Stronachs appoints first chief operating officer

Aberdeen and Inverness legal firm Stronachs has appointed Stuart Murphy as its first chief operating officer.

Mr Murphy will be responsible for leading operational and financial management at the firm and will oversee Stronachs’ HR and IT teams across its two offices. He will have a key role in the development and implementation of the firm’s strategy, improving systems and processes to provide a platform for growth.

An economics graduate of Aberdeen University, Mr Murphy worked as a chartered accountant with KPMG and in corporate finance with Johnston Carmichael, and was most recently finance director of the Westwood Global Energy group.

Managing partner Neil Forbes commented: “We are delighted that Stuart has chosen to join us. We have been successful over the past 18 months in winning new clients and work and are looking to build on these successes.

“Stuart’s experience will be invaluable in supporting our team as we continue to focus on supporting our clients in a post-pandemic world. He brings invaluable management experience to the firm and will help enhance our business practices and operations to improve our team’s ability to deliver a first-class service to our clients.”

Stronachs has also confirmed the recruitment of four trainee solicitors to its Aberdeen office and the employment of three trainees from its 2019 cohort who recently qualified as solicitors. It is currently actively recruiting for commercial property lawyers in its Aberdeen office, after recently appointing two new private client associates.

Stronachs, which is headquartered in Aberdeen now has 16 partners, with around 90 lawyers and support staff between its offices in Aberdeen and Inverness.