Malcolm Mackay WS to receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Scottish Legal Awards 2026

Malcolm Mackay WS

Malcolm’s association with the law began at the University of Edinburgh. He went on to build an extensive career specialising in employment law, employee relations, discrimination and workplace change, advising businesses and organisations on some of the most complex issues affecting employers and their people.

In 1988, Malcolm founded Mackay Simon WS, where he served as founder and senior partner for more than 12 years. He later became head of the employment, pensions and benefits division at Maclay Murray & Spens before establishing Law At Work in 1999.

As founder and chief executive of Law At Work, Malcolm led the business for eight years, developing its employment law and HR offering before later establishing Law At Work (Channel Islands) Limited.

His entrepreneurial career has also included founding United Employment Lawyers and Vialex, while since 2010 he has operated Malcolm Mackay WS, providing specialist advice in employment law, discrimination and related areas.

Throughout his career, Malcolm has advised organisations on major and often highly sensitive employment matters both in the UK and internationally. His experience has included large-scale business change, factory closures, TUPE and workforce restructuring, trade union matters and industrial disputes.

His work has taken him across a wide range of sectors. Notably, Malcolm acted for Diageo for a number of years, dealing with industrial disputes and employment tribunals as well as advising on employment policy, initially through Mackay Simon and later as chief executive of Law At Work.

Malcolm’s contribution extends beyond his work as a solicitor. His career reflects a combination of legal expertise, entrepreneurship and business leadership, with a particular focus on helping organisations navigate changing workplaces and complex employee relations.

His achievements have previously been recognised by the wider Scottish business community, including receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from WeDO Scotland in 2017.

Malcolm’s career has been defined by legal expertise, entrepreneurship and leadership, alongside a significant contribution to employment law and workplace relations in Scotland and beyond.

His contribution to Scotland’s legal and business communities will now be recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by The Times Scotland at the Scottish Legal Awards 2026. The award will be presented to Malcolm at the Scottish Legal Awards dinner, sponsored by Denovo on Thursday 17 September 2026 at DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central, where Scotland’s legal profession will come together to celebrate this year’s achievements.