The Aberdeen Bar Association (ABA), which represents the interests of criminal and civil court lawyers practising at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, has elected family law specialist Tom Main as president for 2025.  

Mr Main is a senior associate and collaboratively trained family law solicitor at Aberdein Considine, the Scottish law firm ranked in both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. 

Other senior appointments to the ABA committee for 2025 include criminal defence lawyer Ian Woodward-Nutt as vice president (criminal), family lawyer Sophie Richardson as vice president (civil) and secretary and criminal defence lawyer Caitlin Pirie as treasurer. The new committee will represent the 130+ members of the ABA for the next 12 months.

Mr Main said: “I am taking over the presidency at a truly exciting time and I am confident, along with the help of a diverse and experienced committee, that we can collectively build on the fantastic foundations put in place by our former president, Garry Sturrock. 

“The issue of legal aid remains an ongoing concern, both for practitioners and their clients. There needs to be improvement from the government in the funding in respect of both the criminal and civil legal aid budgets and we will continue to advocate strongly for some meaningful movement on this crucial subject.

“Our core relationships with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service will continue to flourish and we look forward to collaborating further with them to help deliver the best possible service for all court users.

“Beyond our core relationships, we have in recent years also grown new ones, focusing on diversity and also working more closely with the Women’s Network. These are areas I am eager to develop and allow the ABA to deliver more value to its members.

“The judicial system is entering an exciting transitional phase with various projects now being implemented following the pandemic such as the Civil Online portal and the commencement of new civil rules and criminal legislation.

“The Association looks forward to continuing to be an important advocate on those issues facing both court users and practitioners to ensure people experience the best possible service when a part of the justice process in Aberdeen.

“Finally, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to those who have supported me in achieving this position. I am sure that there will be many challenges ahead but that with the continued support of members and other committee appointees, we will overcome these and break exciting new ground for the Aberdeen Bar Association.”