Later this year, Peter Lawson will take over as chairman at Burness Paull LLP while Tamar Tammes will step into the role of managing partner. Both trained at Burness Paull.
Lawson currently leads the firm’s corporate department, while Tammes is head of the firm’s property and infrastructure department.
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Lawson and Tammes will lead an ambitious three year growth plan, building on the forward-looking firm’s success in Scotland, the UK and internationally.
The new leadership team is set to replace current chairman Philip Rodney and managing partner Ian Wattie, who have served more than 12 years in their respective posts. Rodney will leave the firm to pursue a number of personal projects, while Wattie will be retained in a strategic consultancy role with the firm for the next 12 months to help finalise the delivery of a number of key projects.
The handover follows a year-long shadowing process designed to ensure a seamless transition with clarity of succession for both clients and staff.
Peter Lawson, who spent three years in London with ‘Magic Circle’ firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, said: “Philip and Ian have led the firm through a transformational process and will leave their roles with the firm in great shape. It is an exciting time for the firm, which has a very clear growth strategy.
“Our absolute focus is on delivering success for our clients. We have an outstandingly talented team at Burness Paull and Tamar and I will look to empower a new generation of leaders within the firm as it enters the next chapter in its development.”
Tamar Tammes said: “It has been an exceptionally busy year so far. The firm has been named the top dealmaker in Scotland three years running and we have won awards in our IP, Tech and Employment practices in the past 12 months.
“Over 40% of our work is now international, and we have recently become the sole UK-headquartered member of Lex Mundi – the world’s leading network of independent law firms. That puts us in a unique position to ensure our clients get the best possible advice and support for their businesses, both in the UK and internationally. Peter and I are incredibly fired up about leading the team and embracing advances in technology and working practices to deliver further success.”
The independent firm posted a record-breaking performance in the latest corporate deals table (published 15 March 2018), advising on 296 transactions with a total value of £42.8 billion. The volume of deals was more than twice the number of its nearest rival, and the cumulative value more than six times greater.
