Simpson & Marwick family law team defects to Brodies

The entire family law team at Simpson & Marwick is moving to Brodies, it has just been announced.

Three partners – Shaun George, Richard Smith and Lisa Girdwood, all accredited family law specialists – and a team of 12 are joining what is already the largest Scottish-based legal practice. They will be shared round Brodies' three offices.

The team also includes associates Donna McKay, Lydia McLachlan and Nicola Kerr, senior solicitor Susie Mountain and solicitors Zoe Wray, Rachael Latcham and Louise Borrowman.

Mr George, who will be based in Brodies’ Aberdeen office, will assume the role of head of the family law team, succeeding Scott Cochrane, who will continue in his client partner role based in Edinburgh. Also an accredited family law mediator and arbitrator, Mr George sits on the national committee of Consensus Collaboration Scotland and is President of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen.

Mr Smith, who will work from Brodies’ Edinburgh office alongside Mr Cochrane, has expertise in resolving complex financial matters between spouses, particularly in cases involving business interests, and is also qualified to practise collaboratively. 

Ms Girdwood, who will primarily be based in Brodies’ Glasgow office, was previously head of family law and litigation at Bonar Mackenzie before joining Simpson & Marwick in 2011, and also is an accredited mediator and trained collaborative lawyer. 

Bill Drummond, Brodies' managing partner, commented: “Shaun, Richard and Lisa have an outstanding reputation among their clients and the Scottish legal sector alike for their expertise, which extends to mediation and collaborative family law. They are well known for their great discretion and effective resolution of challenging cases and for managing high-value and complex divorce and other family matters, often with international aspects."

He added: "Our integrated private client and business services are already enjoyed by many Brodies’ clients. This move is designed to enhance the breadth and depth of those services in a world where longevity, multi-jurisdictional asset ownership and growing legal and tax environment divergence and complexity all require careful consideration by individuals and families.”