Harper Macleod grows with partner appointments

The firm, Scotland’s third largest professional services partnership, now has 72 partners across the country.

Richard Murray (pictured right), a private client specialist and former head of the wealth protection team in the city at Shoosmiths, will bolster the firm’s provision of personal legal services to its clients in the east of Scotland. Dawn Robertson, who has experience at a number of Scottish firms, joins Harper Macleod’s employment law team in Edinburgh.

Since Harper Macleod tripled its office space in the city last year by moving to Citypoint, Haymarket, it has added 18 people to its team including nine partners.

Professor Lorne Crerar, chairman of Harper Macleod, said: “We signalled our intent to grow extensively in Edinburgh last year and have been true to our word by almost doubling our number of partners in the city. Richard and Dawn will further strengthen the team in our fantastic new office, which is brimming with talented people including some of the country’s leading specialists.

“In the year ahead we will use our increased strength in depth, along with our combination of quality and value, to significantly increase our share of the legal market in Edinburgh and the East of Scotland.”

Since the office move, Harper Macleod has continued to win significant work in Edinburgh, including for City of Edinburgh Council, Registers of Scotlandand has been appointed to every lot of the Scottish Central Government Legal Framework.

Mr Murray works for individuals, families, trusts and charities on a wide range of matters. He has particular experience of in dealing with issues to do with the elderly including wills and powers of attorney preparation and guardianship applications, trusts preparation and administration in addition to estate administration.

He is recognised as a recommended lawyer in the 2015 edition of the Legal 500, where he is described as having the “‘knowledge, acumen, patience and understanding’ that makes him ‘exceptional’”. He is presently the Edinburgh branch president of the Society of Law Accountants in Scotland (SOLAS) and vice president nationally.

He said: “I’m delighted to join Harper Macleod at such an exciting time. I’ve watched the firm enjoy consistent success and growth with great interest, particularly its decision to embrace private client work as a means to offer a full service to clients. It is fantastic to now be able to play a part in driving that forward.”

Ms Robertson (pictured right) is an accredited specialist in employment law with the Law Society of Scotland and a member of the UK-wide Employment Lawyers Association and the Law Society of Scotland’s employment law group.

She has significant experience and expertise in advising employers on restructuring, redundancy, disciplinary and grievance matters and managing performance. Ms Robertson also provides specialised advice to third sector organisations such as charities and housing associations.

She said: “The opportunity to join a firm such as Harper Macleod is something that I could not turn down. It’s clear from the firm’s brand, ethos and the environment it provides why it has been so successful and I’m looking forward to playing my part in its continued growth and serving our clients across the country from Edinburgh.”

Harper Macleod has also recruited private client solicitor Samantha Taylor to its Inverness office from Macleod & MacCallum.