People on the move

ABERDEIN CONSIDINE, Aberdeen and elsewhere, has promoted to associate Erin Shand (Corporate) and Natasha Day (Corporate Property Services), both based in Aberdeen, and Lynne Thomson (Private Client), based in Glasgow; and to senior solicitor, Ruhel Ullah (Corporate), Lindsey McDiarmid (Commercial Real Estate) and Claire Munro (Residential Property), all based in Aberdeen, and Euan Forbes (Dispute Resolution) and David Murdie (Private Client), both based in Edinburgh. Gary McAdam (Lender Services, Glasgow) and James McKay (Estate Agency, Perth) have been promoted to associate director.

ANDERSON STRATHERN, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Haddington, has made the following director appointments. Chris Weir, previously acting director of Regulation and head of Fitness to Practise at the SCOTTISH SOCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL, joined the Professional Regulation team from January this year. Agricultural law specialist Tim Macdonald joined from LINDSAYS in December 2022. Earlier last year Lorraine Currie, an accredited specialist in freedom of information and data protection law, joined the firm from the SCOTTISH INFORMATION COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE; and Caroline Pringle, previously with MURRAY BEITH MURRAY, became a part-time director in the Private Client team.  

BALFOUR+MANSON, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, has appointed consultant and former ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND manager Scott Foster as its new chief operating officer, from 3 April 2023.

BURGES SALMON, Edinburgh and UK wide, has named Claire MacLean (Real Estate, Edinburgh) among five newly promoted partners across the firm. 

CONNOR MALCOLM, Edinburgh, intimates that David Devlin has retired from the firm, after more than 30 years’ service, with effect from 31 December 2022. Property manager Barbara Gordon also retires after more than 20 years’ service. The partners would like to express their thanks to both David and Barbara and wish them both a well earned retirement.

DICKSON MINTO WS, Edinburgh and London, intimates that, with effect from 28 February 2023, Christopher William Barron, Paul Buchan, James Andrew Marr McClymont, Ajal Notowicz, Andrew David Nuthall, Jordan Keith Simpson and Lara Katie Watt resigned as partners of the firm.

GILSON GRAY, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and North Berwick, has acquired THE LAW PRACTICE, Aberdeen. Lesley McKnight, principal of The Law Practice, and her team will join Gilson Gray at its Blenheim Place office. 

HODGE SOLICITORS LLP, Blairgowrie, has merged with WATSON + LYALL BOWIE, Coupar Angus, from 1 February 2023. The merged firm continues to operate from its offices in Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus. The partners are Ryan Aitken, Alison Hodge, Andrew Hodge, Steven Lafferty, Kevin Lancaster and Michael Tavendale.

HOLMES MACKILLOP, Glasgow, Giffnock, Bishopbriggs and Johnstone, has appointed Craig Donnelly as a senior associate. He joins from BRODIES, where he was part of its Debt & Asset Recovery team. 

KEEGAN SMITH CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAWYERS, Livingston are pleased to announce the return of their founding partner James D Keegan KC, as consultant.  

KERR STIRLING LLP, Stirling and Falkirk, are delighted to announce the promotion of their senior associate Alastair Barclay to partner. Alastair heads the firm’s Falkirk office and specialises in both corporate and commercial matters.

MORTON FRASER, Edinburgh and Glasgow, has appointed Chris Clarkson, a commercial real estate specialist formerly with BURNESS PAULL, as a legal director; Alastair Johnston (formerly with HARPER MACLEOD) and Sofia Crolla (formerly with ANDERSON STRATHERN) as senior associates in its Litigation division; Alan Burns as an associate in the Agricultural & Rural Property team; and Emma Wright (formerly with BTO SOLICITORS) as a senior solicitor in the Private Client division. 

THORNTONS LAW, Dundee and elsewhere, has appointed two new partners to its Commercial Real Estate team: Paul Haniford and Jayne Macfarlane, who both join from DENTONS and will be based in the firm’s Glasgow office.

Thorntons have also appointed Jacqueline Moore, former head of Immigration at SHEPHERD AND WEDDERBURN and an accredited specialist in immigration law, as an immigration consultant.  

TLT, Glasgow, Edinburgh and UK-wide, has appointed Douglas Roberts, previously a corporate partner at LINDSAYS, as a partner in its Corporate team in Edinburgh.