November 18, 2024
Full articleGilson Gray LLP has strengthened its real estate team in Glasgow, with its appointment of partner Donna Kelly-Gilmour from regional heavyweight Brodies.
Kelly-Gilmour’s appointment represents another significant scalp for Gilson Gray, which has, since its launch in 2014, cherry-picked talent from some of the UK’s outstanding firms.
A seasoned commercial property practitioner, Kelly-Gilmour brings extensive experience in real estate and renewable energy.
She trained at Wright Johnstone & Mackenzie, rising to partner and moved to Brodies after 20 successful years.
Recent achievements include representing SCDI on acquiring an interest in the Beatrice and Inch Cape offshore windfarms and representing npower on its deal with Tullis Russell for a major CHP plant in Markinch.
Donna said, “This is a real opportunity to be involved in the development of something great, for both clients and the firm.
“Gilson Gray’s model reflects the market we operate in and its growth is driven by people others want to work with, and for. I was impressed by its track record and I’m excited to join and contribute to what promises to be a bright future for the firm.”
Gilson Gray’s head of real estate, Murray Stewart, said, “Donna is a top operator with a formidable pedigree. Her appointment bolsters our platform in the west of Scotland and will help drive our continued expansion in the real estate sector. Our depth of expertise in Glasgow and Edinburgh allows us to advise clients throughout Scotland and beyond.”
Glen Gilson, Managing Partner at Gilson Gray, said: “From day one we have ensured our business is balanced between Glasgow and Edinburgh and also our ambition and service range is known throughout Scotland and further afield.
“Donna is dual-qualified as a solicitor in Scotland and England and well-known in the industry. It will be exciting to watch the development of our real estate team as it furthers our influence and reputation in the sector.
“We have carved a reputation as a full service firm capable of specialist recognition across our service range and I encourage the nation’s top talent to get in touch with us, as we look at further opportunities to expand.”
Bucking industry trends of cutbacks and mergers, Gilson Gray has nearly tripled in scale since its launch in May 2014. The firm has recently taken on more office space in Edinburgh and Glasgow and intends to expand further in the coming year.
It has secured a number of high profile personnel both since launch and during the last 12 months – including the appointment of Deborah McCathie as a Partner and Head of Residential Conveyancing, along with her team from Warners LLP and the entire Commercial Litigation team from Morisons LLP.
In 2014, Gilson Gray opened as the largest full service law firm launch in Scottish legal history, with a portfolio of talent poached from the leading firms in Scotland –opening simultaneously in Glasgow and Edinburgh with a radical client-focus strategy that offers a cost effective alternative to the top ten firms in the country.
