Harper Macleod bolsters built environment expertise with four senior appointments

Law firm Harper Macleod has made four senior appointments, including two new partners, to further strengthen its expertise in the built environment and energy sectors.

• Alexis Condie joins as a partner in the firm’s commercial property team in Edinburgh. Alexis has advised on complex leasing, acquisitions and sales with a focus on the retail sector as well as financing for hotels, student accommodation, residential developments and care homes.
• Steven King joins as a partner in the renewable energy team in Edinburgh. Steven’s background is in leasing, acquisitions, sales and asset management and financing with a focus on the renewable energy sector. He has acted for landowners, developers and funders on large and small-scale cross-border projects including hydroelectric, gas, solar, battery storage and onshore wind.
• Lesley Montague joins as a senior associate in the public sector real estate team in Edinburgh. Lesley’s principal areas of expertise include commercial property transactions, public projects, planning and environmental law, and public and administrative law. Lesley has advised registered social landlords, local authorities, housing associations and other public sector bodies.
• Yvonne Allan joins as a senior associate in the commercial property team in Glasgow. Yvonne has particular experience in development projects, site assembly and agreements relating to infrastructure and public realm regeneration.

Martin Darroch, chief executive at Harper Macleod, said:

“The joined-up nature of our business means that these new appointments bring complementary skills and experience which, when combined with our existing strength in depth, provides further quality advice to our clients in growth areas. It’s also important to note that three of these four senior appointments will be based in Edinburgh as we capitalise on growth opportunities in the east of Scotland.

“We work hard to create our own opportunities and to anticipate the changing dynamics within those key sectors. Scotland’s built environment is undoubtedly changing from the way people use our high streets and offices, to the challenges faced on the just transition to net zero.

“The arrival and investment in new people and skills also underline our commitment to be a place of opportunity where people can develop their careers.”

The growth in Harper Macleod’s commercial property team follows the acquisition of Franchi Law in November last year, which saw two partners, Leandro Franchi and Peter Jack, join the team. Franchi Law was a Glasgow-based law firm which specialised in commercial property, private client and residential property law.

These appointments also follow two significant framework appointments in the second half of last year. Harper Macleod was appointed to all six available lots on both the City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Government legal services frameworks – the only firm to be appointed to all available lots.