Jamie Hepburn MSP and Amanda Jones Jun 17Scotland’s Minister for Employability and Training, Jamie Hepburn MSP, has visited the offices of commercial law firm Maclay Murray & Spens LLP (MMS) to see at first hand the benefits of flexible working.

Around a third of MMS’ workforce uses flexible working patterns, including some partners and directors, allowing them to fit family and other commitments into their working lives. The firm became one of the first organisations to adopt Working Families’ new ‘happy to talk flexible working’ strapline on job adverts in 2015, and has been a finalist in the Scottish Top Employers for Working Families Awards two years’ running.

Minister for Employability and Training Jamie Hepburn said: “Thousands of parents and carers across Scotland face barriers to work. Not only is flexible working vital for Scotland’s workforce, but also for a stronger and healthier society and economy.

“This government is committed to promoting fair and flexible working practices, including positive action on pregnancy and maternity discrimination and tackling the gender pay gap, allowing more people to take advantage of family-friendly working practices and workplaces.

“I would like to congratulate Maclay Murray & Spens LLP on their dedication to flexible working and demonstrating that these practices can be good for people and good for business.”

Amanda Jones, partner and head of the employment, pensions and immigration practice with MMS and a long-standing champion of flexible working, said: “Flexible and agile working practices are an important part of the modern workplace, allowing all kinds of people to offer valuable contributions to the economy while also fulfilling other roles in society. It is an excellent way to tackle discrimination and promote diversity in the workforce because it allows parents to meet their childcare commitments without being singled out for special treatment.

“Having led the way on flexible family working in Scotland for several years, we have found that it can also be of benefit to the firm, as it allows us to attract and retain the best talent available, with many people now actively seeking out employers who are prepared to support their life choices and help them work in a way that suits them best.

“The key to successfully implementing flexible working is to focus on outcomes rather than hours in the office, an approach that can also pay dividends in terms of productivity.”

MMS staff are encouraged to discuss their need for flexible basis with their employer on a personal basis. The approach has led to a wide variety of arrangements, from a mother who has annualised her part-time hours to allow her to be at home in the school holidays, to a partner who fits his commercial work at MMS around a second role as an employment judge.

Amanda added: “Allowing more flexible hours and home-working requires active management, but for us it has paid dividends in terms of building a happy, productive and diversely experienced team, which can itself adapt to the needs of clients who don’t always want their service to be limited to UK office hours.”

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP (MMS), the UK-wide commercial law firm, has announced the promotion of 20 lawyers, including two new partners, as it recognises and rewards the exceptional performance of lawyers across all four of the firm’s offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London.

The promotions, which coincide with the start of the firm’s new financial year, see two lawyers promoted into the partnership, two new directors, 11 new associates and five solicitors moving up to senior level.

James Wilson becomes a partner in the banking and finance practice in Edinburgh, while commercial property specialist David Rose has been promoted to partner in the property practice in Aberdeen.

Kenneth Shand, chief executive of MMS, said: “The promotions underscore the continued growth of key practice areas across the firm and reflect the breadth and depth of experience of our talented lawyers, who have demonstrated their dedication to our clients. It also reinforces our commitment to rewarding the exceptional performance of our home-grown lawyers.”

The following promotions came into effect on 1 June:

Partner

James Wilson, Banking & Finance, Edinburgh
David Rose, Property, Aberdeen

Director

Mark Stewart, Corporate, London
Lyndsey O’Connor, Property, London

Associates

Anna Crosby, Banking & Finance, Aberdeen
Roisin Forde, Banking & Finance, London
Ferky Azib, Commercial Dispute Resolution, London
Sarah McCormick, Commercial Dispute Resolution, Edinburgh
Linzi Hedalen, Construction & Engineering (Contentious), Edinburgh
Sophie Applewhite, Employment, Pensions & Immigration, London
Jennifer Connolly, Private Client & Charities, Glasgow
Donna Bryson, Property, Glasgow
Jayne Ferguson, Property, Glasgow
Tom Hepburn, Property, Glasgow
Fiona McDonald, Housing & Care, London

Senior Solicitor

Nicola Watson, Banking & Finance, Aberdeen
Susan Currie, Capital Projects, Edinburgh
James Todd, Capital Projects, Edinburgh
Jamie Dunne, EU, Competition & Regulatory, Edinburgh
Iain Smith, Property, Glasgow

The UK and the EU have recognised the sensitivity of the position of individuals and their rights post the UK exiting the EU. It is also one of the most immediate issues facing employers.

Many organisations have indicated their need for access to talent and are concerned that employees may need to leave or they won’t be able to bring in the talent in the future. The UK Conservatives still talk in terms of net migration in the tens of thousands. Irrespective of the outcome of UK–EU negotiations, the exit bill and the UK’s future relationship with the EU, employees and employers will be affected by the outcome as well as by any immigration regime put in place.

Recognising the need to stay informed, MMS invite you to join us at these seminars hosted by expert speakers from the Employment, Benefits & Immigration teams, who will take a closer look at the following issues.

-Where is employment law likely to diverge from the current European path?
-What comes after free movement?
-What can employers do now to prepare for a post-Brexit world?

This seminar would be of benefit to HR professionals, in house lawyers, senior management and anyone who may be impacted by these changes.

Agenda
1730 Arrival
1800 Seminar
1845 Q&A
1900 Networking drinks and further questions
1930 Close

Seminar Dates and Locations
13 June – Glasgow
14 June – Edinburgh

MMS Edinburgh, Quartermile One, 15 Lauriston Place
Edinburgh
EH3 9EP
14/06/2017 – 5:30PM to 7:30PM

21 June – Aberdeen