Shake-up on cards for top Burness Paull team

● New chairman and managing partner to take over on 1 August

0 Peter Lawson takes over as chairman while Tamar Tammes becomes firm’s managing partner Scots legal heavyweight Burness Paull today unveiled a new leadership team in a move that sees current chairman Philip Rodney leave the firm.

The changes, which kicks in from 1 August, will see Peter Lawson take over as chairman while Tamar Tammes steps into the role of managing partner.

Both trained at the firm, which has offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and are said to have a “proven track record”. Lawson currently leads the firm’s busy corporate department, while Tammes is head of its property and infrastructure unit.

The pair will lead an “ambitious” three-year growth plan, building on the firm’s success in Scotland, the UK and internationally.

They are set to replace Rodney and managing partner Ian Wattie, who have served more than 12 years in their respective posts. Rodney is leaving the practice to “pursue a number of personal projects”, while Wattie will be retained in a “strategic consultancy role” 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”.

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.”

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 per cent of our work is now international, and we have recently become the sole Uk-headquartered member of Lex Mundi.”