Rachael Kelsey

The new practice will be led by Rachael Kelsey, who joins the firm as a partner today alongside a team of family law specialists.

Ms Kelsey will be joined by senior associate Nina Derrin, who is particularly known for her expertise and experience in child law matters and trainee solicitor Iona Barrie, alongside new hire solicitor Annabel Blackwood. Executive assistant Lorraine Murphy, who has worked with Ms Kelsey for nearly two decades, will also be joining to support the team.

The team will grow further in 2027, with John West joining as a director in February.

Ms Kelsey was president of the International Academy of Family Lawyers until 2025 and has built a substantial national and international reputation for her work on complex and novel family law issues. Appointed to the Scottish Civil Justice Council Family Law Committee in 2016 by the lord president, she is the only Scottish lawyer on the International Family Law Committee of the Royal Courts of Justice, which she was appointed to by Mr Justice MacDonald in 2018.

Mr West previously trained and worked with Ms Kelsey for nine years and has been recognised for his expertise in disputes with jurisdictional elements and high-value financial proceedings by Chambers Scotland and High Net Worth Guides.

Nina Derrin is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a family mediator and is regularly appointed by the Scottish judiciary in the most complex cases to represent the interests of vulnerable adults and children in court proceedings.

Ms Kelsey said: “I am excited to be joining Burges Salmon and to have the opportunity to build a new Scottish Family law team with such a talented team, and alongside Sarah and colleagues whose work I have known and respected for many years. The firm’s ambitions and values, prioritising integrity and understanding the highly personal approach that clients need and want when dealing with complex and sensitive family matters is a natural fit for us and our clients.

“Together, we have a great opportunity to build on Burges Salmon’s established family law expertise and provide clients with exceptional support across Scotland, England and internationally.”

Sarah Hoskinson, head of family & divorce, added: “We have had the pleasure of working closely with Rachael, John, Nina and members of the team over many years and have enormous respect for their expertise and approach. 

“Bringing this expertise together significantly strengthens what we can offer clients. Rachael and the team bring deep Scots law experience across complex financial, children and international family matters, complementing our established practice in Bristol and London. It gives us genuine depth across both Scots and English family law and an outstanding platform from which to support clients with increasingly complex and cross-border needs.”