Appreciation: Ian Leslie Shaw Balfour

While it has fallen to me to pen this, I do so on behalf of the huge number of people who have passed through the doors of Balfour+Manson and received the support and guidance from or worked with Ian Balfour (or “Mr Ian” as he was known by so many).

On looking back, it is simply quite extraordinary to see the list of eminent lawyers who were trained and guided by him. They range from solicitors in private practice across the country to academics and members of the Faculty of Advocates, as well as sheriffs and senators. 

Of those, I pause to wonder what the result would be if a straw poll were carried out to see how many enthusiastically embraced the styles books created by Mr Ian (green and yellow, I am told). They covered various areas of litigation.

I understand that those books contained some small grammatical or typographical errors, and it was not unusual to see the same errors being repeated in court documents lodged by other firms in the Court of Session over the following years!

One point that comes through loud and clear is that Mr Ian was a quiet but confident scholarly lawyer. He placed immense trust in his apprentices/trainees. When he would depart on holiday, those individuals would be advised not simply to acknowledge letters, indicating that Mr Ian would deal with them on his return, but to respond to the issues raised in them. If the response was correct, then all fine and good, but if wrong he advised he would sort it out on his return. 

As a result, his self-contained confidence was gently instilled in those he trained. I can recall that when he was heading to retirement, he handed over a significant client to me. There were few words, but absolutely no doubts expressed if the approach I took was perhaps different from his. He was there when needed but did not interfere. I wonder how many of us can truly say we have that skill.

His frequent kindness to others was carried out in the same quiet way, whether to help a former apprentice with a house purchase or problem (with no charge of course) or to support a member of staff. He never seemed to be a man after praise or the limelight, but was quite content in being a true professional, looking after many.

Another retired colleague told me Ian frequently worked in the office late into the evening. As a result, when he announced that his wife was expecting their third or fourth child he was asked, by a lady in the firm at the time, “How do you find time, Mr Ian?” Apparently, he took it in good humour – given that would be over 45 years ago, it was quite a bawdy remark! It shows his sense of humour.

On at least one occasion, in the middle of a full discipline hearing, with a witness in the witness box, Ian was seen to stand up and, without a by your leave, leave the room, returning a few minutes later to resume his questioning. No break, no apology or fuss – he just carried on. Nothing was said by anyone, either because he was held in such high regard or the others in the room were so surprised.

I wonder who would dare to try that now.

It has already been said that he was ahead of his time with technology, but I had not appreciated how early that enthusiasm started. Apparently, in 1958 he installed the very first telex machine for a legal firm, and in the 1980s was encouraging the firm to be as computer literate as he was. He was truly innovative in this area.

In his later years, he would visit the office regularly to carry out his sheriff court auditing role and I was always touched when he would pop in to have a quick word about something that was on his mind.

When I last saw him to chat late last year, he simply advised he was retiring as an auditor (at 89!), as he wasn’t keeping that well. In many ways, that speaks of the man himself.

However, for me, and for I suspect many others, the real legacy that Ian continued to instil in the firm is that of its culture and ethos. It has held strong despite the extraordinary changes in our profession. It has resulted, throughout his years and since, in immense loyalty across past and present members of the firm. 

For that, and many other things, Ian Balfour, Mr Ian, will be long remembered with great fondness and affection. RIP.

Elaine Motion