Laura McDowall, head of the private client group, has joined the board along with Campbell Clark, head of the business services group, who has been reappointed to the board.

Two further partners have been elected to serve on the board, Simon Allison, head of employment, and Kirk Dailly, head of corporate & commercial. Peter Duff remains chairman.

Mr Allison has specialised in employment law for over 20 years and has been accredited in this field by the Law Society of Scotland since 2013. He said: “I am delighted to have been elected by my partners as a board member. Blackadders has a very exciting future and I look forward to adding my experience to the board to further support all of my colleagues from all units within the firm.”

Mr Dailly has been appointed head of corporate & commercial. He represents a number of Scotland’s leading tech companies, video game entrepreneurs and start-up businesses, and has helped establish the firm inside the top 10 corporate dealmakers in the country. “I’m excited to lead such a talented team and look forward to driving the innovation of the firm’s services in a rapidly evolving profession,” he said.

Ms McDowall has been appointed as head of the private client group. She deals with wills, succession planning, the creation and administration of trusts and adults with incapacity including powers of attorney, guardianship orders and financial management. She is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as specialist in incapacity and mental disability law.

She said: “It is a great honour to have been appointed as head of the private client group. I am very much looking forward to working with the board to implement the firm’s strategy as we continue to grow and meet the exciting challenges of the years ahead.”

Succeeding managing partner Johnston Clark, Emma Gray and Ryan McKay have taken up their new roles as joint managing partners for the board.

Mr McKay commented: “Under Johnston’s leadership for the past 23 years, the firm has grown to become a leading national firm. The board takes over with the business in great shape and with ambitious plans for further growth. Our aim is to continue on that positive trajectory of success through both organic growth and lateral hires to ensure that we continue to deliver the highest quality of advice and service to our clients.”

Ms Gray added: “We have fantastic talent across the business and our people are very much at the centre of our success to date. We are committed to developing our people who will play a crucial role in our continued success and will help the board fully capitalise on the great opportunities ahead for Blackadders and our clients.”