Elaine Motion to chair legal firm Balfour & Manson

BALFOUR & Manson, one of Scotland’s longest-established legal practices, will today unveil a shake-up in its top team following chairman Fred Tyler’s decision to step down.

Elaine Motion of Balfour Manson. Picture: Contributed

The 125-year-old firm, which is based in Edinburgh, is replacing Tyler, who has held the post for eight years and will continue as a partner, with its head of litigation, Elaine Motion. She will be succeeded by David Short. Unusually for a legal firm there is no managing partner at Balfour, with the board made up of chairman, the heads of three key departments and one other elected member.

Motion said: “One of my key roles as chairman will be to raise our profile externally.”

Meanwhile, global law firm Pinsent Masons today pledged to increase the number of female lawyers working at the most senior levels.

It said greater gender balance would see women comprise 30 per cent of its partnership, with a first “milestone” target of 25 per cent set for May 2018.