Ainsley Reid joins WBD’s banking team, bringing extensive experience in real estate finance and wider banking work across Scotland, England and Wales. Dual-qualified in Scotland and England and Wales, she advises lenders and borrowers on a broad range of real estate finance transactions and has strong relationships across the Scottish banking market, including with clearing banks and alternative lenders.

Ms Reid began her career in real estate before moving into banking, training and qualifying at CMS in Edinburgh before holding senior roles at Maclay Murray and Spens, Dentons and Morton Fraser MacRoberts.

Keith Bishop also joins the Edinburgh office as a legal director in WBD’s construction team. A highly experienced construction lawyer, he is dual-qualified in Scotland and England and Wales, and has advised on both contentious and transactional construction matters throughout his career. He has held senior roles in private practice and industry, including heading the construction team at Muckle and working internationally on major projects through Systech in South Africa.

Victoria Redman, partner and board member at Womble Bond Dickinson, said: “Ainsley and Keith are excellent additions to our Edinburgh team and their appointments underline our continued commitment to investing in Scotland. Both bring strong technical expertise, deep market knowledge and the kind of collaborative, client-focused approach that is central to how we work.

“Since opening our Edinburgh office in 2017, we have been focused on growing in areas where we can add real value for clients. Ainsley’s real estate finance experience will further strengthen our banking practice, while Keith’s contentious and transactional construction expertise will add significant depth to our construction, energy and infrastructure offering. Their arrival is an important step in the next phase of our growth in Scotland.”