Harper Macleod announces 42 promotions in biggest round of its 30-year history

Forty-two solicitors in the firm have been promoted to new positions, including two new partners – Jo Nisbet and Limor Wolfe in the firm’s corporate and real estate teams respectively – who take the firm’s partner count to 66.

The promotion round comes after Harper Macleod conducted a review of its legal grade structure, which saw the introduction of two additional levels to its existing structure – senior solicitor and senior associate – complementing the traditional Solicitor, Associate and Partner levels.

The promotions include lawyers from across the firm’s main offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Lerwick, and across all sectors of work with two-thirds of the lawyers promoted being female.

Announcing the promotions, Professor Lorne Crerar, Chairman of Harper Macleod, said: “Harper Macleod has always been a place of opportunity and many of our current Partners have developed through our own ranks over the years – it is something we place enormous importance on and I’m delighted to note that 12 of the current promotions completed their traineeships with the firm. People are our business, and as the firm continues to develop we have ensured that the career path for our lawyers is best placed to respond to the needs of our clients and the firm.

Martin Darroch, chief executive of Harper Macleod, added: “The scope and diversity of tasks our lawyers perform are constantly evolving and it is of utmost importance that we offer the right level of progression for our people. We believe this new structure provides a more clearly defined career path, giving recognition to more senior solicitors and associates.”

Ms Nisbet becomes a partner in the firm’s corporate team, where she has played an integral part in making Harper Macleod one of the leading firms in advising Scotland’s entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses. She is based in the firm’s Edinburgh office at Citypoint, Haymarket.

Ms Wolfe, also based in the Edinburgh office, becomes a partner in the firm’s extensive real estate team where she advises on large commercial property deals in Scotland and beyond. Ms Wolfe joined Harper Macleod as a solicitor in 2012 and has become a highly respected member of one of Scotland’s largest real estate practices. In particular she advises on the purchase and sale of investment properties and development sites, as well as corporate finance and restructuring.

The 21 lawyers making the move up to senior associate are: Amy Dickson, Marina Harper (personal injury & reparation), Amy Walsh (HM Connect), Andrew Fraser, Craig Ramsay, Lesley Wisely (corporate), Andrew Mackenzie, Andrew Upton (dispute resolution), Catriona Kemp (infrastructure & projects), Collette Miller, Elizabeth Macgregor, Jill Fryer, Stephanie Nicol (public sector), Fiona McLeod, Natalie Dissake (debt recovery), Kathryn Black, Paul Greenhill (real estate & construction), Lindsay MacEwen, Susie Cowan (private client), Lynne Stevenson (energy & natural resources), and Scott Milligan (employment).

Meanwhile, there are also seven new associates: Amy Mackenzie, Paul Macdonald (corporate), Jenni Gear (family), Kelly Sleight (public sector), Lewis Hendry, Tom Gray (energy & natural resources) and Nicky-Ray Watson (insolvency).

Completing the promotion round are 12 who step up to the new senior solicitor level: Keri Preece (debt recovery), Louise Torr, Craig Daniels, Fiona Strang (corporate), Riccardo Matteo (banking & finance), Alastair Johnston (dispute resolution), Ann Gallagher (energy & natural resources), Jane Whyte, Leigh Beirne, Sarah Stewart (private client), Jennifer Murphy (public sector) and Rory Byrom (employment).