Andrew Graham-Smith has joined the commercial property department. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh, he completed a masters degree in oil and gas law at the University of Aberdeen, before spending four years with an international law firm.

Ashley French, meanwhile, has joined the dispute resolution and litigation department. A graduate of the University of Glasgow, she recently completed a masters degree in international law, having previously spent two years with another Edinburgh law firm.

Senior partner, Stephen Blane, said: “Having recently progressed to senior partner at Urquharts, after 18 years with the firm, I appreciate the importance of planning for the future.

“It is great to see talented young lawyers like Andrew and Ashley making the positive career choice to join a smaller firm like ours, whose success has been built on traditional values of excellent client service and sound legal advice. I am sure this new generation of Urquharts lawyers, as they develop in their chosen fields, will add strength to our constant drive to deliver the kind of service our clients expect and deserve.”

Mr Blane’s accreditation by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in professional negligence law has also been renewed for another five year period. The lawyer, who is a solicitor advocate, was one of the first solicitors to achieve this accreditation in 2006 and is currently one of only 10 accredited specialists in this area.