Ryden has made three senior promotions. Nick Armstrong based in the Investment team in Edinburgh and Eddie Fiddes who works in Aberdeen Property Management have both been made Partner. Mark Thom has been promoted to Associate within the Valuation, Lease Advisory & Rating team in Edinburgh. All three joined Ryden in the early stages of their property careers.

The promotions take Ryden’s total number of Partners to 43. The firm is predicted to hit fee targets at financial year end despite the difficult trading conditions of the past 12 months.

Nick has worked in the Edinburgh Investment team for over 10 years building strong relationships with clients. His most recent transactions include the purchase of Prestonfield Park Industrial Estate on behalf of Ribston and the purchase of 43-45 George Street on behalf of Thistle Property. Eddie has led Ryden’s Property Management team in Aberdeen since 2013 and has worked with local and national clients including Knight Property Group, GSS Developments, Gilcomston Investments and Freshwater Group. Mark began his career as a graduate in Aberdeen before relocating to Edinburgh where he provides valuation, rent review, lease restructuring and strategic advice for clients such as The Robertson Trust and Scotmid.

Dr Mark Robertson, Ryden Managing Partner, said: 

“Ryden has maintained a strong business focus during the extended periods of lockdown to ensure that we support our client-facing teams and sustain our market-leading positions. Our people work extremely hard for their clients and the promotions we have made are individuals who have built their career with us and reflect our appreciation of their dedication. Ryden is in a strong position to support clients through the next stage of the commercial property market cycle which is picking up pace in Q2.”

Brodies has promoted corporate lawyer Paul McLaughlin to Partner, bringing the number of Partners at Scotland’s largest law firm to 93.

Paul joined Brodies in 2005 and has carried out a wide variety of corporate work during his time at the firm. A member of the firm’s Funds Group, he specialises in advising UK-based and overseas clients and intermediaries on private fund formation, corporate reorganisation and joint venture structuring matters.

The announcement coincides with the promotion of eight Managing Associates and ten Associates across the following specialist areas: banking & finance; business disputes & asset recovery; commercial property; commercial services; corporate & commercial; employment; energy & infrastructure; family law; insurance & risk; land & rural business; and public law & regulatory.

Bill Drummond, Managing Partner of Brodies, said: “These well-deserved promotions recognise the specialist skills of the lawyers concerned, their in-depth knowledge of the sectors in which they operate and their willingness to go above and beyond on behalf of clients. I wish them every success as they embark on the next stage of their careers at Brodies and build on their achievements.

“Paul’s appointment, together with our internal promotions of Managing Associates and Associates, underscores Brodies’ commitment to fostering talent and developing and growing our services to ensure that clients are provided with relevant specialist legal advice of the highest quality.”

Paul said: “I am delighted to be promoted to Partner within the firm’s Funds Group and the broader Corporate & Commercial Department. Brodies has provided me with an excellent platform for the development of my knowledge and technical skills in the practice areas in which I work. I am looking forward to working alongside the other Partners within my department and the wider firm to ensure that Brodies continues to be at the forefront of specialist legal advice in Scotland.”

Commenting on his promotion to Managing Associate, Andy Nolan, Head of Brodies’ Sport Practice, added: “This is an exciting opportunity to continue to enhance and expand the firm’s sports law practice by developing innovative services that are relevant to clients involved in the full range of sports – from advice on safeguarding intellectual property rights, contracts and property, to privacy rights, regulation, litigation, disciplinary matters and employment issues.”

Following her traineeship with Brodies, Associate Jenna McCosh qualified and joined the Real Estate Department in 2012. She said: “Since starting out as a trainee at Brodies, the firm has been instrumental in encouraging my interests in the property industry, developing my technical skills and experience and guiding my career path to where it is today. I’m really looking forward to the next phase and expanding on my work with real estate clients.”