People on the move

BALFOUR+MANSON, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, has appointed partner Graeme Thomson as head of Private Client with effect from 6 April 2023, succeeding Shona Brown, who continues as a partner. Amy McKay has also been promoted to senior associate in the Private Client team, while Debbie Fisher, who joined as a trainee in the team in February, qualifies in May.

BRODIES LLP, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and London, has promoted five new partners: oil and gas lawyer Laura Petrie, personal and family solicitor Jessica Flowerdew, corporate and commercial lawyers Grant Strachan and Robert Ross, and real estate lawyer Danny George.

BTO SOLICITORS LLP, Glasgow and Edinburgh, has promoted solicitor advocates Mark Hastings to partner and Alistair Barbour to senior associate, both in its Personal Injury Defender team, and Lauren McFarlane, dual qualified in England & Wales, to associate in Intellectual Property and Dispute Resolution. 

BURGES SALMON, Edinburgh and UK wide, has promoted Edinburgh-based dispute resolution lawyer Gregor Hayworth to partner along with 10 colleagues in the firm’s Bristol headquarters. Burges Salmon has also appointed AJ Venter as a partner in its Corporate and M&A team, based in Edinburgh, with effect from 1 May 2023. He joins from TRAVERS SMITH, where he was senior counsel in the Corporate M&A and Equity Capital Markets Group.

CMS CAMERON McKENNA NABARRO OLSWANG, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and globally, has promoted three Scotland-based lawyers among 65 new partners (16 of them in the UK) in its annual global promotion round: David Dennis (Commercial, Technology & Media, Glasgow), Davinia Cowden (Energy & Infrastructure, Glasgow), and Fiona Henderson (Finance Scotland, Aberdeen). 

DENTONS, Edinburgh, Glasgow and globally, has announced the promotion to partner of Gareth Tenner (Energy, Transport & Infrastructure, Edinburgh) and Melanie Martin (Competition, Glasgow), among 13 new partners in its UK, Ireland & Middle East region, all with effect from 1 May 2023.

DICKSON MINTO WS, Edinburgh, intimates that, with effect from 30 April 2023, Colin James MacNeill has retired as a partner after a long career with the firm. 

Claire Mary Sutherland and Philip Martin McWilliams hereby intimate that the partnership at will trading as FINNIESTON FRANCHI & McWILLIAMS dissolved with effect close of business on 31 March 2023. Claire Mary Sutherland hereby intimates that she commenced practice with MACRAE & KAUR LLP, Atlantic House, 6th Floor, 45 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 6AE with effect on 3 April 2023. Philip Martin McWilliams intimates that he commenced practice on his own account with effect on 1 April 2023, trading as McWILLIAMS & COMPANY SOLICITORS, Baltic Chambers, Suite 225, 50 Wellington Street, GLASGOW G2 6HJ.

GIBSON KERR, Edinburgh and Glasgow, has appointed Zaynab Al Nasser as a senior associate in its Family Law team. She joins from TURCAN CONNELL. 

Euan Gosney, solicitor advocate, has left THORLEY STEPHENSON, Edinburgh, to begin practice as a director in CSG LEGAL LTD, 10 South Clerk Street, Edinburgh EH8 9JE (t: 0131 225 2759; e: eg@csglegal.co.uk).

JONES WHYTE, Glasgow, has promoted Chloe Stuart to senior solicitor.

LEDINGHAM CHALMERS, Aberdeen, Inverness, Stirling and Edinburgh, has promoted partner Craig Pike to head of its Private Client team, on the retiral of partner Douglas Watson, who continues with the firm on a consultancy basis. Partner Alasdair MacLure from the Aberdeen Commercial Property team, who has been with Ledingham Chalmers for more than 30 years, is also retiring but will continue as a consultant. Seven other lawyers have been promoted, five in the Private Client team: Jenna Hendry, James Florance and Claire Woodward to associate, and Hannah Black and Joanna Milne to senior solicitor, all in Aberdeen; and in Commercial Property, Mhari Michie in Aberdeen and Graeme Myles in Inverness both become senior associates. 

Four second-year trainees will stay with the firm when they qualify in October: Holly Allan-Hardisty (Family), Gavin Matheson (Corporate), Hannah Patience (Private Client), and Jessica Sunassee-Mackey (Litigation).

LINDSAYS, Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow, has appointed Daniel Gorry as a director in its Employment Law team. He was previously legal director in Scotland for WORKNEST (formerly LAW AT WORK). Lindsays has also appointed Chloe Shields, previously part of the Rural team at BRODIES, as a senior solicitor in its Rural Services department, based in Edinburgh but working with clients across Scotland.

MBM COMMERCIAL, Edinburgh and London, has appointed Michelle Bush and Laura Donald, two senior US qualified attorneys, to the firm’s US Commercial Law team, based in the Edinburgh office. Both have recently moved to Scotland from the USA.

MACDONALD HENDERSON, Glasgow, is pleased to advise the promotion of Ryan Macready to associate director in the Corporate team.

MILLER SAMUEL HILL BROWN, Glasgow, has appointed partner and head of Private Client, Edward Laverty, as chief executive of the firm. 

Margaret Morton, solicitor, has been appointed by THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH as director of development. Before moving into fundraising and business development, she practised in commercial property and remains a member of the Law Society of Scotland. 

MUNRO & NOBLE, Inverness, Dingwall and Aviemore, has incorporated GEORGESONS solicitors and estate agents, Tain and Wick, from April 2023. It is expected that Georgesons will continue to operate in both its premises. All 11 Georgesons personnel are joining Munro & Noble. 

NISBETS, Edinburgh, has appointed Jacqui Ridley, formerly of BLACKLOCKS, as an associate from 17 April 2023. 

PINSENT MASONS, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and internationally, has promoted with effect from 1 May 2023 five Scottish-based lawyers among 25 new partners (14 in the UK) across the firm’s network: based in Glasgow, Susannah Donaldson, the firm’s co-head of its Equality Law group; Stacy Keen, specialist in financial crime, investigations and compliance; dual qualified environmental, planning and property lawyer Ross McDowall; and dual qualified commercial real estate lawyer Lesley-Anne Todd; along with Edinburgh-based banking lawyer Howat Duncan. The firm has also promoted three Scottish senior associates to legal director: Michael Duffy (Energy & Infrastructure); Jennifer Oliver (Projects & Construction); and Elaine McLean (EU & Competition). 

LISA RAE & CO, Edinburgh, announces the promotion of Aimee Tulloch to senior solicitor.

SHOOSMITHS, Edinburgh, Glasgow and UK wide, has moved its Edinburgh office from Castle Terrace to the new development 9 Haymarket Square, Edinburgh EH3 8RY (t: 03700 863000; f: 03700 868008).

 THORNTONS LAW, Dundee and elsewhere, has appointed accredited specialist Sajidha Iqbal as data protection officer in its Edinburgh office. 

TLT, Glasgow, Edinburgh and UK wide, has promoted Ayla Skene in its Glasgow office to partner, among 10 new partners across its network. 

WORKNEST, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and UK wide, employment and human resources consultants, has promoted Hussain Kayani to head of team and employment solicitor, based in Glasgow. 

WRIGHT, JOHNSTON & MACKENZIE, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Dunblane and Dunfermline, announces the retirement as a partner of Colin Brass after almost 40 years with the firm.