Scottish law firm Burness Paull has appointed Mark Ellis as managing partner, working alongside Peter Lawson who will continue as chair.

Mr Ellis brings considerable management experience to the role having led Burness Paull’s corporate finance team for the last six years. He also previously sat as an elected member of the firm’s governance and strategy board.

A specialist in private equity transactions and mergers and acquisitions, Mr Ellis trained with legacy firm Burness before spending five years in London with City firms Hogan Lovells and Travers Smith. He returned to the firm as a partner in 2008.

Assuming the role from today he will continue to build on the successful growth strategy led by Lawson – who has been re-elected for a third term as chair – and outgoing managing partner Tamar Tammes, which has seen both fee income and profit grow by more than 50% since 2018.

Total headcount now exceeds 700, including 90 partners, as the firm has invested in strengthening core practice areas and diversified into new ones – such as cyber security, life sciences, immigration, rural business, and family law.

Mr Lawson commented: “Mark has long been a leader within the firm, latterly as head of the corporate finance team which in recent years has cemented its preeminent position in the market. Like Tamar and I, he trained here and has a deep understanding of our independent culture and commitment to our people and clients.”

Mr Ellis said: “It’s an honour to be trusted by colleagues with the role of managing partner. I have spent the overwhelming majority of my career at Burness Paull and I care passionately about our firm, our people, and the quality of service we deliver for our clients.

Tamar Tammes, outgoing managing partner, added: “When I took over as managing partner in 2018, I said that a key part of our growth strategy would be to empower a new generation of leaders within the firm.

“Mark is a shining example of this, and I am proud to be passing on the mantle of managing partner to someone of his character and calibre.”

Burness Paull has also made two further senior appointments who will play a key role in supporting the firm’s management. Lindsay Wallace, previously general counsel partner with responsibility for the firm’s governance and regulatory obligations, becomes head of sustainability. In this newly created role, she will lead the delivery of the firm’s wide-ranging ESG strategy.

Ms Wallace will be succeeded as general counsel partner by Jill Moore who has spent her entire career with Burness Paull, initially as a banking and finance lawyer before moving into the general counsel team where she spent six years as senior counsel for risk and data protection officer.