Harper Macleod recruits three to Inverness office

Harper Macleod has recruited two associates and a full-time trainee solicitor to its Inverness office as part of its plans to expand operations across the Highlands and Islands.

The associates are Ewan Stafford, an employment law specialist joining fromMacleon & MacCallum, and Emma Linn, a commercial property solicitor who most recently worked for Anderson, Shaw & Gilbert.

Karyn Mackay has been brought on as the firm’s first full-time Inverness trainee solicitor.

She will spend the entire two years of her traineeship in the Highland capital gaining experience across multiple areas of law.

Chris Kerr, lead partner of Harper Macleod’s operation in the Highlands and Islands, said: “We have doubled our office space in Inverness and are constantly looking for talented lawyers to join the team so we are delighted to welcome Emma, Ewan and Karyn.

“Emma is already a well regarded name in the local commercial property market and will be a valuable addition to our real estate department in the north of Scotland, while Ewan has already hit the ground running in our award-winning employment team.

“We have had many trainees in Inverness over the years but until now they have also spent part of their time in our other offices to gain the full breadth of our commercial law experience.

“Our expanded operation means that the traineeship can now be carried out entirely from Inverness and Karyn will be the first of many to benefit from this.”

Mr Stafford will support the work of the firm’s employment law team across the Highlands and Islands, while Ms Linn - who previously worked Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd and managed its property portfolio - will further strengthen Harper Macleod’s presence in the commercial property sector across the Highlands.

Ms Mckay, who is from Inverness, completed her legal studies at theUniversity of Aberdeen in 2014 and will take up her first six-month seat working within the real estate department.

She said: “It is great to be able to carry out my full traineeship in Inverness as it is where I am from and most of my family are in the Highlands. It’s also exciting to be carrying out my traineeship in such a rapidly expanding office.”