People on the move: January 2023

ADDLESHAW GODDARD, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and internationally, has announced partner Alan Shanks, then head of the firm’s Finance & Projects team in Scotland, as its new head of Scotland from 1 December 2022. He succeeds David Kirchin, who becomes divisional managing partner for Corporate & Commercial from January 2023.

Addleshaw Goddard has appointed solicitor advocate Douglas Blyth as a partner in its Dispute Resolution team in Scotland, based in Glasgow. He joins from DENTONS, where he headed the Dispute Resolution practice in Scotland.

BLACKADDERS LLP, Dundee and elsewhere, has appointed Karen Phillips as a partner in its Private Client team in Edinburgh. She began her career at Blackadders and rejoins the firm from BALFOUR+MANSON, where she was a partner.

BURNESS PAULL, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, has appointed Christine Yuill, a chartered tax adviser, as a partner in its Tax team, based in Glasgow. She joins from PINSENT MASONS, where she was a partner.

CENTRAL COURT LAWYERS, Livingston, has promoted Craig Scott, associate, to partner.

The London office of DICKSON MINTO has been acquired by US and international firm MILBANK. Seven partners, 20 associates and 10 business services professionals from Dickson Minto’s Private Equity team will join Milbank’s London office from January 2023. Dickson Minto’s office in Edinburgh will continue to operate independently.

DWF, Edinburgh, Glasgow and globally, has promoted Gemma Gallagher to director in the Corporate team from 1 January 2023.

HUNTER & ROBERTSON SOLICITORS, Paisley, has appointed Terence Docherty as a director. He joined the firm as a senior associate in August 2021 and manages the Conveyancing & Private Client department.

LANARKSHIRE LAW PRACTICE, Bellshill has acquired the firm of NICOLSON O’BRIEN, Airdrie. The Nicolson O’Brien name will be retained, while becoming part of the Lanarkshire Law group. Partner Paul Nicolson and recently retired partner Frances Porter will remain as consultants. Paula Lutton joins as a director from CARTYS, where she was a partner.

Nicolson O’Brien’s office has moved from Stirling Street, Airdrie to 5 Graham Street, Airdrie ML6 6AB.

LINDSAYS, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee, has appointed Alasdair Craig as a senior associate in the Commercial Property team, based in Glasgow. He joins from SMITH & VALENTINE.

McCASH & HUNTER LLP, Perth has promoted Fiona McNaughton, Samantha Lamond and Kenneth McKay to partner with effect from 1 January 2023.

Ewan McIntyre has been appointed as the first general counsel of Edinburgh-based SNAPDRAGON MONITORING, an online brand protection and reputation management specialist. He was formerly a partner with BURNESS PAULL and a consultant with BURGES SALMON.

McKEE CAMPBELL MORRISON, Glasgow has appointed Colm Kerr, who joins from DENTONS, as an associate director in the Corporate team; recently qualified Marc Waters as a solicitor in the Insolvency & Litigation team; and Darcy King as a trainee paralegal in the Private Client team.

MORTON FRASER, Edinburgh and Glasgow, has appointed Karen Wylie as a senior associate in its Family Law team, based in Glasgow. She rejoins the firm from GIBSON KERR.

PINSENT MASONS, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and globally, has announced that Scottish litigation partner Laura Cameron will succeed John Cleland as the firm’s managing partner with effect from 1 May 2023. The firm’s first female board member, she recently completed her second (the maximum) four-year term as Global Head of its Risk Advisory Services Group.

THORNTONS LAW, Dundee and elsewhere, has expanded its Commercial Real Estate team in Glasgow with the appointment of Richard Hart, who joins from SHEPHERD & WEDDERBURN, as legal director, and Abbi Armstrong, who joins from McJERROW & STEVENSON, as a senior solicitor. 

Thorntons has promoted three of its legal directors to partner: Anne Miller and Mike Kemp in the Dispute Resolution & Claims team in Dundee, and Graeme Dickson in the Private Client team in Edinburgh.