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
Edinburgh law firm Gillespie Macandrew has announced the appointment of two new Associates.
Fiona Cameron has been promoted to Associate within the Litigation & Dispute Resolution team. In her new position Fiona will maintain a broad commercial litigation practice but, increasingly, will be focusing on employment law and property litigation.
In the employment sphere she will continue to advise both employee and employer clients on a wide range of contentious and non-contention matters including restructures, TUPE, unfair dismissal, discrimination, stress at work, health & safety and settlement agreements.
Fiona’s involvement in property litigation will see her continue to work on Scottish Land Court actions, while building further her involvement in non-contentious matters through her support of the firm’s rural and commercial property clients. Her experience to date includes advising on appeals, repossession (for private and commercial clients), servitude and boundary disputes, judicial review of planning decisions and agricultural law and subsidy.
Fiona hopes to continue in her roles as a Law Society of Scotland mentor and co-chair of the Young Mediators’ Group.
Amy McDowell has been promoted to Associate within the Commercial Property department. In this role she will continue to develop her experience in both renewable energy and strategic land developments.
As a member of Gillespie Macandrew’s award winning energy, climate change and natural resources team Amy will assist clients with multiple renewable energy projects, mainly focusing on onshore wind and hydro across Scotland, including an increasing number of developments on land subject to crofting rights.
Working as a member of the strategic land development team she is currently involved in multiple large scale residential and mixed use developments and will be taking an increasing lead on such projects.
In addition, Amy will continue in her roles as member of the firm’s CSR Committee and Social Committee.
Ian Turnbull, Managing Partner of Gillespie Macandrew, comments:
“We are delighted to appoint Amy and Fiona as Associates. Both joined us as trainees, in 2009 and 2010 respectively, and became fully qualified solicitors and valued members of their respective teams. We work hard at Gillespie Macandrew to provide good development opportunities for our people and it is always particularly pleasing to watch quality individuals progress their careers with us.”
Fiona Cameron, Associate
Amy McDowell, Associate
The Health Promotion Scheme is an exciting new partnership aimed at businesses across central Scotland launched by Scotland’s Health Charity, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS).
This innovative programme combines blood pressure screenings with individual lifestyle assessments and a choice of interactive workshops from a team of Health Promotion Specialists, to reduce the risk of chest, heart and stroke illness.
What’s on offer?
Blood pressure screening and lifestyle assessments
As well as checking blood pressure levels for staff, the Charity’s Health Promotion Specialists offer individual lifestyle assessments to raise awareness of risk factors and provide advice on how to reduce these by making healthier lifestyle choices.
Interactive workshops
There are fun and engaging sessions to equip staff with important healthy lifestyle messages
Support for staff-run health promotion activities
Further resources can be provided to support employees to run their own regular health and wellbeing groups.
“I enjoyed the fact I could get a blood pressure check without making an appointment and waiting at my GP outside of work hours” Workplace attendee.
What are the benefits?
By investing in the health and wellbeing of employees, businesses benefit by seeing an increase in staff productivity and morale, as well as a decrease in staff absence and turnover.
How you can get involved?
In return for this service, you can work in partnership with CHSS to raise funds to support people living with chest, heart and stroke conditions across Scotland.
Ideas include:
- Choosing CHSS as your ‘Charity of the Year’
- Organising fundraising events in your workplace
- Entering CHSS fundraising events – individually or as corporate teams
- Promoting payroll giving
- Encouraging staff or colleagues to volunteer for us
To find out more: www.chss.org.uk/healthpromotion
or call George Grierson or Laura Hastings on 0131 225 6963
