Scottish law firm Anderson Strathern has continued its pattern of growth in 2015 by announcing three hires in the Commercial Litigation Team and increasing the numbers in the team’s Insurance and Health & Safety Unit.

Sarah Phillips, Lesley Johnston and Stuart Bevan were all recruited as part of the firm’s strategy for growth in the commercial, insurance and health & safety sectors. In September this year commercial litigation partner Jonathan Guy was appointed as Head of the Insurance and Health & Safety Unit with a commitment to strong growth. Clients include a range insurance, public sector and private clients such as Co-operative Insurance, a number of loss adjusters, UK and Scottish Government departments, the Scottish Prison Service and the Health & Safety Executive.

Sarah Phillips returns to the firm from a period at Weightman’s. She is as a Senior Associate in the Insurance and Health & Safety Unit. Ms Phillips has more than 17 years experience as a defender litigator including in motor, employer and public liability, property damage, disease and fraud cases and has particular expertise in Fatal Accident Inquiries. Ms Phillips said “I am delighted to be returning to Anderson Strathern, working with a team of talented solicitors and developing my expertise further with interesting and challenging work”.

Lesley Johnston, who originally trained and qualified with Anderson Strathern, returns to the team as an Associate having completed a two year appointment as the Law Clerk to the Lord President of the Court of Session. Ms Johnston will work across the range of Commercial Litigation Team with a focus on health and safety focused and incorporating professional negligence, defamation, intellectual property, regulatory work, contentious executries and licensing. Ms Johnston is also a tutor in delictual liability and family law at the University of Edinburgh.

Stuart Bevan also trained and qualified with Anderson Strathern and returns to the team as a solicitor. Mr Bevan will concentrate on insurance defender litigation and working on Fatal Accident Inquiries.

The Head of the Insurance and Health & Safety Unit, Jonathan Guy, commenting on the return of Ms Phillips, Ms Johnston and Mr Bevan said:

“I am delighted that Sarah, Lesley and Stuart have returned to Anderson Strathern’s Commercial Litigation Team and joined the Insurance and Health & Safety Unit. They are extremely talented solicitors and each bring different and invaluable experience to our growing team.”

About Anderson Strathern – Anderson Strathern is a leading Scottish full service law firm with offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Haddington. With over 50 partners and over 230 staff, the firms works across the commercial, public and private sectors with clients including INEOS, the Scottish Government, The Crown Estate, Clyde Gateway, City Legacy, Buccleuch Estates, the University of the West of Scotland and the Royal College of Nursing and reported revenues of £21.5m and an increase in profit of 12% in 2014.