We are delighted that Sarah Shiels, Stephanie Zak and Lynne Mulcahy have been promoted to partner within the firm. Catriona Torrance and Andrew Wallace have also been promoted to associate level. The appointments take the firm’s full partnership complement to 24, including 13 women.
It is believed this is the first time a firm with 20+ partners in Scotland has had a majority of female partners – and it is appropriate this has happened at Balfour+Manson, where Ethel Houston was appointed the first female partner of any Scottish law firm, 70 years ago.
Promoted to partner in our Edinburgh office are commercial law solicitor Stephanie Zak and employment law specialist Sarah Shiels. In Aberdeen, Lynne Mulcahy in the firm’s Family Law division is also promoted to partner. In addition, Catriona Torrance, who specialises in Private Client matters and Andrew Wallace an Employment Law specialist, have been promoted to Associate.
Elaine Motion, executive chairman of Balfour+Manson said: “The gender profile of the legal profession in Scotland is shifting as a majority of those entering the profession are young women.
“I think Ethel Houston would be very proud of what we have achieved at Balfour+Manson. As a firm founded in 1888, people sometimes think of us as rather traditional but the truth is very different. Times are changing and Balfour+Manson is delighted to be ahead of the curve – as it was back in 1949 when Ethel Houston joined the partnership.”
She added: “These promotions are all very well-earned. We place significant importance on our developing talent within the firm. Moreover, we have formidable expertise and these promotions speak loudly of all our talented individuals. Our focus has always been and remains on promoting excellence and we will continue to do that, whatever a lawyer’s gender or background.”
Stephanie Zak qualified as a solicitor in 2010 and joined Balfour+Manson in 2014. She has worked in both private practice and in-house with some of the UK’s leading banks and financial institutions. Her prime focus is commercial property work including leasing, acquisitions, disposals and development work
Sarah Shiels joined Balfour+Manson in 2012 and became an Associate in 2014. She specialises in employment litigation, both in Tribunal and the Court of Session, and advises on all aspects of employment, discrimination and trade union law.
Lynne Mulcahy joined Balfour+Manson in Aberdeen last year and is one of the most respected Family Law practitioners in the north east. She has over 20 years’ experience working with families in Aberdeen, providing assistance arising from relationship breakups to negotiating complex financial cases.
Newly appointed to Associate level, Catriona Torrance is an experienced private client specialist, covering a wide range of matters including wills, powers of attorney, executries, trusts, tax planning and elderly care, whilst Andrew Wallace, who joined the employment team last year, advises a number of SMEs and charities on various employment law matters. He has extensive experience advising on staff management, policies and contracts.
