Seven appointments at Shoosmiths as law firm continues to expand in Scotland
June, 2021 - Milton Keynes, England
UK law firm Shoosmiths has underlined its strategy for further growth in Scotland with the confirmation that seven solicitors and two paralegals have been appointed across several key teams in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The key appointment of Lauren Miller as legal director in the Glasgow based real estate team reflects continued growth in quality client work and high profile instructions won by the firm across the Living Sector that includes student accommodation, traditional residential new-builds and Private Rented Sector (PRS).
Miller, who joined from Shepherd and Wedderburn, adds further expertise in the residential/housebuilder and commercial development space, supporting a client base that already includes Robertson Residential Group, Keepmoat Homes, Bellway and Watkin Jones.
Significant too is the appointment in Glasgow of Geraint Hughes as senior associate. He joins an increasingly in demand planning team led by Edinburgh based partner, Fraser Mitchell. Hughes, who moves across from Brodies on 1 June, is an experienced planning solicitor who deals with a wide range of planning matters across all sectors. As a former planning consultant he will offer Shoosmiths’ clients invaluable fresh insight into development planning and management issues.
Eilidh Durkin has also joined the firm in Glasgow as an associate in the extremely busy corporate team led by high profile Edinburgh based partner, Alison Gilson.
Notably, the onboarding of Miller, Hughes and Durkin means eleven lawyers have now joined Shoosmiths’ in the Glasgow hub that was established by real estate partner Barry McKeown in the city in 2019.
In Edinburgh, Shoosmiths has also been busy expanding its litigation, real estate and employment teams.
Experienced litigation lawyer, Courtney Clelland returns to Shoosmiths as a senior associate in the dispute resolution and litigation team after several years working in Jersey, while the real estate team has further strengthened the firm’s award winning national construction team with the appointment of Nina Oliver. Previously with Dentons, she will support the UK-wide team from Scotland’s capital.
Demand for expert employment advice continues to grow with Grace Watson and Samantha Mackie both joining as employment associates in Edinburgh. They will work across an impressive client portfolio overseen by partner, Kim Pattullo.
Finally and highlighting Shoosmiths’ commitment to nurturing future legal talent, Alice Gray (planning) and Gillian Todd (real estate) have also been appointed as paralegals in Edinburgh with the expectation they will progress on to the firm’s widely respected trainee programme.
Janette Speed, Head of real estate and Shoosmiths in Scotland, commented: “These appointments in our Edinburgh and Glasgow bases are testament to the increased demand from our ever expanding and valued client base for Shoosmiths’ expertise and market leading Scottish lawyers.
“I am delighted to welcome our new colleagues to the firm and am certain that together they will contribute massively across all of our key sectors. They are joining at a really exciting time for Shoosmiths as we push on with our strategy for growth in Scotland.”
