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Neil Kennedy re-elected as MacRoberts’ managing partner

Posted: 9th December 2021

Leading Scottish commercial law firm MacRoberts has re-elected Neil Kennedy as managing partner for a second four-year term, commencing on 1st May 2022.

During his first term as managing partner, Neil spearheaded the firm’s growth and development strategy with a focus on technology, property rationalisation and agile working. Under his leadership, the firm acquired two businesses, Murray Snell and Yuill+Kyle, successfully navigated its way through challenging trading conditions winning new clients and awards, advised on major deals and supported its people with a focus on health, well-being and flexibility.

The Aberdeen University graduate has been with MacRoberts for 23 years and a partner for 14 of those. Prior to assuming the role of managing partner in 2018, Neil was a highly respected corporate lawyer and was a lead adviser to a number of well-known SME businesses in Scotland.

Commenting on Neil’s re-election, Euan Duncan, chair, said:

“We have been fortunate to have benefited from Neil’s calm, thoughtful and pragmatic leadership throughout one of the most challenging periods in our history. Over the past 18 months, the firm has successfully navigated its way through challenging trading conditions winning new clients and awards, advising on major deals and supporting its people with a focus on health, well-being and flexibility.

With the continuing global public health crisis showing no signs of abating, we need focused, strong and confident leaders to steer our firm through the myriad of challenges. The MacRoberts partners unanimously agreed that Neil is exactly the right person to lead our firm for the next four years.

Neil Kennedy, managing partner, said:

“I am exceptionally proud of the renewed success of our firm and our people. We remain an independent Scottish law firm offering a high-quality service to businesses and private individuals in Scotland, the UK and internationally.

Throughout the global pandemic we have continued to invest in our people through best available technology, flexible working practices and fairer remuneration structures. The health and well-being of our people is paramount during these testing times, and with people working from home we have kept in close contact by focusing hard on open and frequent communications.

Our purpose with all of our Covid-19 planning is to maintain the physical and mental health and well-being of our people and the overall health and well-being of the firm during this time as we recognise they are entirely inter-dependent. Our immediate focus is to ensure our business continues to overcome the impact of the pandemic and will continue to prosper and grow so that we can work together to serve our clients as well as we always have.

We entered this period of uncertainty with exceptional people, a strong culture and an extensive and enviable track record in delivering legal services. Our long-term strategic plan remains unchanged. We wish to remain an independent, full service and high quality Scottish business maintaining excellent relationships with our clients in the UK and further afield.”

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