Dundas & Wilson grows partnership after departures

SCOTLAND’S largest law firm has promoted ten senior associates to its partnership in the wake of a string of departures in recent months.

Allan Wernham: 'Candidates made the grade for us'. Picture: Jane Barlow

Edinburgh-based Dundas & Wilson has grown its partnership to 75 members as part of efforts to “restore its pre-eminence in Scotland” and beef-up its presence in Aberdeen.

The size of the firm’s partnership had fallen from 80 a year ago to 65 before the promotions.

Joint managing partner Allan Wernham told The Scotsman: “We weren’t looking at this from the point of view of appointing a set number of people.

“These candidates made the grade. We looked at the fact there were so many of them coming through so strongly but we decided to promote them anyway because they all deserve their position.

“It wasn’t about achieving any specific number. It just so happened that we had an embarrassment of riches this year.”

Wernham said the firm wanted to “restore its pre-eminence in Scotland” and “focus on its key areas in London”.

He added: “Dundas & Wilson has gone through a lot of change in the past while but here we have a group of ten senior lawyers committing their future to us as much as we’re committing our future to them.”

The ten new partners are: Siân Aitken; Scott Burns; Aidan Campbell; Karagh Gilliatt; Eleanor Lane; Helen Machin; Finlay McKay; Dawn Reoch; Louise Shiels and Deborah Wales.

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