Donde Thiam has joined the firm’s Edinburgh team and will specialise in private family law matters including divorce, separation agreements and financial provision. She will also deal with child contact and residence disputes as well as pre- and post-nuptial agreements.

Ms Thiam, who regularly represents clients in the Sheriff Court and is experienced in instructing counsel in the Court of Session, joins Blackadders from Balfour and Manson LLP.

She said: “I am delighted to be joining such a great family law team at Blackadders. The firm is hugely ambitious and this is the right move for me to continue to build my career and to work with and learn from some of the best lawyers in Scotland.”

As well as being a notary public, she is also a volunteer solicitor for the Scottish Child Law Centre and mentors law students through the Law Society of Scotland mentoring programme.

Shona Smith, a partner in the family law team at Blackadders, said: “It’s fantastic to have Donde join us in Edinburgh. She has great experience and enthusiasm and will be a real asset to the Blackadders’ team.”