The move sees her reunite with her younger sister Donna Carson, recently appointed as head of commercial property – and longtime family friend Victoria Lawson, co-founder of the firm.

Ms Askew said: “When you’ve been in this sector for as long as I have, you get a feel for what really matters – and for me, that’s people.

“Joining Matheson Lawson felt completely natural. There is a shared understanding and mutual respect here, which I think is rare to find. The fact I get to work alongside my sister and Victoria special but it’s the values and ethos that really drew me in.

“I’ve watched the firm develop from day one, and I knew that if the opportunity ever came up, I wanted to be part of it.”

Victoria Lawson, co-founder and director, said: “This isn’t just a new hire for us. It’s a reunion of people who know and trust each other deeply and who share a common ethos as to how legal services should be delivered.

“Shirley is exceptionally skilled and highly respected, but more than that, she’s someone who genuinely cares about her clients. Her presence and client management experience adds huge value to the team and strengthens the unique culture we’ve built here.”