Balfour+Manson's Flint retires after 40 years

A longserving litigation partner at Balfour+Manson retires this weekend after more than 40 years in legal practice.

David Flint was one of the last of the apprentice generation, starting with Guild & Guild WS in Rutland Square, Edinburgh in 1979. 

After qualifying in September 1981, he joined Steedman Ramage & Co WS in Alva Street, in the days when it was possible to practise in the sheriff court in the morning, and return (after post-court coffee) to undertake conveyancing in the afternoon – "completely unmanageable now", he commented. From there he moved to Bonar Mackenzie WS in Hill Street, in 1984, where he focused on litigation, becoming partner in 1986 and senior partner in 2000.

A chance meeting at court with one of his former trainees, Elaine Motion, now chairman of Balfour+Manson, led to him moving round the corner to Frederick Street in 2007 to join the Business Litigation team, principally dealing with commercial disputes, insolvency, professional negligence, and contentious trust and executry matters.

At Balfour+Manson he received rankings in Chambers and Legal 500 for professional negligence work, acting as panel solicitor for indemnity insurers in respect of claims against legal practitioners.

Having established a trainee group to run informal meetings allowing trainees to gain confidence in contributing to the development of their careers, Mr Flint said it had been "particularly pleasing to see so many of them go on to establish partnership and key positions within B+M, other legal firms, at the bar, in Scotland and abroad".

He added: "For over 40 years I have been lucky enough to work with some of the most respected leaders in their fields within the solicitor, advocate, and accountancy professions. To say that I learned and benefitted significantly from their advice, counsel, and input over my life in practice, is a complete understatement!"