Shepherd and Wedderburn, the Scottish legal practice, has promoted seven of its lawyers to partner and 10 to legal director.

They are Neil Cowan (banking and finance), Emma Guthrie (property and infrastructure – pictured), Lucy Hall (banking and finance), Magda MacLean (planning and environment), George McKinlay (property and infrastructure), Keith McLaren (private wealth and tax) and Emma Robertson (rural). 

New legal directors are: Heather Bird (private wealth and tax), Kirsty Headden (pensions), Suzanne Knowles (restructuring and business advisory), Ashley McLean (media and technology), Laura McMillan (commercial disputes), Stephanie Mill (planning and environment), Gillian Moore (employment), Emma Paton (planning and environment), John Vassiliou (immigration) and Sarah Walker (commercial disputes).

Commenting on the promotions, Andrew Blain, managing partner, said: “As a firm, we are committed to supporting the career development of all our colleagues and so I am delighted to be announcing these well-deserved promotions.”

Harper Macleod

Harper Macleod is marking its 35th anniversary with a round of promotions, including four partners, four newly-qualified solicitors, and Gold Investors in People and Investors in Young People accreditations. 

Promoted to partner are: Andrew Ronald (Banking & Finance), Ewan Stafford (Employment & Immigration), Amy Dickson (Personal Injury & Reparation) and Brian Carton (partner equivalent in the IT team).

New senior associates are: Fiona Strang (Corporate, Commercial & Regulatory), Jennifer Grosvenor (Dispute Resolution), Nicola Ker, Annabelle Gow and Lauren Farquhar (all Private Client – Asset Protection & Tax), and Nicola Stephen (Residential Property). 

There were eight colleagues promoted to associate and 14 colleagues promoted to senior solicitor positions.

Burness Paull hires rural team

New team at Burness Paull

Burness Paull has bolstered its rural business offering with the addition of a six-person team led by agriculture and estates specialist Linda Tinson.

Ms Tinson has been appointed a partner in the real estate division and head of the firm’s expanded rural business practice.

The team is further strengthened by Jim Drysdale (legal consultant), Lorna McKay (senior associate), Sarah Taylor and Jason Rust (both associates), and Sarah Strathdee (paralegal) who join with Tinson from Ledingham Chalmers.

Chairman Peter Lawson said: “Our ambitious growth strategy is underpinned by investment in the exceptional talent required to strengthen and diversify key practice areas.”

Gillespie Macandrew adds private client specialist

Scottish law firm, Gillespie Macandrew has appointed private client specialist, David Mowlem to its partnership.

Mr Mowlem, who is dual qualified in Scots and English law, joins from Turcan Connell and brings 15 years’ experience advising individuals, business owners and their families on tax and estate planning.

CMS promotes Brussels-based specialist

CMS has promoted Siobhan Kahmann to partner level.  The Brussels-based competition and regulatory law specialist, who works across the Scottish marketplace, is among several global partner promotions announced by the firm this year.

She is an active member of the Law Society of Scotland where she has been elected as its International Council Member for the past six years. She also serves on the Society’s Technology, Trade, and Competition Committees.

Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie

Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie has announced a number of promotions across its offices.

Alan Munro, formerly of Bristol-based TLT, joins as partner. He has experience in Insolvency Law, liquidation and asset recovery, and will be working with WJM’s conflict resolution team.

John Grant, employment and conflict resolution specialist who has been with WJM for 21 years, has been promoted from senior associate to partner. 

In the Inverness office Yasmin Myles joins the commercial property team as an associate.