Arlene Gibbs

Arlene joined the Legal & Corporate Governance management team at Highland Council in Janaury 2025. She leads the planning law team within the Regulatory Service.

Previously she was an Associate at Brodies LLP, having joined the firm's planning team in December 2023 and is based in Aberdeen. Prior to that, Arlene trained and worked in-house at both Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council, having been promoted to principal solicitor in 2020. This is where she developed a passion for planning law and place-making, and in her current role builds on her extensive local government experience advising clients on all aspects of planning law and policy, in both contentious and non-contentious matters.  

Arlene was elected as Law Society Council Member for Aberdeen, Banff, Peterhead, and Stonehaven in May 2023, having spent her whole career working in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Arlene wants to give something back to those in the Aberdeen legal community who supported and encouraged her in her formative years in law. She is advocate for improving access to the profession, and making it more diverse, equal, and inclusive for all. In particular, Arlene is a keen supporter of those studying law, and those undertaking their traineeships. She wants to see a thriving legal profession in Scotland and sees new lawyers as the future.   

Arlene is also a member of the Planning Law Sub-Committee.