Martin Darroch

The promotions illustrate the firm’s growth and strength in its diverse service offering, particularly family law, private client, renewable energy and rural matters, and investment in the firm’s footprint in the north of Scotland.

The partner promotions, effective from 1 April 2022, are:

• Leigh Beirne – who leads the firm’s private client practice in Shetland and joined the firm as a trainee. Ms Beirne advises individuals and families, specialising in the administration of complex and high value estates, the preparation of Wills, inheritance tax planning, and financial and welfare Powers of Attorney.
• Tom Gray – in the rural team, based in Glasgow. He represents a range of clients in relation to farm, forestry and estate purchases across Scotland.
• Jenni Gear – in the family law team, based in Lerwick. Ms Gear predominantly advises clients on the full range of family matters including separation, divorce, and child residence and contact disputes. With a wide breadth of Sheriff Court experience, she is also a child welfare reporter and curator at Lerwick Sheriff Court. Ms Gear is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Family Law.
• Ricardo Matteo – in the banking team, based in Glasgow. Mr Matteo also joined the firm as a trainee and is experienced acting for both lenders and borrowers in a wide range of high-value and complex corporate transactions.
• Laura McLean – in the family team, based in the firm’s Elgin and Inverness offices. She advises clients on a wide range of family issues, and is an experienced litigator.

Further to the partner appointments, the firm has promoted 20 colleagues as part of its HM Career Paths programme, providing opportunities and pathways for development. This includes eight lawyers promoted to senior associate level: Lynsey Brown (family), Sascha Cochran (risk & compliance), Cinzia Duncan (private client), Ann Gallagher (rural), Calum Gee (dispute resolution), Lewis Hendry (energy), Alastair Johnston (dispute resolution) and Rory Paterson (commercial property).

Professor Lorne Crerar CBE, Harper Macleod chairman, said: “It is a proud moment to announce new partner promotions, who illustrate our values of innovation, collaboration and responsibility to our clients, colleagues and communities.

“We have always placed huge value and importance on development and growth opportunities. Every partner appointment is a tremendous achievement, and it should be congratulated even more so given the challenges everyone has faced in recent years.”

Martin Darroch, Harper Macleod chief executive, said: “Harper Macleod is a place of opportunity for all. We recognise the environment in which our clients are operating, and have invested in those areas to ensure we can further support them in the years ahead.

“What matters to our clients, matters to us, which means we need to continually innovate and develop talent to match our clients’ needs.”

Promoted to associate are: Angus Brown (dispute resolution), Adam de Ste Croix (dispute resolution), Jocelyn Gilda (private client), Jennifer Grosvenor (dispute resolution), Lyndsay McMahon (debt & asset recovery) and Matthew Smith (private client).

Promoted to senior solicitor are: Natalie Bruce (family), Eilidh Crawford (debt & asset recovery), Hannah Grace (corporate), Leanne Maitland (private client), Clare McGeough (dispute resolution) and Rebecca Scott (banking).

Complementing the firm’s recent promotions, seven lawyers have recently been accredited by the Law Society of Scotland. They have been awarded to: Ewan Stafford (employment), Laura McLean (family law), Chris Noble (commercial leasing), Natalie Dissake (debt & asset recovery), Linda Walker (family mediation), Lynsey Brown (family law) and Tom Thomas (intellectual property law).