Ruthven Gemmell to head devolved tax tribunals

Solicitor Ruthven Gemmell has been appointed Temporary President of the Scottish Tax Tribunals with effect from 20 June 2016.

Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, Annabelle Ewing MSP appointed him to take on the role vacated by Andrew Stewart QC on his elevation as a Senator of the College of Justice, at which point he and stood down as President of the Scottish Tax Tribunals.

A partner in Murray Beith Murray WS and former President of the Law Society of Scotland, Mr Gemmell has taken on this role temporarily as the Scottish Tax Tribunals are to transfer into the Scottish Tribunals in April 2017. The Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland will shortly begin a recruitment exercise for the President of the Tax Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal.

In his role as President, Mr Gemmell will provide leadership to the Scottish Tax Tribunals when they hear cases involving the taxes currently devolved, and prepare for transfer into the Scottish Tribunal.

He is currently also the Vice President of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), a member of the Tax and Chancery Chamber of the UK Upper Tribunal and a judge in the Tax Chamber of the UK First-tier Tribunal.

His new post is part time and attracts a daily fee of £515.10.