Following a strong start to the financial year, employment law, HR and health & safety market disrupters, Law At Work (LAW) has made five promotions across the business.

Former deputy director of legal services, Margaret Anne Clark becomes head of the employment law department overseeing a team of 12 highly trained solicitors across the firm’s Edinburgh and Glasgow offices. With more than 14 years’ experience working as an employment law solicitor, Margaret Anne has advised on an all aspects of employment law matters, with considerable experience in discrimination and equal pay issues across the retail, care and transport sectors.

The firm has 380 retained clients which range in size from 5 to more than 12,000 staff. Margaret Anne will drive forward expansion plans by securing more UK wide clients focusing on sectors including education, construction and retail. LAWs current UK wide client base include Interstate Hotels, City Refrigeration Holdings (UK) Ltd, Pineapple Studios and Dobbies Garden Centres.

Daniel Gorry who was previously a senior employment solicitor has been promoted to deputy director of legal services. Daniel joined LAW in 2006 and has specialist knowledge in complex restructures for the education and leisure sectors. He is also one of the firm’s authorities on employment tribunal matters and has spent the past 11 years representing clients on issues of unfair dismissals, discrimination and TUPE transfers.

The company’s client management division will now be led by Steven Smith who joined the firm in 2010 as operations manager. Steven brings a wealth of experience in client care and marketing.

In addition to senior promotions, Law At Work has offered full time positons to Paman Singh and Kirstie Beattie, who have recently completed their traineeships with the firm. Both Paman and Kirstie have worked on numerous employment law cases during this time, allowing them to develop knowledge in all aspects of employment matters. As the newest solicitors to the team, they bring with them a fresh outlook and have already begun building strong relationships with clients.

Magnus Swanson, chairman of Law At Work said; “In the last year LAW has grown rapidly as we integrated the Square Circle team and clients into our business.

“We place great value on nurturing talent and actively work towards promoting from within the organisation. The individuals who have been promoted each have hugely impressive track records and we are looking forward to the future.”

Speaking of the promotions, Margaret Anne Clark said; “Law At Work operates differently from other firms in the market and our objective has always been to change the conversation surrounding employment law. It is a privilege to be heading up such a talented group of solicitors, who as the future of the firm, are responsible for securing our position as the leading UK employment law, HR and health & safety specialists.

The promotions follow a period of significant investment for the company; including a rebrand and new website that features an enhanced client support area for all three strands of employee relations support – employment law, HR (including in-house support) and health and safety.

Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP (WJM) has announced the promotion of Esme Macfarlane (pictured left) to Associate and Joanne Ockrim (pictured right) to Senior Associate.

ESME MACFARLANE

Esme Macfarlane qualified in 2010 and works in WJM’s Renewable Energy team, having joined the firm in 2016. Her focus is on commercial property transactions in renewable energy projects.

JOANNE OCKRIM

Joanne qualified in 2002 having joined WJM as a trainee. As well as her Scottish commercial property practice, Joanne’s dual qualification means she also manages a considerable English property portfolio on behalf of clients.

WJM’s Managing Partner Fraser Gillies says “I believe our commitment to remaining an independent Scottish-owned and managed firm, along with our ability to reward the progression of our talented people like Joanne and Esme who are already helping us deliver on our vision of market leading client service, has helped us make some key gains over the last year. We plan to significantly build on these gains in the year ahead.”

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.”