Appointments

Aidan O’Neill QC was called to the bar of Ireland this morning by the country's most senior judge, Chief Justice Frank Clarke. Mr O'Neill's legal practice now covers three jurisdictions: Scotland, England & Wales, and Ireland. He is a member of Ampersand Advocates in Scotland and of Matrix

Ampersand's Paul Reid has been appointed first standing junior to the Scottish government, alongside new appointments to the government’s panel of standing junior counsel for Tim Young and Dominic Scullion. They join fellow Ampersand member Laura-Anne van der Westhuizen on the panel.

Advocate Catherine Smith has been appointed to the Scottish Civil Justice Council for a three-year term. Ms Smith is a member of Arnot Manderson Advocates. Her principal areas of work are reparation and public law. She specialises in personal injury, judicial review and clinical negli

Balfour and Manson has promoted two of its associate solicitors to partner, effective from the beginning of the new year. The new partners are Martin Walker who joined the firm as a trainee in 2015 before becoming a solicitor in its litigation team, and experienced private client specialist, Graeme

Six new members have been appointed to the Equality and Human Rights Commission's Scotland Committee. Mariam Ahmed, Charlie McMillan, Lindsey Millen and Tatora Mukushi take up their posts in the new year while Johanna Boyd and Peter Kelly will join the committee in January 2022.

An intellectual property associate at Thorntons has qualified as a chartered trade mark attorney and will now head up the firm’s in-house trade mark agency. Kirsty Stewart joined Thorntons in 2014 following her traineeship and works within the intellectual property, technology and media team.

Criminal solicitors Anna MacKay and Lucy McKenna have joined Scullion LAW. Ms MacKay, who joins as an associate, has specialised in criminal defence since qualifying in 2012. She trained as a prosecutor with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and also worked for prosecutors at the Intern

DLA Piper has appointed Lord Tyrie, former chair of the Competition and Markets Authority, as a political consultant. Lord Tyrie will advise clients across a wide range of financial, public policy and corporate governance issues and will work alongside an established team of consultants including Lo

Lord Stewart of Dirleton QC was sworn in as Advocate General for Scotland at ceremonies in Parliament House. Lord Stewart presented his Royal Warrant of Appointment, first to a bench of three Court of Session judges led by, the Lord President, Lord Carloway in the First Division courtroom and t

Digby Brown has announced various appointments across its Glasgow, Edinburgh, Ayr and Kirkcaldy teams. Lee Murray, Ryan Smith, Megan Keenan and David Henderson have been made associates. Joanne Gray, Izabela Wosiak, Saira Ahmed and Zara Clark have been made senior solicitors while Nicola Hoey h

A raft of promotions have been announced across Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP’s offices in Scotland. The firm is celebrating the promotion of five members of staff, four to senior solicitor and one to associate.

Lawyer Susan McDonald has been appointed interim director of Reidvale Housing Association. Ms McDonald is a qualified solicitor with a wealth of experience in social housing and also has experience of strategic management through her role on the management committee of Ore Valley Housing Associ

The new vice-president of the Scottish Criminal Bar Association has been announced as Jennifer Bain – and she wants to use the position to repay a debt. Ms Bain’s election completes changes at the top of the SCBA, following Tony Lenehan’s move from vice-president to president.

A dispute resolution expert from Brodies LLP has been re-elected to serve a second term as president of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen. Ken MacDonald, who specialises in commercial disputes and international arbitration, is the first president in more than 40 years to have his term extended by

The Scottish Arbitration Centre has announced that Lord Glennie will replace Brandon Malone as chair of the board of the centre when Mr Malone steps down after ICCA Edinburgh next year. He will be joined by three other new directors, including Mary Thomson who will become vice chair when Lord G