People on the move: April 2023

ADDLESHAW GODDARD, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and internationally, has appointed IP and IT specialist Ross Nicol as a partner in its Commercial team in Scotland. He joins from DENTONS.

LESLEY ANDERSON LAW, Falkirk, has moved to new premises at 25 Vicar Street, Tudor House, Falkirk, FK1 1LL. 

BALFOUR+MANSON, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, has appointed accredited specialist Simon Mayberry (previously at SHOOSMITHS) as partner and head of its Employment team, and Kenzie Howard (previously at WORKNEST) as a solicitor in the same team. Greg Lawson, previously at PETERKINS, has joined the Private Client team in Aberdeen as a senior associate, while Amy McKay has been promoted to senior associate in the same team.

BLACKADDERS LLP, Dundee and elsewhere, has announced the following promotions. Dario Demarco (Glasgow) becomes a legal director in the Corporate team. Promoted to associate are Robyn Lee (Private Client, Dundee), Richard Wilson (Corporate, Dundee) and Susan Currie (Dispute Resolution, Glasgow and Edinburgh); while Blair Duncan (Employment, Edinburgh and Dundee) and Stefan Docherty (Residential Property, Glasgow) become senior solicitors.

Blackadders has also appointed partner Neil Robb as head of its Commercial Property team, succeeding Emma Gray, now joint managing partner.

BURNESS PAULL, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, has appointed David Stewart, who joins from MORTON FRASER, as a partner in its Commercial Real Estate division, based in Edinburgh; and media, entertainment and sports specialist Fraser MacKinven, who joins from Abu Dhabi-based FLASH ENTERTAINMENT, as a partner in its Technology & Commercial division. 

CAESAR & HOWIE, Bathgate and elsewhere announces the retiral of partner, Lesley Susan Cunningham on 31 March 2023 after 23 successful years with the firm. The partners and staff of Caesar & Howie wish Lesley a long, happy and healthy retirement. Joanna Izabela Thomson has been promoted to associate from 1 April 2023.

CLAN CHILDLAW, Edinburgh, has promoted Katy Nisbet to head of legal policy.

GARDEN STIRLING BURNET, Dunbar, Haddington, North Berwick and Tranent, has announced four appointments as it sets up a Family Law division. Leading the team is legal director Claire Christie, an accredited specialist in family law, who joins from SKO FAMILY LAW SPECIALISTS. Joining in consultancy roles are Kathryn Wilson, formerly of Melrose & Porteous, and Angela Craig, who used to head the Family team at Garden Stirling Burnet. Family law paralegal Amanda Richardson has also joined the team.

GIBSON KERR, Edinburgh and Glasgow, has expanded its Personal Law team with the hire of Sara Albizzati (who joins from BTO SOLICITORS) as an associate and Susie Alexander as a senior solicitor. 

GILLESPIE MACANDREW, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth, has announced the promotion to partner of Andrew Leslie of the Housebuilder team, Ross MacRae in Banking & Finance, and Sharon Murray, who leads the Family Law team. Also promoted are Lindsay Bryce Mackay, Victoria Curren and Rae Gilchrist, to legal director; Gillian Hyams to associate; and Ross Baron, Katie Brown and Jamie Seath to senior solicitor.

GUNNERCOOKE, Glasgow and Edinburgh, has hired two more partners to its Scottish presence: employment specialist Katy Wedderburn, who joins from MACROBERTS LLP, and Alex Innes, a dual qualified lawyer with experience latterly as a business consultant, who joins in Banking & Finance.

JAMESON + MACKAY LLP, Perth and Auchterarder, announce that Alison Ramsay retired as their senior partner on 31 March 2023 after more than 40 years’ service to the firm. Alison will continue with the firm as a consultant.

KERSLANDS SOLICITORS LTD, Milngavie, are pleased to announce that with effect from 1 April 2023 they have merged with RALSTONS SOLICITORS. The practice continues under the name of KERSLANDS SOLICITORS at their current address of 4 Station Road, Milngavie. The principals are Alison Keith, Lesley McDermid and Elspeth Talbot.

LINDSAYS LLP, Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow, has announced its merger with MILLER HENDRY, Perth, Dundee and Crieff with effect from 30 May 2023. The enlarged firm will be branded as LINDSAYS. Miller Hendry’s seven partners and about 50 staff will transfer to Lindsays. Staff currently based in Dundee will join those at Lindsays’ offices at Seabraes. Others will remain at their current locations. Miller Hendry (Asset Management) Ltd will continue to operate as a separate standalone business.

LINDSAYS is delighted to announce the promotion of Alison McKay as partner with effect from 1 April 2023, in the firm’s Private Client department based in Glasgow. In other promotions, Sharon Drysdale becomes a director, and Eilidh Robertson an associate, in the Rural team; Kathleen Gaughan becomes an associate in the Personal Injury team, based in Glasgow; and in Dundee, Lindsay Carr in Residential Conveyancing, and Katherine McAlpine in Dispute Resolution & Litigation, both advance to associate.

Lindsays has also appointed Leanne Gordon as a director in its Rural Services department. Having previously spent six years at Lindsays, latterly as senior associate, she returns to the firm after working for SCOTTISH LAND & ESTATES and then BLACKADDERS.

ALLAN McDOUGALL SOLICITORS, Edinburgh, has announced the promotion of employment law specialist Alice Bowman to associate.

Thomas Murdock WS is moving from JAMF SOFTWARE LLC to take up the role of Corporate Vice President and deputy general counsel at US software company BLUE YONDER. 

RAEBURN CHRISTIE CLARK & WALLACE, Aberdeen, Ellon, Inverurie, Banchory and Stonehaven, has appointed Kirsty Dunning as a private client associate in Aberdeen. She joins from STEWART & WATSON, Huntly.

STRONACHS LLP, Aberdeen and Inverness, has welcomed Amy Fordyce as a senior solicitor to its Commercial Property team. She joins the Aberdeen office from PINSENT MASONS.  

TENEU LEGAL, Glasgow, immigration law specialists, have announced the appointment of South Africa qualified Sahar Davachi to support clients on immigration issues.

THORNTONS LAW, Dundee and elsewhere, has announced a number of new appointments across its Dundee, Forfar, St Andrews and Glasgow offices. In its Dundee headquarters, Millie Griffiths has joined as a solicitor in the Wills, Trusts & Succession team, and Zeenat Reid as a solicitor in the Commercial Real Estate team. Both were previously with BLACKADDERS. Aimee Young joins the Wills, Trusts & Succession team as a solicitor in the Forfar office from MACNABS LLP. In the St Andrews office, Lauren McIntosh, also previously with MACNABS, joins as a solicitor in the same team, and James Martin joins the Residential Property team from BLACKADDERS as an associate. Newly qualified Claudine Tumangan has joined the Glasgow office as a solicitor in the Intellectual Property team.

Thorntons has also announced the appointment of seven newly qualified solicitors to its Dundee and Edinburgh offices on completion of their traineeships with the firm: Sophie Kirk, Iain Buchan, Baktosch Gillan, Rory Mellis, Emma Alderson, Eve McBride and Ollie Hofford.

TURCAN CONNELL, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London, has announced the promotion of 23 professionals. They include two legal directors, Mark McKeown (Charities) and Heather Bruce, accredited specialist in agricultural law, and tax director Iain Alexander, a fellow of the Association of Tax Technicians. There are five senior associates: Heather Burnett, Jillian Bynoth, Sarah Macleod, Andrew Ross and Alice Warne; six associates: Kirsty Bell, Alexandra Graham, David McBurnie, Christopher Reid, Joseph Slane and Catherine Sloan; six senior solicitors: Duncan Bauchop, Fraser McDonald, Andrew Robertson, Sophie Walker, Ciara Wilson and Emma McWhirter; two tax managers: Scott Webster (to senior) and Scott Reid; and paralegal Audrey Vass.