Thorntons Law LLP

Thorntons Law LLP

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Michelle Adam

Michelle Adam

Michelle is a key member of our Edinburgh office with over 20 years’ experience as a litigation solicitor. Her key area of work is personal injury claims and she deals in all types of accident claims including road traffic accidents and clinical negligence claims. She has a particular interest in complex and high value Employers Liability Claims. A qualified Solicitor Advocate (Civil), Michelle regularly appears in the Court of Session and Sheriff Court and has been instructed as Counsel in property and commercial litigation disputes as well as receiving instructions in Personal Injury Claims.   She regularly prepares written pleadings, appears in court and advises on all aspects of a case as it progresses.  Michelle also accepts instructions from other firms as a Solicitor Advocate in Personal Injury matters or as a Commissioner in proceedings to recover documents or take witness evidence.
Paul Adams

Paul Adams

A key member of the Real Estate team and lead Partner of the Inverness office. Paul has been advising business clients on their property, planning and environmental requirements for over 20 years. Paul also has extensive experience in planning matters, having previously worked for the Highland Council. He is well placed to advise and assist clients with planning applications, appeals, objections and agreements and has acted for a range of clients in high profile planning and environmental matters including Government Agencies and Public Authorities dealing with complex appeals and challenges. He advises on regulatory and environmental matters including, roads, water and drainage and also advises clients on Compulsory Purchase Orders.  Paul also has extensive renewables experience and regularly advises clients on planning applications, conditions, agreement and appeals. Paul advises clients on all aspects of buying, selling or leasing commercial property, including hotels, offices, industrial or retail units and investment properties.  Paul acts for developers nationwide and advises often on complex transactions reaching across various connected disciplines. Paul’s clients appreciate his commercial approach coupled with his focus to help them get matters completed as quickly and as smoothly as possible.
Chris Allan

Chris Allan

Partner and Head of Corporate, Chris is an experienced Corporate Finance and Restructuring lawyer qualified in both Scotland and England and Wales. He has acted corporate acquisitions and disposals for around 25 years, and has an intimate understanding of the issues which may arise in a company sale.  In addition to acting in corporate mergers and  acquisitions, Chris also advises clients in relation to debt finance and equity investment into their companies, and acts for a wide range of lenders in putting into place their loans and security packages. Chris has considerable experience in corporate restructuring, both solvent restructuring (including mergers and demergers) and insolvent restructuring, and regularly acts for both administrators and liquidators and those buying businesses from insolvency. Chris is very active in the social housing sector, frequently advising housing associations on finance issues and corporate governance. He is a voluntary board member of Link Group, one of Scotland’s largest housing associations. Originally qualified as a solicitor in Scotland, Chris is also now qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales, and also holds the Securities and Investments Institute’s Certificate in Corporate Finance.
Hugo Allan

Hugo Allan

Dual qualified in Scots and English law. A highly experienced property lawyer with more than 20 years experience, Hugo advises clients on commercial real estate transactions through out the UK, in particular securing finance for property, development and investment projects. He has acted in the purchase and sale of retail developments including shopping centres as well as dealing with the purchase, development and sale of major office developments. Hugo also acts for major retailers taking leases in UK major locations as well as for Landlords in all aspects of landlord and tenant work. He has a particular interest in construction and development. Hugo’s recent work has included dealing with the purchase, development and sale of a portfolio of shopping precincts; acting in the property aspects of a sale of 2 shopping centres and the purchase and sale of a number of hotels and hotel portfolios. Hugo has also been active in Landlord and tenant work in Industrial, office and retail property and the sale of Industrial Units. Hugo has extensive Real Estate finance experience having acted over his 21 years for all major clearers in a wide variety of secured property transactions with recent experience acting for real estate teams and wider lending teams in all aspects of property security work Hugo has lectured at Aberdeen University and was recently involved in a major bank’s in house real estate training program.
Rachel Anderson

Rachel Anderson

A Partner in our specialist Private Client team, Rachel advises individuals and families on a range of personal issues including the drafting of Wills and Powers of Attorney, Executry administration matters (often involving cross-border elements), Trust administration and Inheritance Tax planning. Rachel has a particular interest in advising high net-worth and international clients on tax efficient succession planning and asset protection. She often works closely with foreign legal and financial advisers to ensure clients receive a holistic approach to their multi-jurisdictional estate planning. Her considered and sensitive approach is welcomed by many clients and has resulted in a growing client base, both in Scotland and further afield. Rachel holds a STEP Advanced Certificate in UK Tax Planning for International Clients and attained a Distinction in the STEP Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Private Wealth Advice in January 2025.
Nick Barclay

Nick Barclay

Nick has been providing guidance to clients in the fields of Wills, Trusts, Executries, Inheritance Tax planning and the law relating to the elderly for some 40 years. He is listed as a leading expert in Chambers and Partners High Net Worth directory. He remains a valued member of Thorntons Private Client team although, since retiring as a Partner, he undertakes only limited client facing work. However, his extensive knowledge of the history of client matters and his technical skills are still available to his colleagues. Nick, a former Managing Partner of the firm has retained a key role on the firm’s Partnership Board and now lends his management expertise across a range of projects for the business.
Robin Beattie

Robin Beattie

Robin Beattie is a Partner in our Dispute Resolutions and Claims team based in Angus. Robin has worked for the firm from the outset of his legal career, having trained with the firm after obtaining an Honours degree in Law and a Diploma in Legal Practice, both from the University of Dundee. Whilst Robin handles a broad range of contentious matters and general litigation work, he specialises in Guardianship cases.  Robin has assisted hundreds of families all over Scotland in obtaining Guardianship Orders for their loved ones under the Adults with Incapacity legislation.  He is well placed to advise clients on all issues of incapacity and he has extensive experience of applying to the Sheriff Court for Guardianship provisions to protect incapable adults of all ages.  Robin’s passion lies in assisting families to obtain vital Guardianship Orders and to make the Court process as simply as possible for them. In addition, Robin covers a broad range of contentious cases and appears regularly at Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Courts throughout Scotland on behalf of his clients. He has extensive experience of criminal defence work and civil litigation. Robin can provide advice to clients on a wide range of litigation matters. Robin’s clients have praised his sympathetic and personable approach. Robin sits on the Board of Directions of Forfar Athletic F.C. where he also serves as their current Company Secretary.
Lorna Buchan

Lorna Buchan

Based in Aberdeen, Lorna is a Partner in our Family Law team. Having specialised exclusively in family law since 1995, Lorna advises individuals on all aspects of family law but particularly on the financial aspects in high value divorces including matters concerning maintenance, family businesses, and international assets. Whilst she is a highly experienced litigator, Lorna is committed to alternative dispute resolution. She has practiced collaboratively for many years, as well as being an accredited mediator. Lorna is also currently ranked by Chambers and Partners as a Band 1 lawyer. Over the years, Lorna has delivered seminars on various aspects of family and child law to legal professionals. She has also supported aspiring lawyers through the University of Aberdeen and the Law Society of Scotland by providing careers advice. Outside of the office, Lorna is an active member of the Family Law Association and FLAGS (Family Law Arbitration Group Scotland). She is also the former chairperson and board member of Avenue (a local family mediation service in Aberdeen.
Gillian Buchanan

Gillian Buchanan

Gillian is a hugely experienced and prominent court lawyer. She advises a broad range of businesses, public sector bodies and individuals on diverse disputes but specialises in contractual disputes, professional negligence, property litigation (both residential and commercial), insolvency, and in proceedings before regulatory bodies such as the Lands Tribunal, Licensing Boards and fitness to practice committees. Gillian has recently successfully handled professional negligence claims including: pursuing and recovering damages for the failure of a client’s previous solicitor to effectively serve a notice to withdraw from missives to purchase commercial premises, and pursuing damages caused by a chartered accountant who failed to take appropriate care to protect the client from email fraud as a result of which considerable sums were lost. She has also won a case against a building contractor who failed to take reasonable care resulting in substantial remedial works being required at considerable additional cost. Other work examples include: representing the liquidator of a company in substantial misfeasance proceedings under the Insolvency Act 1986 against the director of the company for sums redirected to a related company of which he was also a director to the prejudice of creditors; acting for the operators of a holiday park in disputes with a number of lodge owners arising out of the terms of Licence Agreements including payment of site fees, issues of fire safety and duration of occupation; and representing consulting engineers in a dispute with a developer on the interpretation of complex contractual documentation and whether additional services provided fell outwith fixed fees and were therefore due for additional payment.
Kim Campbell

Kim Campbell

Kim joined Thorntons in 2013 after completing her traineeship with an international commercial law firm. Now a Partner in our Corporate team she works on a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions; share sales/purchases; corporate restructurings; joint venture agreements; shareholders’ agreements and Partnership agreements. Kim is also a key member of our Healthcare team, where she is widely recognised throughout Scotland as an expert within the sector. Kim enjoys advising all Healthcare professionals, however her main focus is on dental practitioners, pharmacists, vets and children’s nurseries, where she advises on business sales and acquisitions, regulatory compliance, business structure and succession planning within their particular sectors.  In the dental sector in particular, Kim can offer practical advice on issues such as corporate structure and listing requirements, NHS legislation and regulations, associate agreements, restrictive covenants and NHS grant funding. Kim also advises a variety of banks and lenders on putting in place appropriate and robust security packages when lending to Healthcare professionals.
Stephanie Carr

Stephanie Carr

A Partner in our Dispute, Resolution and Claims team, Stephanie advises clients on a wide range of commercial litigation, debt recovery and dispute resolution matters. She also deals with contentious personal and corporate insolvency cases. Stephanie has over 20 years of experience in her field and regularly represents clients in a number of Courts and Tribunals across Scotland. She acts for both individuals and companies including creditors, insolvency practioners, Directors and debtors. She is also experienced in advising and representing financial institutions, landlords, tenants and governmental agencies. Stephanie is accredited as a specialist in Insolvency Law by the Law Society of Scotland, having been re-accredited on two occasions. She is well known by her clients for being personable and providing sound advice whilst being commercially focussed.
Sarah Cooper

Sarah Cooper

A key member of our Commercial Litigation team, Sarah advises on a wide variety of litigation matters including debt recovery, guardianships, contract and property disputes.  Sarah also has broad advocacy experience, appearing in Sheriff Courts across Scotland, before regulatory bodies, such as Licensing Boards and Fitness to Practice committees, and before the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber). Sarah has a particular interest in housing law and is regularly instructed by both private and social housing landlords.  In particular, Sarah acts routinely for housing associations and has in-depth knowledgeable of the recent legal changes facing the social housing sector.  Sarah’s knowledge allows her to provide practical advice to landlords on how to navigate issues which may arise, such as, notices to tenants, evictions, lease terms, conversion of SSST/SST tenancies, anti-social behaviour, disrepair, tenancy succession and assignation.  Sarah also provides in-house training to housing association staff and legal opinions on the housing duties of social housing landlords with regards to temporary accommodation and homelessness. Sarah also has an interest in regulatory work and has successfully defended numerous clients where they have received a complaint about their fitness to practise in a particular sector.  Sarah has experience of representing individuals before the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), the Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Teaching Council for Scotland and General Dental Council.    Sarah has also advised upon numerous licensing matters and educational matters, such as school placing appeals, and a variety of issues arising out of education legislation, at each of school, further and higher education level. Sarah studied law at the University of Stirling and received her Diploma in Professional Legal Practice from the University of Aberdeen. She also holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Commercial Law from the University of Dundee and a Master of Laws in Business and Legal Ethics from the University of Cergy-Pontoise in Paris. Sarah also has broad academic legal experience. She lectured in law at the University of Abertay and the University of Cergy-Pontoise prior to entering the profession and was previously a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Morna Coutts

Morna Coutts

Morna leads our large Edinburgh private client team and also provides focussed tax advice to clients across our business. She has considerable experience in delivering specialist succession planning, asset protection and capital taxation mitigation advice to wealthy clients, particularly landowners and entrepreneurs, and she is also involved in the preparation of Wills and in the winding up of large, multi-faceted estates. She enjoys building multi-generational relationships and collaborating with other advisers to identify sound and practical long-term solutions for her clients, whose requirements are often complex. A particular area of interest for Morna is trusts and she drafts bespoke trust deeds for individuals and also for private and public organisations.  She advises on, and manages, a large number of trusts, including trusts for vulnerable clients, and is involved in providing strategic UK tax advice to the trustees and UK resident beneficiaries of offshore trusts.
Megan Craig

Megan Craig

Working alongside Liam McMonagle, Kirsty Stewart and Morgan O’Neill, Megan is a Senior Solicitor in our specialist Intellectual Property team. Megan advises clients on a variety of issues relating to commercial contacts, data protection and IT outsourcing. She acts for a diverse client base including charities, universities and tech start-ups. Megan has a keen interest in IP and technology. She gained a broad range of experience from training and qualifying at a global firm including negotiating complex R&D agreements for a large regulated entity and advising a bio-tech start up on IP protection. Megan is well known for providing considered and commercially focussed advice which she tailors to her client’s individual needs. Megan is a member of the Society for Computers and Law and the Scottish branch of IP Inclusive. She is also a Notary Public.
Ruth Croman

Ruth Croman

Ruth is a highly experienced and well respected Family Lawyer. She is a member of the Family Law Association and is regularly involved in complex Family Law cases, often with an international element. She is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a Specialist in both Family Law and Child Law and is also recognised as a 'Recommended Lawyer' in the Legal 500. Ruth is regularly appointed by the local Court as a Child Welfare Reporter, as a Curator ad Litem, as well as a Safeguarder to vulnerable adults. Ruth works with her clients to find solutions that work for them and their families, and will often recommend using different resolution methods, including mediation and collaborative practice (Ruth is trained as a Collaborative Lawyer, and is the Chair of the Tayside pod of Consensus Collaboration Scotland, the organisation that promotes collaborative practice in Scotland). Family law disputes can often be difficult and highly emotive, and she is committed to dealing with these cases sensitively, yet tenaciously where appropriate. Ruth's practice includes financial provision cases, prenuptial and cohabitation agreements, as well as child law matters, including contact, residence, relocation, adoption and permanence cases. Court is also a familiar territory for Ruth – she has experience of presenting cases at Sheriff Court, Outer and Inner House through to the UK Supreme Court – and she often appears on behalf of clients in contested hearings, presenting their case both effectively and respectfully.
Debbie Dewar

Debbie Dewar

Debbie is well known and respected for her strong technical knowledge and pragmatic, down to earth advice. She has been part of our Land and Rural Business Team for over 15 years. She is now a Partner leading advice on property, business, bank financing and succession matters, often working closely with rural family businesses for many years. Debbie deals with the purchase and sale of farms, estates, forestry and fishings, agricultural leases and renewables and other commercial diversification projects. She leads business re-structuring and succession planning projects on behalf of owners of all types of rural businesses.
Graeme Dickson

Graeme Dickson

Graeme is a highly regarded Private Client Solicitor with almost 25 years’ experience and a key member of Thorntons Specialist Private Client team in Edinburgh and Glasgow. He provides expert advice to individuals and families on a broad spectrum of issues, including Wills, Powers of Attorney, Executries, succession planning, generational wealth transfer, and asset protection. Drawing on his litigation background, Graeme has developed particular expertise in contentious and complex executry and trust matters, often navigating multi-faceted legal challenges that involve agricultural estates, trusts, and corporate elements. His client base includes individuals and families managing substantial estates and generational wealth, incapacitated adults requiring personal injury trusts, and non-UK clients seeking clarity on Scots law entitlements in contentious estates. Graeme has led notable matters such as advising on the establishment and ongoing management of discretionary trusts for underage beneficiaries after sudden bereavements, securing multi-jurisdictional protections for incapacitated adults following catastrophic injuries, and successfully pursuing claims for estranged children relating to aliment payments. He has also achieved favourable settlements with HMRC and the DVO concerning inheritance tax and capital gains tax exposures in complex estates, and he advises on succession planning strategies that significantly reduce tax liabilities. His work extends to safeguarding National Heritage items as bequests to mitigate tax exposure while ensuring public access to valuable artwork. Graeme’s professional background is marked by his attainment of the prestigious STEP (Solicitors for the Trusts and Estates Practitioners) qualification, underscoring his commitment to excellence. Recognised as an expert in his field, he is regularly consulted by journalists and has appeared on national and local radio, including BBC Radio 4 and Radio Scotland, offering insights on high-profile private client matters. He has authored articles in leading publications such as The Scotsman and The Herald and has spoken at prominent conferences on topics including Powers of Attorney and evolving legal practices. Beyond his client work, Graeme’s support of community projects extends into the charitable sector, where he serves as a Director of three local charities and as a trustee on multiple trusts. Through his extensive experience, professional qualifications, and community involvement, Graeme continues to provide knowledgeable, sensitive, and practical guidance to his clients through all stages of life, especially during challenging times of loss and transition.
Audrey Dishington

Audrey Dishington

A key member of our specialist Private Client team, Audrey advises high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients and their families on tax and estate planning, trusts and asset protection. She is known for her calm and measured approach while providing practical solutions to her clients. Audrey frequently advises clients on their residence and domicile status and provides UK tax advice to wealthy international clients. She looks after a large number of Trusts for clients and has experience in Family Investment Companies and complex multi-faceted executries.
Katy Dow

Katy Dow

Katy has specialisted in Intellectual Property since completing her Traineeship with the firm and qualifying as a Solicitor. She advises individuals, businesses and public sector bodies on a wide range of Intellectual Property matters including commercialisation, licensing, the protection of confidential information and general commercial contracts. Katy has a particular interest in research and commercial collaborations and copyright law. Katy strives to provide excellent client care and commercially focused advice. She is also a Notary Public.
Robin Dunlop

Robin Dunlop

Robin is a highly respected Partner in our specialist Land and Rural Business team, known for his approachable style, practical advice, and deep commercial understanding of Scotland’s rural sector. He works closely with estate owners, farming businesses, and rural enterprises, providing clear, strategic guidance on a broad range of rural property matters. His expertise spans purchases and sales, agricultural leases, servitudes and wayleaves, development plot sites, compulsory purchase orders, and security work. Robin also has extensive knowledge of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT), agricultural leasing, crofting, telecoms agreements, and capital taxes. He regularly works alongside colleagues to provide joined-up advice on succession planning for farming families and rural businesses. With strong personal ties to the countryside, Robin brings not only legal expertise but also a genuine understanding of rural life. His long-standing connections across farming, land agency, and wider rural affairs enhance his ability to offer solutions that are both legally robust and commercially realistic.
Debbie Fellows

Debbie Fellows

Debbie has over 20 years’ experience advising clients on employment and discrimination law issues and is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in both areas. Debbie’s common sense and solution driven approach makes sure clients’ achieve the best outcome for them when dealing with HR and employment issues. Her advice is robust and commercially focussed and clients benefit from the time she takes to understand their business. Debbie has wide experience dealing with all areas of employment law including disciplinary and grievance matters, absence and performance management, discrimination, redundancy and reorganisations and termination of employment. Her particular expertise involves tribunal representation (at both the employment and employment appeals tribunals) and advising on complex discrimination cases including multiple equal pay claims. Her client base extends from senior executives, to universities, colleges, manufacturing companies, high-tech companies and SME’s.
Robbie Francis

Robbie Francis

Robbie is a Partner in the Corporate team. Having joined the firm in September 2007 shortly after qualifying. Robbie is involved in a wide range of corporate and public law work with a particular focus on the education sector. Robbie advises a wide variety of businesses and public sector organisations operating across a broad spectrum of industries regarding commercial and regulatory matters including business start-up, acquisitions and disposals, commercial contracts, corporate governance, constitutional and structural issues, and statutory compliance. Robbie sits on our internal Brexit committee, tracking progress of political and legal developments and the impact they are likely to have on the firm’s clients and key sectors
Ian Fraser

Ian Fraser

With a strong property background Ian has built up considerable experience in all aspects of commercial property sales, purchases and refinancing security work, with specialist expertise in leasing, acting for landlords and tenants alike in such matters as preparing leases, assignations, sub-leases and rent reviews. He also provides expert advice for both land owners and developers on land acquisitions and sales, option agreements, Section 75 Agreements and land title issues including preparing Deeds of Conditions and then acting in the ultimate sale of the plots. In recent years, he has developed a keen interest in the renewable energy sector, representing clients in wind farm transactions.
Jennifer Gallagher

Jennifer Gallagher

A key member of the Family Law team in Dundee, Jennifer has over 25 years experience with the last 15 years exclusively practising in Family Law. She advises clients on all aspects of family law, including separation agreements, divorce settlements, cohabitation agreements, pre and post-nuptial agreements, disputes involving children, adoption and international family law matters. She has extensive experience in dealing with complex and high value financial cases such as those involving family businesses and investments. Jennifer has significant Sheriff Court experience, including conducting all types of procedural hearings, Child Welfare Hearings and Proofs. She has particular interest in alternative dispute resolution and has been a family mediator and fully trained collaborative family lawyer for nearly 20 years. She was one of the first group of Scottish Family Mediators to train in child inclusive mediation. This means she can involve a child or children as a part of a mediation process in which arrangements are being made for children. Jennifer’s expertise is recognised by her accreditations from the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in the areas of Family Law, Child Law and Family Mediation.
Aimee Gibbons

Aimee Gibbons

Aimee leads our Glasgow office and is a key figure in our Commercial Real Estate team. Since joining the firm as a trainee solicitor in 2013, she has built a reputation for excellence, progressing quickly to Partner thanks to her deep legal expertise, strong client relationships, and results-driven approach. She brings extensive experience across a wide range of real estate transactions, with particular strength in sectors such as education, healthcare, hospitality, and retail. Aimee also has specialist knowledge in secured lending, regularly advising lenders and borrowers on complex funding arrangements. Known for her collaborative style and practical advice, Aimee is committed to helping clients navigate the real estate landscape with confidence and clarity.
Lisa Hainey

Lisa Hainey

Lisa is a Partner in our Private Client team in Cupar, but also works from our offices in St Andrews and Perth. She advises individuals, families and charity clients across Fife and Perthshire on a range of issues including succession planning, trust, executry and charity administration and asset protection. Lisa obtained her Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Diploma in Trusts and Estates (Scotland) in August 2019 and is a qualified Trust and Estate Practitioner. In 2021 Lisa joined the tutoring staff at the University of Dundee and tutored on the Diploma in Legal Practice Private Client Core Module stepping down at the end of the 2022/2023 academic year to focus on furthering her own studies and is currently working towards gaining her Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) qualification.
Paul Haniford

Paul Haniford

Paul joined the Firm as a partner in the Real Estate team in March 2013 and is based in the Glasgow office. Paul undertakes a broad range of commercial property transactions for a diverse client base including developers, funders, investors, tenants and landowners. Paul's forte is complex property transactions which require not only first rate property expertise but also the involvement of specialist advice in relation to planning or infrastructure development. Paul’s clients include Peel, Clydeport, Helical Bar, Tesco and TK Maxx.
Amy Jones

Amy Jones

Amy is an experienced employment law solicitor having specialised in this area since commencing her career with Thorntons. She is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Employment Law and advises clients in all areas of employment and discrimination law.  Her pragmatic approach seeks to achieve the best outcome for clients when dealing with employment and HR issues. She has wide experience dealing with all areas of employment law including disciplinary and grievance matters, discrimination, collective consultation/industrial relations, performance management, ill health and absence, drafting and reviewing employment documentation, reorganisations/redundancy situations, and termination of employment/exit packages.  She also represents both employees and employers in the Employment Tribunal. Amy has a particular interest in TUPE and is the lead employment advisor in our healthcare team, working closely with the team to advise clients on the legal and practical employment and TUPE aspects of acquisitions and sales in the healthcare sector as well as employment and HR advice post-purchase.  Amy also works with our land and rural business, commercial property and wider corporate teams to advise on employment and TUPE issues arising from acquisitions and disposals. Her client base includes senior employees, universities, colleges, manufacturing and high-tech companies, the healthcare sector and SMEs. Amy regularly provides in-house training to clients, presents at external events and comments on employment issues for the press.  In particular, she frequently speaks at dental industry events about employment law and HR issues.
Mike Kemp

Mike Kemp

Mike is a Partner in our Commercial Litigation team. After qualifying as a Solicitor in 2005, Mike gained a broad range of civil litigation experience while practising in Edinburgh. This included conducting evidential hearings in the Sheriff court when settlements could not be reached, with successful judgments for his clients. Mike’s clients have praised his down-to-earth approach and noted that he focusses on the key issues at an early stage. His focus is on reaching the best settlement possible but where this is not possible, will proceed to court and use his advocacy experience to his client’s advantage.
Alistair Lang

Alistair Lang

Alistair has over 15 years of experience as a specialist commercial legal adviser. He works across all areas of commercial law, advising clients on corporate structures and governance; growth and exit strategies; private equity; commercial negotiation strategies; and intellectual property (IP) protection and commercialisation strategies. Whilst Alistair has a wide client base, he is extremely experienced in working with early stage technology businesses and companies targeting accelerated growth strategies. He also works with investors who provide funding to early stage companies and he co-founded EOS Technology Investment Syndicate. Alistair also specialises in IP licensing and works with a number of companies which have worldwide IP portfolios with international licensing regimes. In terms of this area of work, Alistair is often involved in working with clients to protect and enforce their IP rights in international jurisdictions. Alistair has repeatedly been described by clients as being someone who is an “integral member" of their team and whose advice goes “well beyond the purely legal because he is so well versed in [the client’s] business". Also considered to be “experienced, pragmatic and articulate" and being an “excellent source of realistic advice showing an understanding of the client’s context" Alistair adopts a consistent objective in every case: to help make our clients as successful as possible.
Kathleen-Erin Lawson

Kathleen-Erin Lawson

Kathleen-Erin is a Partner in the Personal Injury Claims team based in Edinburgh. She is highly skilled, experienced and a strong performer achieving excellent results for both her clients and the business. Kathleen-Erin is accomplished in the handling of complex and high value litigation winning high settlements for life changing injuries and clinical negligence matters. She also has valuable experience in group litigation proceedings.  Kathleen-Erin has a keen interest in industrial disease claims and has been key to securing an ATE insurance product allowing clients to litigate their occupational disease claims to achieve a win. She has 13 years of experience litigating in the Court of Session, All-Scotland Sheriff Personal Injury court and Sheriff Courts around Scotland. Her approach is straightforward and sensible, focusing on achieving the best possible settlement for clients whilst also delivering an excellent service.
Christopher Lindley

Christopher Lindley

One of the leaders in rural law in Perthshire and Angus, Chris is ranked highly in his field by the independent legal directories Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500. He is also recognised by the Law Society of Scotland as an accredited specialist in Agricultural Law. He advises client in rural property law including buying, selling and leasing all types of rural property, farming partnerships, as well as Wills and succession planning. He provides specialist advice in relation to agricultural tenancies, renewable energy projects, servitudes and sporting rights. He adopts a no nonsense approach to resolving problems and achieving clients’ goals. Chris advises public and private sector clients and banks on a wide range of issues focussed on the rural sector. He heads up the group dealing with agricultural security work.
Rachael MacDonald

Rachael MacDonald

Rachael is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Family Law. She deals with all aspects of family law, including financial provision on divorce, the negotiation of pre-nuptial agreements, cohabitation issues and child related matters, including relocation.  She has a particular interest and expertise in high net worth financial provision on divorce cases. An experienced court practitioner, Rachael appears regularly in Sheriff Courts throughout Scotland and has also been instructed in many complex Court of Session cases.  However, where possible, she will always endeavour to resolve matters outside of court. To that end she is a trained Collaborative Lawyer and a member of Consensus Collaboration Scotland and IACP (the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals). Rachael sat on the Committee of the Family Law Association for seven years until 2022. In that role, she provided input to government consultations on the review of family law in Scotland and organised training throughout the year for family law practitioners all over Scotland. She also held the position of Treasurer of the Family Law Association from 2016 to 2022.  She has also tutored on the Undergraduate Family Law LLB Course at the University of Edinburgh for several years.
Jayne Macfarlane

Jayne Macfarlane

Jayne is a knowledgeable and experienced solicitor and joined the firm in February 2023 as a Partner. Jayne acts for clients across numerous aspects of commercial real estate in various sectors with experience in investment, development, retail, industrial, office and mixed use. Jayne has also acted for investor clients on the property aspects of corporate sales and acquisitions. Jayne acts for a broad range of clients with property interests across the whole of Scotland including acting for investors, retailers, landowners and developers in connection with acquisitions and disposals for investment and development, leasing, property finance and running the ongoing asset management  of a number of multi occupancy investments. Jayne is efficient, friendly and approachable and treats each client individually by catering to their specific needs and tailoring her approach to suit them.  
Kenneth Mackay

Kenneth Mackay

A Partner and Head of our Land and Rural Business team, Kenneth has been advising clients who own or manage Scottish land on all aspects of rural law for over 30 years. His client base is very varied and reflects the wide range of issues that affect and impact rural property and encompasses the sale and purchase of the multifaceted rural estate at one end of the spectrum, to putting in place a servitude for a septic tank at the other, and everything in between. He regularly advises on agricultural tenancies and contracting arrangements; crofting; residential tenancies; sporting and fishing leases; buying, selling, and leasing estates, farms, and forests; salmon fishing; as well as being able to advise on partnerships and tax and succession planning for such clients. Kenneth has a particular interest in all aspect of rural diversification and development, having been brought up in small west coast highland community which he retains strong links to. He is therefore very well placed to advise and support his clients in all types of renewable developments, in particular wind turbines, solar panels, hydro, and biomas schemes, as well as battery storage facilities; telecoms leasing and other infrastructure projects; disposal of land for development purposes.  
Magnus Mackay

Magnus Mackay

A key member of our specialist Private Client team in Inverness, Magnus assists individuals and their families in planning for the future. He advises clients on a range of issues and planning matters including Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney and Inheritance Tax Planning. He has a particular interest in the use of Trusts in Inheritance Tax planning and protecting vulnerable beneficiaries.  He also assists Executors in the winding up of Estates and Trustees in the creation, administration and winding up of Trusts. Magnus is recognised by his clients for providing rounded, thorough and practical solutions to his clients.
Stuart Mackie

Stuart Mackie

Stuart is a key member of our Private Client team in Dundee and Angus. He has a broad experience base and is well placed to advise individuals, families and corporate clients on a range of matters. Stuart advises clients on matters ranging from contentious disputes to succession advice, wills, powers of attorney, trusts and the administration of estates; and he regularly deals with contentious executries, contentious guardianship applications and other disputes arising from private client matters. Stuart successfully completed the STEP Diploma in Trusts & Estates in Scotland, with merit, in 2019. Stuart joined Thorntons in 2008 starting his legal career as a court lawyer. The six years experience he gained in this field mean he is well placed to deal with contentious matters. Stuart also gained a MSc in Environment & Health and Safety in 2014. He has a particular interest in matters surrounding health and safety at work and the defense of Health and Safety Prosecutions; he is a graduate member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.
Clare Macpherson

Clare Macpherson

Clare has many years' experience in civil litigation advising a broad range of individual and commercial clients. Clare is based in our Edinburgh office and has run our operation there since 2004. Clare works closely with our other specialist teams to offer her clients comprehensive solutions to their legal problems both for the short and long term. Clare’s particular area of expertise is Court of Session litigation where she has extensive experience of high value personal injury, professional negligence and commercial actions. Clare has been involved in a large number of considerable damages claims securing life-changing settlements for her and her team’s clients. Clare is the firm’s Client Relations Partner which involves considerable contact with the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission and the Law Society of Scotland.
Gary Mannion

Gary Mannion

Gary is one of our most senior and experienced personal injury lawyers.  Managing a team of paralegals and junior Solicitors, he is an Accredited Specialist Injury Lawyer and appears at Sheriff Courts throughout Scotland. Gary specialises across all areas of personal injury law with a particular emphasis on accidents at work and public liability claims, delivering a service to his clients that is focused on understanding and results.  His extensive experience and knowledge in all areas of employers liability, public liability and clinical negligence claims help Gary to negotiate and secure the maximum amount of compensation possible for his clients. Recent feedback from one of Gary’s clients demonstrates his client focused approach – “Professional, empathetic and completely transparent, Gary is just phenomenal and guided me through a tough time.  He was so understanding and fought hard to get a great outcome, even at times when it looked impossible.” Gary is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Personal Injury and by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) at Senior Litigator level. He is also certified by the Law Society of Scotland as a trauma-informed practitioner. A trauma-informed approach is a way of working that acknowledges the impact of trauma on individuals and aims to create safe, supportive environments that minimise the risk of re-traumatisation.
Ricardo Matteo

Ricardo Matteo

Ricardo is a highly experienced Corporate Banking Lawyer in Scotland, with extensive expertise in advising both lenders and borrowers across a broad spectrum of banking and finance transactions. His practice spans general corporate banking, acquisition finance, real estate and development finance, project finance, housing finance, invoice and asset finance, shipping finance, crowdfunding, and restructuring/refinancing. Regularly involved in complex and high-value transactions, Ricardo is particularly skilled in navigating multi-jurisdictional deals. He has substantial expertise in a range of key areas, including fixed and floating securities, guarantees, intercreditor issues, challengeable transactions, and deal structuring. Additionally, he has extensive experience drafting and updating standard lending, security, and guarantee documentation for a wide array of lenders, with a particular focus on alternative lenders operating in the UK market. Ricardo has provided invaluable advice to clients across a range of industries, including healthcare, marine, renewables, retail, and food & drink. His clients include some of the most prominent lenders active in the UK market, from large international financial institutions to alternative and niche lenders. He also works closely with Scottish businesses, offering tailored legal advice on their banking and finance needs.
Gordon McBean

Gordon McBean

Head of Thorntons Personal Injury team, Gordon assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) in June 2021. Working closely with Managing Partner, Lesley Larg and the firm’s Directors, Gordon plays a vital role in the firm’s financial and operational performance. Thorntons has grown considerably in recent years and working with the management team, Gordon ensures that growth and change are managed effectively to allow the firm and colleagues to continue to deliver optimum client service and working practices in support of the firm’s strategy and growth ambitions. As well as being the firm's Chief Operating Officer, Gordon has specialised in personal injury law for over 25 years and led Thorntons team to be a top tier Personal Injury firm in Scotland. He is very well connected in the Personal Injury market and has a particular interest in working with victims of acquired brain injuries and their families. He has investigated several complex fatal accident cases including a fatal legionnaire’s disease case and was a steering group member involved in direct discussions with the insurers of the owners and operators of a Super Puma helicopter which crashed into the North Sea with the loss of 14 lives.  A leader and innovator in his field, Gordon created the first widely available After The Event insurance product for litigation in Scotland thereby greatly increasing public access to justice.
Nicola McCafferty

Nicola McCafferty

Nicola has over 12 years’ experience specialising in commercial real estate in Scotland. She advises a variety of public and private sector clients with her main expertise being in acquisitions, disposals, developments, funding and securities, commercial leasing for landlord and tenant, and dealing with complex title issues. She also has a particular interest in ‘unique’ premises such as caravan sites, petrol stations and complex development sites and enjoys advising on niche and ‘out of the ordinary’ aspects that can arise in dealing with many commercial properties.   Nicola's recent work includes: advising a Scottish University on a multi-million pound purchase of a large multi-let office and research building; advising in the acquisition of a large vacant site and subsequent numerous leases of offices and industrial units thereon to local, national and international tenants on both short term and long term basis’;  advising and acting for a large life science institute in relation to servitude rights and other rights and obligations applicable to their property; acting for tenant clients in their occupation of a new retail mall in Edinburgh; assisting Thorntons corporate team in various business acquisitions and disposals; acting on behalf of a landlord in the disposal of part of their property portfolio; and, completing the purchase of various new residential development sites throughout Dundee and drafting Deeds of Condition for the subsequent sale of residential dwellings thereafter.   Nicola ensures that her clients are well advised at all times whilst paying attention to detail and efficiency. In particular, Nicola prides herself on her high standards of service and client care.
Noele McClelland

Noele McClelland

Noele qualified as a solicitor in 1998 and has specialised in employment law since 2002.  She is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Employment Law. Noele's work has a particular focus on the employment aspects of restructuring, acquisitions and sales, as well as discrimination. Her client base extends from senior executives, to universities, colleges, manufacturing companies, service companies, high-tech companies and SME’s. She has also acted for individuals advising them on discrimination, unfair dismissal, equal pay, redundancy and performance management, representing them in Tribunal to achieve the best outcome for them. Her clients interests are at the heart of what she does.  She has advised clients in number of high profile disputes at executive level – having acted for organisations and executives – with a keen eye to corporate governance and reputational issues. Noele focusses on giving clients pragmatic and straightforward advice, always with a view to the commercial practicalities of any given situation and the tight timescales which often exist.  Responsiveness is at the heart of her approach to client care.  
Lesley Mearns

Lesley Mearns

With considerable experience in agricultural law and rural conveyancing generally, Lesley’s clients know they can rely on her for advice that delivers results. Her wide skill set covers a broad range of areas, including: the purchase and sale of farms and rural properties including plot purchase and sales and creation of title conditions; guidance around agricultural tenancies, including rent reviews, Resumption Notices, Renunciation negotiations, preparation of 1991 Act Tenancies, Short Limited Duration Tenancies and Limited Duration Tenancies; Business Succession planning particularly of family farming businesses; Renewable Energy projects; Forestry purchase and sales; Exclusivity Agreements, Servitudes and Option and Lease Agreements.
Lucy Metcalf

Lucy Metcalf

Lucy has practised exclusively in litigation and has specialised in family law for the majority of her career. She is also accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Family Law. She advises clients on all aspects of family law, including the financial consequences of divorce, pre and post-nuptial agreements, cohabitation disputes and agreements, child law, and adoption. She has particular expertise in cases involving difficult financial issues, especially company and partnership valuations and pension sharing, and has extensive experience in negotiating and drafting complex Minutes of Agreement dealing with the disposal and transfer of business assets. She also deals with cross-border disputes. Lucy has significant Sheriff Court advocacy experience, including conducting all types of procedural hearings, Child Welfare Hearings and Proofs. She is also trained in Collaborative Family Practice and regularly undertakes collaborative cases.
Anne Miller

Anne Miller

Anne is a Partner based in our Dundee office, with over 15 years experience in dispute resolution in the Sheriff Court, Court of Session and regulatory tribunals. She has broad experience of property, contract, professional negligence, landlord and tenant and education disputes, for both pursuers and defenders. Anne has particular experience in acting for insurers and is well versed in policy issues arising, both for policy holders and insurers. Anne also acts in the Lands Tribunal for land owners in telecoms disputes. Anne acts for a wide variety of clients from Universities, SME’s, family businesses, land owners, individuals, corporate creditors, and insolvency practitioners. Clients appreciate Anne’s personable manner, quick and reliable advice and her ability to translate difficult legal issues into understandable relatable problems to be solved. Anne’s approach is based on dispute resolution, with an focus on strategic risk management and reputation management. Anne also routinely carries out much of her own advocacy and also has a broad network of advocates when matters require to be brought to a determination. Anne has experience in all types of civil procedure, including judicial review but focusses on commercial procedure and alternative dispute resolution procedures. In the last five years Anne has a specialised focus on issues arising in insolvency and acting for insolvency practitioners, as well as directors and creditors as part of our restructuring and insolvency team. In 2020 Anne took her Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency recognised by the Insolvency Practitioners Association. Anne has significant experience in the use of diligence and asset recovery processes in debt recovery matters. Anne also tutors on the Legal Diploma at Dundee University and Chairs in the Mock Court Project which aims to spread access to experience of legal procedures and debating amongst young people, and internationally.
Ewan Miller

Ewan Miller

Ewan joined Thorntons as a Partner in April 2007 and is based in our Commercial Real Estate team in Dundee. He is a highly experienced solicitor who advises a wide variety of public and private sector clients on their commercial real estate requirements. Ewan has overall responsibility for the firm’s Commercial Real Estate Team. He also has an interest in regulatory issues surrounding housing as well as the regulation of professional bodies. Ewan carries out work for clients across Scotland but with a focus on Tayside and the Highlands. Ewan is well known within the commercial real estate sector and regularly speaks at seminars and conferences on real estate and on professional regulation.
David Milne

David Milne

A Partner in our specialist Commercial Real Estate team, David has over 25 years experience advising clients on all areas of commercial property. He regularly advises clients on property finance for both borrowers and lenders, acquisition and disposal of investment property and the negotiation and completion of commercial leases for landlords and tenants. He also advises residential and commercial developers on a wide range of real estate matters and advises clients on multi-site regeneration proposals, site assembly, project finance and disposal, and he is particularly experienced in advising on option and development agreements for both landowners and developers.
Scott Milne

Scott Milne

Following a 7 year term as Joint Managing Partner, Scott returned to mainstream client work in 2019. Over a period more than 30 years Scott has developed a broad based dispute resolution and regulatory advice practice reflecting the requirements of the firms varied client base.  He has considerable experience of advising clients of all sizes on how to most effectively resolve many diverse issues, and he is recognised for his swift, practical and cost-conscious advice. Scott is formerly a member of the Law Society Client Protection Committee which regulates solicitors’ compliance with the Account Rules and adjudicates upon applications from members of the public who seek compensation as a result of the dishonesty of solicitors. Scott also holds a leadership role as Chairman of Thorntons Investment Management Limited, a wholly owned company spun out of Thorntons Solicitors in 2014 and which currently manages more than £650m of clients’ assets.
Sarah Mitchell

Sarah Mitchell

Sarah is a Partner in our specialist Private Client Team based in our Perth office, where she provides expert advice on a wide range of Private Client matters. She advises individuals and families on all aspects of estate and succession planning, including the preparation of Wills and Powers of Attorney, the administration of Executries, and the creation and management of Trusts. Her approachable, empathetic, and practical style is consistently valued by clients, particularly when navigating complex and sensitive legal issues. Sarah has extensive experience supporting clients at every stage of the estate planning and administration process — from straightforward estates to larger, more complex estates involving inheritance tax and overseas assets.  She is committed to building long-term relationships with clients based and, whether planning for the future or dealing with the loss of a loved one, clients can rely on her for professional, compassionate guidance every step of the way.
Kyle Moir

Kyle Moir

Kyle is a Partner in our Residential Conveyancing team and has specialised in property matters for over 15 years. Based in North East Fife, he is a key member of the team handling all aspects of residential conveyancing including, house purchases, sales, remortgages and transfers of title. Whether working with first-time buyers, seasoned home movers, holiday home seekers, or investors, Kyle brings a wealth of experience and a client-focused approach to every transaction. In addition to residential conveyancing, Kyle regularly advises clients on development site acquisitions and disposals, funding and securities, and investment property matters, demonstrating a broad expertise across the property sector. His friendly and approachable manner is highly valued by clients, who appreciate his ability to guide them confidently through what can often be a complex process.
Jacqueline Moore

Jacqueline Moore

Partner Jacqueline Moore heads up our Global Mobility and Immigration team. She has been a trusted advisor to clients seeking assistance with visas and nationality law for over 25 years.  As an accredited Law Society of Scotland Immigration Law specialist, Jacqueline has an encyclopedic knowledge of the immigration law framework. With over two decades of experience in immigration law, she has delivered successful outcomes for clients on all types of visa and nationality applications. She is adept at handling the constantly changing requirements of the UK’s Home Office department. Working closely with colleagues in our Edinburgh team and across our offices in Scotland, she strives to provide clients with a smooth and stress-free visa experience. For businesses, Jacqueline supports business owners and HR personnel on international recruitment and immigration compliance. She regularly advises on a wide range of business immigration issues, including sponsor licences, preparing for Home Office audits and complex right to work issues. She is a sought-after trainer who delivers specialist training on immigration compliance and sponsor licence duties to businesses of all sizes and sectors. Her sectoral expertise covers hospitality, digital tech, the creative industries and education sector. Jacqueline works closely with our Innovations team to provide a unique one-stop legal service for international entrepreneurs seeking to start or grow their businesses in Scotland.  Known for her technical expertise and strategic thinking, Jacqueline has gained a reputation for going the extra mile for her clients. She is known for her dedication to helping clients achieve their immigration goals. For many clients, she is with them every step of their immigration journey, from obtaining their first visa to being granted permanent residence or citizenship. Her specialist areas of work include complex British nationality and double descent cases, international adoptions, Religious Worker visas and Innovator Founder visas. She is also experienced in supporting corporate colleagues on the immigration implications of corporate transactions. Jacqueline is recognised as an expert in the field of Global Mobility and Immigration and as a result is often called upon by journalists of national publications, including The Times and the Scotsman, to provide legal insight into UK Immigration and Visas.
Pamela Muir

Pamela Muir

Pamela has over 20 years’ experience advising clients on all aspects of insolvency and restructuring; formal and informal, corporate and personal. She has a particular interest in advising directors on the turnaround and restructuring of their business. Pamela acts for creditors, both secured and unsecured in preserving their interests, advising insolvency practitioners on all aspects of trading or non-trading appointments, dealing with all aspects of the purchase and sale of insolvent businesses and advising lenders. She is routinely instructed by all stakeholders involved including; insolvency practitioners, banks and other secondary or asset-based lenders. Pamela’s clients acknowledge that she is determined, pro-active and driven to find the best possible solution for them in challenging circumstances. Pamela has immense experience of how insolvency impacts many sectors of the economy, but particularly; financial services, deposit taking institutions, property, retail, leisure, food and drink, healthcare and manufacturing sectors. Much of Pamela’s career has involved working for national and international practices and working out of City and regional offices in addition to her practice in Scotland. Pamela is highly experienced in all cross-border issues arising in formal insolvency procedures in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Chris Phillips

Chris Phillips

Chris is a highly experienced employment lawyer and is based in our Edinburgh office.  He advises HR professionals, senior managers and business owners on the full range of employment law issues. This includes recruitment, preparing contracts and policies, performance and absence management, avoiding discrimination and navigating safely through organisational change in all its forms. Where the employment relationship comes to an end, Chris helps to ensure this is handled carefully and with the minimum of risk. He also assists senior individuals on the negotiation of their contracts, handling disputes and on exit strategies, including settlement agreements. His clients operate in local government, education, financial services, manufacturing, professional services, healthcare, recruitment, technology and many other sectors. As well as being an employment specialist, Chris also has extensive experience in professional regulatory law and in the conduct of inquiries, particularly in the public sector. He is also a regular speaker at conferences and training events. Chris is recognised by clients for his pragmatism, straightforward approach and commercial focus.
Stephanie Pratt

Stephanie Pratt

Stephanie is a highly regarded Private Client Solicitor with over 12 years’ experience advising individuals, families and trustees across Dundee, Perthshire and rural Scotland. She is a key member of the department, heading up the private Client Trust Administration and Compliance team. Stephanie plays a central role in guiding clients through complex matters of succession, wealth protection, and trust governance. Her practice is particularly focused on supporting farmers, landowners, and rural business owners in planning for the future, with a detailed understanding of Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief. Stephanie advises on the establishment, taxation, and ongoing management of family trusts, charitable trusts, and personal injury trusts, ensuring that clients receive both technically robust and pragmatic advice tailored to their unique circumstances. Stephanie’s client base includes individuals and family landowners, farmers, high net worth individuals, and trustees of both private and charitable trusts. She brings particular insight and depth of experience in succession planning for rural businesses, offering bespoke strategies that reflect the commercial, familial, and emotional considerations inherent in land-based enterprises. Her expertise in trust taxation and the efficient structuring of high-value estates is widely recognised by both clients and peers.
Michael Royden

Michael Royden

Michael has been a Partner since 2000. His areas of expertise include the acquisition, disposal and merger of various types of organisation, in both public and private sectors. Michael also has expertise in drafting, review and implementation of commercial contracts, the structuring of companies, corporate and other finance arrangements, and advice in relation to charity law. Michael has experience in a broad range of corporate governance advice. He has worked with a number of public sector bodies, advising on investment in subsidiaries, both wholly owned and involving other investors, and assistance to various businesses by loans, grant, co-investment and other funding, with a particular focus on the governance aspects of these transactions. Michael also has significant experience in advising health professionals, with a particular focus on dentists and GPs. Michael was recognised for his expertise in this sector when he won the Professional Adviser Award at the Scottish Dental Awards 2019.
Nina Sinclair

Nina Sinclair

Nina has a broad range of commercial real estate experience and advises individuals and businesses in all areas of commercial property transactions. Nina is one of the primary contacts for university clients dealing with a wide range of property transactions on their behalf. Nina is also experienced in acting for public bodies, dealing with commercial leasing acting for Landlord and Tenant, carrying out security work on behalf of Banks and acting on behalf of Property Developers. Nina is also a key member of Thorntons specialist health team, advising dental and GPS professionals on their property transactions. Clients recognise Nina’s strong organisational abilities, friendly nature and willingness to approach transactions with a commercial, practical and cost-effective attitude.
John Smart

John Smart

A highly experienced real estate lawyer with more than 25 years’ experience of complex  property transactions in Scotland’s rural and urban economies, John assists businesses, charities, investors and landowners. John handles commercial acquisitions and sales, and has expertise in commercial leasing, acting for both investor landlords and occupational tenants. Additionally,  John regularly handles property transactions in the rural environment, including renewable energy projects, rural diversification, title registrations and community buy- outs of land. His commercial experience has benefited a number of his clients in the rural sector , ranging from farmers, estate owners and commercial developers. He also acts for a number of charities and advises them on property  acquisitions, leases and charity law compliance. John has presented to professional bodies and clients on land reform issues and commercial leasing.
Alison Stevenson

Alison Stevenson

Since qualifying as a Solicitor in 2001, Alison has acted for a wide range of clients from small owner-managed businesses and university spin-out companies to large banks and plcs. She advises clients on a variety of issues, including acquiring and disposing of businesses, share purchases and sales, advising on seed funding rounds (including EIS and SEIS Investments), joint ventures, commercial contracts, shareholder disputes, charity incorporations and restructures. Alison is also a key member of our Healthcare team. Working alongside Partners Michael Royden and Kim Campbell, she regularly advises dental practitioners in relation to the acquisition and disposal of dental practices, drafting and negotiating the terms of shareholder, partnership and associate agreements.
Kirsty Stewart

Kirsty Stewart

Kirsty has over 10 years’ experience in intellectual property law and heads up the firm’s in-house trade mark and branding agency. Kirsty advises private businesses, public and government bodies, research centres and educational institutions on a wide spectrum of intellectual property matters. With a thorough knowledge of all elements of Intellectual Property, Kirsty focuses in particular on brand management and contentious and non-contentious trade mark work. Working closely with clients to understand their business needs and objectives, Kirsty uses her significant experience to create appropriate branding strategies and implements them in relevant territories worldwide. Kirsty has also run a number of complex and contentious matters before the UK Intellectual Property Office including oppositions, invalidations and revocation actions and is highly familiar with these processes. Kirsty regularly publishes internal and external commentary in relation to Intellectual Property and was featured on the STV news discussing intellectual property, having been identified as specialist in this area. Kirsty also presents a regular series of webinars relating to media and intellectual property and has also presented for various external organisations such as Hidden Door Festival, Edinburgh, the Fearless Business Expo and MBL Seminars, in relation to intellectual property and media and entertainment.
Sarah Stuart

Sarah Stuart

Sarah is a dual-qualified solicitor in English and Scots Law with extensive experience advising construction and engineering companies and energy sector businesses. Sarah also advises public and statutory bodies, including local councils and port authorities, as well as educational institutions such as schools and, historically, universities. She specialises in commercial contracts, including supply and framework agreements, development agreements, collateral warranties, and performance guarantees. Sarah is highly skilled in advising on projects that involve standard forms such as SBCC/JCT, LOGIC, NEC, ICE/CECA, and SFT/HUB, as well as bespoke forms. With a strong background in litigation, adjudication and mediation, Sarah also represents clients in high-value commercial disputes. She also draws on this experience when advising on contract forms. Sarah is a committee member and past chair of the Northern Chapter of the Scottish branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), reflecting her commitment to excellence in dispute resolution. She is also treasurer of the Aberdeen Association of Construction Professionals and a trustee of the Open Space Trust, a charity redeveloping the former East Kirk of St Nicholas Kirk in Aberdeen city centre. Her expertise and industry insight make her a trusted adviser to businesses in the construction, engineering and energy sectors and Aberdeen’s world-renowned energy supply chain.
Sandra Sutherland

Sandra Sutherland

Sandra has been accredited by the Law society of Scotland as a specialist in Family Law for more than 20 years. Heading up the Family Law team of 10 Solicitors and 3 Paralegals, Sandra works across our Dundee and Angus offices. Sandra deals with high value separation and divorce cases and regularly has cases calling in the Sheriff court and Court of Session. Sandra has a great deal of experience in dealing with Child related disputes and is often appointed by the court as a Reporter in these cases or as Curator in Adoption Proceedings. Sandra is a trained collaborative practitioner and family law Mediator. Alternative dispute resolution is an approach Sandra encourages clients to consider. Sandra previously served on the Boards of Angus Womens’ Aid and Relationships Scotland, and was Board member for the Angus Contact Centre in Arbroath.
Stephanie Watson

Stephanie Watson

Stephanie joined the Personal Injury team within our Dispute Resolution & Claims Department after completing her Traineeship with the firm. Now a Legal Director in the Edinburgh team and a robust litigator, Stephanie deals with a wide range of personal injury claims for the firm. A qualified Solicitor Advocate (Civil), Stephanie has extensive knowledge of dealing with employers, occupiers and public liability claims and has litigated road traffic claims. She regularly raises Court actions and appears at the All-Scotland Personal Injury Court and at Courts across Scotland to represent her clients. Stephanie provides guidance and knowledge to the team in relation to public liability claims and has had great success over the last year in arguing such claims successfully against Local Authorities. Stephanie also assists Paralegals and Trainee Solicitors in the team to progress claims as quickly as possible to the best outcome for our clients, usually advising on the prospects of litigation or on complex issues of quantum.
Michael Wells

Michael Wells

Michael is a Partner in DR&C in our Edinburgh office. With over 30 years’ experience in dispute resolution in the Sheriff Court, Court of Session and regulatory tribunals, he has extensive knowledge of debt recovery, insolvency, professional negligence, contractual and property disputes. including neighbour and landlord and tenant disputes. He also deals with alternative dispute resolution, including mediation. He advises a wide range of clients from universities, SMEs and family businesses, to individuals, corporate creditors, and insolvency practitioners. His approach is based on dispute resolution with a focus on strategic risk and reputation management. Where this is not possible, he will raise court proceedings and use his considerable experience to reach the best possible outcome for his clients. Michael has experience in all types of civil procedure, including judicial review, but focusses on commercial procedure and alternative dispute resolution procedures. He also has significant experience in the use of diligence and asset recovery processes in debt recovery matters. His clients appreciate his open and transparent approach, and he prides himself on building strong client and contact relationships.
Angela Wipat

Angela Wipat

Angela has practiced exclusively in the field of family law for 30 years and has been accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a Specialist since 2005. She joined Thorntons in 2008 having previously trained and practiced in Edinburgh, where she gained considerable experience of family actions in the Court of Session. Now a Professional Support Lawyer, Angela provides strategic legal support to family law solicitors across the firm. With a deep understanding of Scots family law, she plays a pivotal role in ensuring the family law team is equipped with the latest legal developments, practice guidance, and high-quality resources to deliver exceptional service to clients. Angela has handled a broad range of complex matters in this field with focus on coercive control, financial provision on separation and cohabitation disputes, including claims brought by surviving cohabitants or defended by the executor of the deceased. She is a member of the firm’s contentious executries and trusts unit. She has particular experience in applying family law to a client’s wealth management options including pre and post nuptial agreements. With a keen interest in legal innovation and AI, Angela ensures the team keeps at the forefront of digital transformation in legal practice.  She is also instrumental in delivering internal training and mentoring, sharing her expertise through workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions, and tailored support. Volunteering is important to Angela and throughout her legal career she has supported organisations working with families providing pro bono legal surgeries to service users and training to staff. She currently volunteers as student support for the University of Dundee Law Clinic.
Victoria Wright

Victoria Wright

Victoria is an Associate in our Intellectual Property team in Edinburgh. Working alongside Partner, Liam McMonagle, Victoria advises individuals, public sector organisations and businesses on a range of intellectual property issues, as well as advise on research collaborations and commercial contracts. Prior to joining Thorntons, Victoria had experience working with Higher Education Institutes having joined from the University of Glasgow in-house contracts team. She is experienced in drafting, reviewing and negotiating contacts for the medical, veterinary and life sciences sector including some experience working on the contractual arrangements for commercially-funded clinical trials. She is particularly interested in commercial licensing of intellectual property and has also had some experience working on contracts relating to data protection and procurement. Before working at the University of Glasgow, she also spent a year working as a legal assistant for the Scottish Law Commission where she gained a good working knowledge of some aspects of consumer and insurance law. Victoria enjoys building good professional relationships with her clients and strives to provide a high level of client care, taking into account the specific needs of each individual. She has particularly good attention to detail in her contract drafting. In 2010, Victoria jointly won the Balfour Prize for Commercial Law during her undergraduate degree.
Jennifer Young

Jennifer Young

Jennifer has more than 25 years of specialist expertise in construction law. Accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a Construction Law Specialist, she is convenor of its Construction Law Accreditation Panel and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland (RIAS). A former chair of the CBI Scotland Council, Jennifer is widely recognised for her leadership and deep sector knowledge. Jennifer advises on both non-contentious and contentious matters from project start to finish, including contract reviews, negotiation, and complex dispute resolution. She regularly acts on high-value contractual claims, offering strategic guidance to clients across the construction and engineering industry as well as supporting the energy sector supply chain.  She also presents training for clients and professional advisors focusing on commercial awareness and transfer of risk in commercial contracts. Her appointment strengthens Thorntons’ commercial real estate and construction law offering nationally.
Simone Young

Simone Young

Heads up Davidson Chalmers Stewart’s construction team and has, since qualifying as a solicitor, worked exclusively in the construction industry sector. Specialises in all aspects of transactional construction law, regularly advising clients involved in the construction sector, providing advice and guidance on both standard form and bespoke construction contracts, professional appointments, collateral warranties and ancillary procurement documentation. Has considerable experience of advising upon construction aspects of property transactions, including development agreements, pre-let agreements, forward funding agreements and the like.