cara McGlynn, a specialist in IP and technology-related disputes who joins from BRODIES, as an associate based in Edinburgh.

ESSON & ABERDEIN, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh, has appointed Fallon Spencer, who joins from McVEY & MURRICANE, as director and head of Corporate Property Services. 

FERGUSON & WILL, Brechin, has been acquired by THE CHAMBER PRACTICE, Dundee, Aberdeen, Brechin and Cupar. Its Brechin employees, under director Sandra Teall, have moved into renovated offices at 15 High Street, Brechin DD9 6ES. 

FRASER SHEPHERD, Falkirk are pleased to announce the appointment of Yuliia Waiss as associate solicitor of the firm. She joins from RGM SOLICITORS, Grangemouth.

GILLESPIE MACANDREW, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth, has announced the promotions of Lois Newton to partner; Andrew Leslie, Sarah-Jane Macdonald and Ross MacRae to legal director; Caitlin Keegan and Rae Gilchrist to associate; and Conner McConnell, Ross Matthew and Cheryl Hogg to senior solicitor.

GUNNERCOOKE, Glasgow, has appointed real estate lawyer Rachel Dunn as a partner. She joins from DENTONS.

JONES WHYTE, Glasgow, has announced the promotion to partner of Nick Hay (Residential Property) and Ross Anderson (Trusts).

KW LAW, Livingston and Bathgate, is pleased to announce the promotion of Gillian Reilly from associate to partner as from 1 April 2022.

LEDINGHAM CHALMERS, Aberdeen, Inverurie, Inverness, Stirling and Edinburgh, has announced the appointment to its board of Victoria Leslie, partner based in Inverness; and the following promotions: to partner, Sarah Londragan (Stirling) and Andrew Stott (Inverness), both in the Corporate team; to senior associate, Louise Simpson (Private Client, Aberdeen); to associate, Lois Craig (Rural, Aberdeen) and Emma McNay (Personal Injury, Aberdeen); and to senior solicitor, Rosie Allan (Family Law, Aberdeen) and Natalie Coll (Private Client, Inverness).

LINDSAYS LLP, Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow, announces the promotion of Kirsty Cooper and Vhari Selfridge, in the Residential Property department based in Edinburgh, as partners with effect from 1 April 2022. Kirsty and Vhari are both part of the firm’s office at Caledonian Exchange, Edinburgh. In addition, Dorothy Rankin retired from the firm with effect from 31 March 2022. Lindsays wishes her a long and healthy retirement.

In other promotions, Leanne Gordon and Tim Macdonald (Rural), and Gregor MacEwan (Dispute Resolution & Litigation) become senior associates; Emma Conway (Residential Property), Lewis Crofts (Rural), Adam Gardiner (Dispute Resolution & Litigation) and Nimarta Cheema (Corporate & Technology) become associates; Ginny Lawson (Residential Property) becomes a senior paralegal, and Claire Hurst (Corporate & Technology) becomes a senior company secretarial assistant.

Sienna Sproson has been appointed an associate in the Private Client team in Dundee, joining from BLACKADDERS.

Jennifer McGrath, previously solicitor with EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL, has been appointed company solicitor at CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB.

MACLEOD & MACCALLUM, Inverness, are delighted to announce the appointment of Tomas Simpson and Aidan Grant as associates from 1 April 2022. 

MBM COMMERCIAL, Edinburgh and London, has appointed Stephen Hart as head of Fintech & Financial Services. He joins MBM from MEDICI LEGAL, a specialist fintech practice he founded.

J & H MITCHELL WS, Pitlochry & Aberfeldy, has appointed Grant McLennan as an associate solicitor.

MITCHELLS ROBERTON, Glasgow announce the retirement of their former chairman Donald Reid with effect from 31 March 2022. He will continue with the firm as a consultant for a further year and remains available so far as the demands of retirement permit to consider memorials and requests for advice on conveyancing and property law matters. He is no longer available to appear in court to give expert evidence in professional negligence litigations but otherwise remains willing to be consulted on this topic while his personal experience of practice remains recent.

PACITTI JONES, Glasgow and elsewhere, has acquired the practice of RGM SOLICITORS, Linlithgow and Grangemouth. All existing RGM staff will remain with the business and transfer to Pacitti Jones. Gosia Chylinska of Pacitti Jones will relocate to the Linlithgow office to head the practice at both branches; Lesley-Anne King will continue to run the estate agency side of the business.

PINSENT MASONS, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and globally, has appointed Edinburgh-based solicitor advocate Jim Cormack QC as Global Head of its Litigation, Regulatory & Tax team, which covers 265 staff based in seven UK offices and in Dublin, Dubai, Madrid, Munich, Paris and Singapore.

SHAKESPEARE MARTINEAU, Glasgow and UK-wide, has appointed dual-qualified Nicky Grant as a legal director in the Commercial Real Estate team. Joining from DICKSON MINTO, he will be based in Edinburgh. 

SHOOSMITHS, Edinburgh, Glasgow and UK-wide, has announced the promotion of Rachael McCallum and Grace Watson, both based in Edinburgh, among 19 new senior associates across the firm.

THORNTONS, Dundee and elsewhere, and STUART & STUART WS, Edinburgh, have announced their merger from 1 April 2022. Stuart & Stuart’s entire team of 31 will transfer to Thorntons. Chris Anderson transfers as a consultant to the merged firm; John MacKenzie, Fergus Macmillan, Andrew Bertram and Emma Horne are appointed partners; and Ken Lauder is appointed a legal director. 

TURCAN CONNELL, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London, has announced a total of 19 promotions: to partner, Richard Douglas-Home; to legal director, Simran Panesar-Saggu; to senior associate, Vicky Brown, Debbie McIlwraith Cameron and Elaine Proudfoot; to associate, Hannah Duguid, Juliet Barker, Beth Evans, Graham Fisken and Matthew Hastings; and to senior solicitor, Hilary Busby, Moyra Diaz Limaco, Lauren McDonach, Alexander Middleton, Andrew Nicholson, Catherine Sloan, Callum Townend, Jamie McNish and David Smith.