New and returning Law Society Council members welcomed on board

Two new members and two familiar faces have been elected by their peers to join the Law Society of Scotland’s Council, in the latest round of contested elections.

Philip Lafferty and Campbell Read were returned to their seats representing solicitors in Campbeltown, Dumbarton, Dunoon, Oban, Rothesay and Fort William.

Waqqas Ashraf won the Greenock, Kilmarnock and Paisley by-election, and will take up his seat alongside current Council member, Simon Brown, when Stuart Naismith stands down on 1 June.

For the first time, the Council member representing newly qualified and trainee solicitors was elected by her peers, rather than appointed by a panel of interviewers, as was previously the case - Amanda Davy won over the 10 other candidates who stood for the seat.

Struan Ferguson is the only new Council member to be elected unopposed and will take up the second seat representing solicitors in Duns, Haddington, Jedburgh, Peebles and Selkirk.

Lorna Jack, chief executive of the Society, said: “The Council is our principal governing body and it is important that our members have opportunities to contribute to the decisions which affect their profession – the vote to elect Council members is one of the important mechanisms which makes this possible.

“As an organisation, we are mindful that newer members of the legal community have an important role to play in the future of their profession and it is encouraging to see such high numbers of newly qualified solicitors getting involved and standing for Council.

“I would like to extend our thanks to everyone who voted, stood for election or helped with the campaign – and of course, I would like to congratulate all of our new and returning Council members, Philip, Campbell, Waqquas, Amanda and Struan on their success. I look forward to meeting everyone at the next Council meeting – whether that’s in person or virtually with the magic of technology.”

The following constituencies were also included in this round of elections and the candidates were returned unopposed.

• Alloa, Falkirk, Lithlithgow & Stirling
Kenneth Dalling, Dallings, Stirling (incumbent)
John Mulholland, Marshall Wilson, Falkirk (incumbent)

• Arbroath, Dundee & Forfar
Murray Etherington, Thorntons, Dundee (incumbent)

• Dingwall, Dornach, Elgin, Inverness, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Lochmaddy, Portree, Stornoway, Tain & Wick
Sheekha Saha, Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, Stornaway (incumbent)
There is a second seat currently vacant in this constituency

• Duns, Haddington, Jedburgh, Peebles and Selkirk
Patricia Thom, Patricia Thom & Co (incumbent)
Struan Ferguson, Blackwood & Smith WS (newly elected member)

• England and Wales
Naomi Pryde, Dentons UK and Middle East LLP (incumbent)

For further information on the role of Council members visit the Law Society of Scotland website.