The Edinburgh-based lawyer joins from Turcan Connell where he was head of their Glasgow team. Before this, he qualified and spent eight years at Anderson Strathern.

Mr Coutts, 33, said: “Simpson & Marwick has a fantastic client base and for a long time was synonymous with family law in Scotland. I very much hope that will be the case again in the not-too-distant future.

“The firm is definitely at the forefront in offering a refreshing and modern approach to delivering legal services through tech. With everything that has happened over the past year, now is the time for the profession to fully champion its use.

“Family law is an area where you’ll always need a personal touch, soft skills, and empathy; none of which can be replaced by tech. However, tech assists in providing clients with user-friendly platforms enabling them to engage with their solicitor more conveniently and effectively.”

Mr Coutts will offer legal services to clients across the country. He graduated from Dundee University in 2010 with a first-class honours law degree before completing his diploma in legal practice in 2011 – and returned to academia as a family law tutor at Edinburgh Napier University in 2019.

Outside his professional life, he is a director of Scottish Squash, the national governing body for squash in Scotland, which is responsible for promoting and developing the sport. He is also chair of its risk and compliance sub-committee.

Rob Aberdein, chief executive of Simpson & Marwick, said: “David is one of the best young family lawyers in Scotland, and a huge coup for us as we launch the new department.”

Richard Loudon, chairman of Simpson & Marwick, said: “We’re understandably thrilled as this marks the next stage of expansion for Simpson & Marwick, and our wider strategy to offer a full range of private client services across Scotland.”

Mr Coutts added: “I want our team to deliver a service where our clients’ time is valued more than our own, where clients do not have apprehension regarding the cost of speaking to their lawyer and where we are responsive in communication and meeting deadlines.

“Our family law offering must break down geographical boundaries by understanding the nuances of the different regions in Scotland. My aim is to build a team of affable, open-minded lawyers who embrace how services are delivered in non-legal sectors and use this to offer solution-based advice to our clients.

“I am sure if we can do that, we will create an exciting place to work and offer clients a first-class service they will happily recommend to others.”