New and familiar faces join Law Society Council

New and returning members have taken up their seats for a three-year term on the Law Society of Scotland’s Council.

Clare Macpherson and Julia McPartlin join returning members for Edinburgh, former president Susan Murray, Nyree Conway and Ross Taylor, on the Law Society’s governing body.

Martin Sinclair and Graham Matthews, who was Law Society president in 2016/17, stood to represent solicitors in the North East, while Laura Whitelaw joins as the Council member for South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway.  Mark Lutton, who joined Council in 2025,  will continue to represent solicitors across Lanarkshire.

A further three Council members stood in by-elections to join Council until May 2027.

Nicole Galbraith will represent solicitors in her constituency reaching from Dumbarton to Fort William alongside current member Rebecca Fraser, while Veer Bansal joins existing Council member Sheekha Saha in representing solicitors across the Highlands and Islands. Fiona McAllister takes up her seat as the representative for Scottish solicitors in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Serena Sutherland, who became President of the Law Society of Scotland on 29 May, said: “Many congratulations to all of our successful candidates. It’s great to have the opportunity to continue working with my colleagues who have returned to represent their constituencies and to welcome our new members to Council.  I’m looking forward to working with everyone as we lead the strategic direction of the Society and ensure we continue to evolve to meet the needs of our increasingly diverse membership.

“Standing for Council shows tremendous commitment from our members with already busy work and personal lives. I offer my sincere thanks to those members who stood down this year including the Society’s former President Sheila Webster who made such a significant contribution to our work after joining Council in 2017.

"My thanks also go to Arlene Gibbs, Rebecca Roberts and Caroline Harrison for all their insightful contributions and commitment to the Society and the solicitors they represented during their time on Council. While we are saying goodbye to Paul Gostelow as a constituency representative on Council, I’m very pleased we will continue to work with him as an ex-officio member as Convener of our Finance Sub-committee.”

Law Society Council election (three-year term until May 2029)

Law Society Council by-elections (one-year term until May 2027)