Lawson and Tammes to be new top duo at Burness Paull

Leading Scottish legal practice Burness Paull will have new leaders from 1 August this year.

Chairman Philip Rodney and managing partner Ian Wattie are stepping down, to be succeeded respectively by Peter Lawson and Tamar Tammes. 

Mr Lawson currently leads the firm’s Corporate department, while Ms Tammes is head of Property & Infrastructure. Both trained at Burness Paull, but Mr Lawson also spent three years in London with "Magic Circle" firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Together they will lead an ambitious three year growth plan, with Burness Paull developing an increasingly international focus. The handover will follow a year-long shadowing process designed to ensure a seamless transition, with clarity of succession for both clients and staff.

The firm is now one of Scotland’s largest law firms, employing more than 480 people, including 65 partners, in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. It acts for clients in more than 60 jurisdictions, its core sector areas including Property & Infrastructure, Financial, Energy, Technology, and Corporate Scotland. In its most recent accounts to July 2017, it reported broadly unchanged revenue of £53.8m and profit of £22m.

Mr Rodney and Mr Wattie have each served more than 12 years in their respective posts, including at the former firm of Burness, which they led into the merger with Paull & Williamsons in 2012. Mr Rodney will leave the firm to pursue a number of personal projects, while Mr Wattie will be retained in a strategic consultancy role with the firm for the next 12 months to help finalise the delivery of a number of key projects.

Mr Lawson commented: “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.”

Ms Tammes added: “Over 40% of our work is now international, and we have recently become the sole UK-headquartered member of Lex Mundi – the world’s leading network of independent law firms.  That puts us in a unique position to ensure our clients get the best possible advice and support for their businesses, both in the UK and internationally. Peter and I are incredibly fired up about leading the team and embracing advances in technology and working practices to deliver further success.”