hugh.younger@murraybeith.co.uk

Hugh is the Senior Partner and has more than 25 years experience of private client work. He specialises in wealth management and succession planning, and has a particular interest in estate planning for landowners.

Hugh’s work involves advising individuals and families on a range of complex legal and financial issues, including wills, trusts, inheritance tax planning, capital gains tax and general financial management.

Hugh and his team advise a number of landowners on estate planning and rural property matters, and have significant experience in the purchase and sale of large houses, estates, farms and salmon fisheries. They also advise on issues relating to land use, including; agriculture, wind farms, forestry, buildings of historic interest, sporting leases, nature conservation and environmental issues.

Hugh is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and he is on the Board of Northern Venture Trust, which is a Venture Capital Trust.

Areas of work

• Wealth management
• Estate planning
• Succession planning
• Rural property
• Land use and development

sandy.burnett@murraybeith.co.uk

Sandy specialises in residential property purchases and sales, with extensive experience in negotiating and marketing property. He has a particular interest in advising expats and foreign nationals on property matters in Scotland. One of the first Scottish solicitors to pioneer the “expat investor” market 20 years ago, he regularly visited the Far East and Dubai organising Scottish Property Road Shows.

Frequently quoted in the property press, Sandy’s views on the Scottish Property Market in general, and in the Edinburgh area in particular, are highly valued.

Sandy is a member of the Lay Advisory Committee for Scotland & Northern Ireland for Kidney Research UK and a past member of the Court of Directors for The Edinburgh Academy.

Areas of work

• Residential purchases
• Residential sales
• Estate agency
• Expat property investors
• All aspects of the Edinburgh property market

ruthven.gemmell@murraybeith.co.uk

Ruthven specialises in a broad range of private client issues, including tax and estate planning for high net worth individuals and their families, trust law and asset protection.

Ruthven is a former President of the Law Society of Scotland and is Head of the UK Delegation to the Council of European Bars and Law Societies. He is a part-time Judge in the Finance and Tax Chamber of The First Tier Tribunal and a member of the Tax and Chancery Chamber of The Upper Tribunal.

Ruthven is a dual qualified solicitor (Scotland and England/Wales), is a Chartered Fellow of the Securities Institute, has membership of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and also holds a Diploma in Financial Planning with the Personal Finance Society.

Areas of work

• Wills
• Trust law
• Estate planning
• Tax planning
• Financial management
• Retirement planning

carole.hope@murraybeith.co.uk

Carole heads up the Executry Group within the firm, where she advises clients on dealing with and transferring assets in the event of a death. She has particular expertise in handling contentious executries and experience of, and an interest in, aspects of cross-border succession.

Carole’s work involves advising on wills and estate planning and she also has over 25 years’ experience of advising charities and charitable trusts, which is underpinned by years of personal involvement in charitable organisations.

Carole is a dual qualified solicitor (Scotland and England/Wales), a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and a board member of the Franco-British Lawyers Society. She speaks regularly at conferences and seminars on private client issues, cross-border succession and charity law.

Listed in Chambers 2010 as a leader in her field, Carole is described as being “well regarded for contentious probate issues”. She was also the runner up in the “Best Woman Solicitor Managing a Probate Practice” category in the Association of Women Solicitor Awards 2010.

Areas of work

• Executries
• Contentious executries
• Wills
• Trust law
• Powers of Attorney
• Estate planning
• Cross-border succession
• Charities

graham.scott@murraybeith.co.uk

Graham is a Partner with more than 20 years experience in estate and tax planning.

Graham’s work involves the provision of advice to individuals and families in relation to succession, trusts, asset protection and offshore matters. He advises on all aspects of private taxation including inheritance tax, capital gains tax and income tax. Graham frequently advises business owners in relation to planning for succession and tax mitigation.

Graham has extensive experience of setting up and administering trusts and is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Trust law. He frequently advises disappointed beneficiaries in connection with both trusts and executries. He also has a particular interest in dealing with offshore trusts and foreign property.

Areas of work

• Wills
• Trust law
• Powers of Attorney
• Inheritance tax
• Capital gains tax
• Estate planning
• Succession planning
• Offshore trusts

john.scottmoncrieff@murraybeith.co.uk

John has been with the firm for four decades and is the Client Relations Partner. He specialises in asset protection and general financial planning for a wide portfolio of clients throughout the UK and further afield.

Widely experienced, he heads a dedicated team and is responsible for the firm’s Tax Group.

Well-versed in trusts (family and charitable), John serves on numerous boards and holds a wide range of trusteeships. John is particularly active and well known in the Arts. He was recently appointed Bailie of Holyroodhouse and has long served as Consul of Monaco in Scotland.

A family man, his main interests outside the law are football, the theatre and enjoying the Highlands of Scotland.

Areas of work

• Wills
• Trust law
• Powers of Attorney
• Estate planning
• Personal tax
• Financial management

peter.shand@murraybeith.co.uk

Peter is a Partner and advises private clients on Wills, estate and tax planning, asset protection and charity law.

Before joining Murray Beith Murray, Peter worked as a corporate lawyer and he now advises on succession/wealth planning in the context of trusts, companies, partnerships, and other corporate vehicles. Peter’s expertise also covers inheritance and capital gains tax advice.

Peter is a dual qualified solicitor (Scotland and England/Wales). He is experienced in dealing with cross border issues relating to succession planning and trusts and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). He also provides general financial advice and has membership of the Personal Finance Society.

Active in the Arts, Peter is currently a non-executive Director of Magnetic North Theatre Productions. He has experience of advising those involved in the charity sector on governance issues, legal structures and the set up/reorganisation of charities.

Areas of work

• Estate planning (including taxation issues)
• Wills and Powers of Attorney
• Trusts/Companies/Partnerships
• English law
• Charities

andrew.stephen@murraybeith.co.uk

Andrew heads up the Property Group within the firm and handles a wide range of property transactions in Edinburgh and beyond.

Andrew’s work mainly involves advising on residential sales and purchases, as well as re-mortgages, transfers and repossession work.

He is supported by the firm’s Estate Agency team who handle the marketing of properties for sale. With particular expertise in the Edinburgh property market, Andrew is the firm’s representative for the ESPC.

Andrew also has expertise in commercial work for property and landowning clients.

Outside of work, Andrew enjoys golf, cricket and rugby.

Areas of work

• Residential purchases
• Residential sales
• Estate agency
• Re-mortgages
• Repossessions
• Commercial land use and leasing
• Executry conveyancing
• All aspects of the Edinburgh property market

richard.black@murraybeith.co.uk

Richard Black is an Associate in the firm’s Rural Property Group. He joined the firm as a trainee in 1981, began specialising in rural property matters in 1985 and was made Associate in 1992.

His specialisation in rural property matters has given him a wealth of experience in representing clients of all kinds including individuals, partnerships, trusts, companies, pension funds and others in the purchase, sale and management of rural properties of all kinds. He has an ability to offer sound practical advice and tries wherever possible to take a solution-based approach to clients’ problems.

He acts for primarily land and estate owners and works for them in acquisitions, disposals, securities, leases, granting of servitudes and the numerous other matters on which legal input is required. Where necessary, he will act in conjunction with colleagues in Rural Property, Residential Property and other teams within the firm, as well as outside advisers to achieve the results and solutions the client requires.

Areas of work

• Purchase and sale of estates, farms and salmon fisheries
• Rural land management and development
• Agricultural and sporting leases

sarah.chilton@murraybeith.co.uk

Sarah is Head of the Employment Group, where she advises a range of clients on both contentious and non-contentious employment law matters.

Having specialised in employment law since qualifying, Sarah has experience in all areas of employment law, advising employees and employers and representing both in the Employment Tribunal, where necessary. She is committed to working with her clients to achieve workable, practical solutions for them and tailored to their needs.

With the team at Murray Beith Murray, Sarah regularly delivers training seminars to employers to keep them up to date with current developments in employment law and more specific training on some of the more complex areas of law affecting employers.

Sarah is a dual qualified solicitor, qualified in Scotland and England and Wales and can advise clients on all aspects of employment law throughout the UK. She is a member of the Employment Law Group and the Employment Lawyers Association.

Sarah also deals with other types of disputes, including contentious executries, debt recovery, contractual disputes and property matters. She represents clients in both the Court of Session in Edinburgh, and in Sheriff Courts throughout Scotland.

Areas of work

• Employment law
• HR advisory and compliance
• Discrimination law
• Employment contracts and policies
• Dispute resolution

ross.simpson@murraybeith.co.uk

Ross is an Associate in the Rural Property Group, specialising in rural and commercial property. His clients include private individuals, trusts, partnerships and companies. Ross' strong background in a diverse mix of property transactions means he is expertly placed to offer clients sound, commercially intelligent advice.

His wide-ranging rural practice spans general estates work, farm purchases, servitudes and wayleaves, salmon fishings, forestry holdings, telecommunication mast sites, building plots and residential sales. He handles the complexities associated with rural land transactions including crofting issues. Ross' expertise also extends to renewables and he deals in all aspects of advising landowners in relation to option agreements and leases for proposed renewables developments.

Ross' substantial commercial experience has seen him act for clients in many sectors including retail, office and industrial. He advises on acquisitions, disposals, portfolio management and leases. He has a keen interest in property development and has worked at all stages of the development process including title investigation, options, site assembly and project funding. Ross has experience of acting for both developers and land owners.

Areas of work

• Purchase and sale of estates, farms, woodland, etc
• Rural land management and development
• Commercial land use and leasing
• Sporting leases
• Renewables

angela.mcmahon@murraybeith.co.uk

Angela qualified as a solicitor in 2006 following the completion of her traineeship with the firm and she was promoted to Senior Solicitor in 2010.

Angela is experienced in a range of private client work including wills, powers of attorney and advance medical directives, issues affecting older clients and their families, inheritance tax and estate planning, setting up and administering trusts, access to funds and guardianships and intervention orders.

Angela successfully gained her certificate in Financial Planning in 2008 and she is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). She is a member of the Personal Finance Society and she is part of the Sharing Knowledge Network – Charity Law, run by the WS Society.

Areas of work

• Wills
• Trust law
• Powers of Attorney
• Estate planning
• Issues affecting older clients
• Guardianships & intervention orders

susan.oates@murraybeith.co.uk

Susan qualified as a solicitor in 2005 and joined Murray Beith Murray as a Senior Solicitor in 2011 following the merger with J. & R. A. Robertson, W.S.

She has a wide range of experience in private client work, including wills and estate planning, powers of attorney and guardianships, issues affecting older clients and their families, executries and residential conveyancing.

Susan is now a member of the national association 'Solicitors for the Elderly' who specialise in legal services for older people and their carers.

Areas of work

• Executries
• Wills
• Powers of Attorney
• Guardianships

stuart.king@murraybeith.co.uk

Stuart joined Murray Beith Murray in 2011 and is a Senior Solicitor in the firm's Property Group. He specialises in all aspects of Commercial Property.

Stuart has a wide-ranging experience over many years in commercial property work, including acquisitions and disposals, and acting for both landlords and tenants in institutional, office, retail and industrial lettings, and general lease management work.

Areas of work

• Commercial Property - Acquisitions and Disposals
• Leasing - Landlords and Tenants
• Lease management work
• Portfolio refinancing

suzie.lyons@murraybeith.co.uk

Suzie is an experienced litigator, admitted to practice in both Scotland and in England & Wales. She provides advice to clients on a wide array of issues, including professional negligence, contract and common law disputes as well as property law disputes. Suzie has experience of advising clients in a variety of forums , including courts throughout Scotland and England as well as dispute resolution processes such as the ombudsman and regulatory complaint procedures, mediation and by using her skill in pre litigation advice to resolve matters at the best strategic point for her clients.

Areas of work

• Litigation

sean.cockburn@murraybeith.co.uk

Sean holds Associate status and heads up the Tax Group within the firm. Sean qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser in 2008 and has recently become a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), having passed the STEP Diploma for Scotland at Distinction level. Upon completion of the Diploma, Sean received the 2011/12 Outstanding Student of the Year (Scotland) Award.

Responsible primarily for the firm’s tax compliance functions, Sean also advises individuals and trustees on tax and estate planning matters, changing regulations and how best to structure their affairs.

Sean specialises in personal and trust taxation with substantial experience in income, capital and inheritance tax issues, and their interaction through trusts and other estate planning vehicles. His comprehensive knowledge of trust taxation is key to assisting the firm in providing its proactive Trust Administration Service.

Outside of work, Sean is a keen footballer and enjoys playing tennis. He is also an active member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation Scotland Branch Committee, having been the lead organiser of the 2010 Annual Conference.

Areas of work

• Trust Taxation
• Personal Taxation
• Estate Planning
• Tax Compliance
• Interaction of Taxes
• HMRC Compliance Checks

christine.burns@murraybeith.co.uk

Christine joined the firm in 2010 after working for several international accountancy firms, over a number of years, advising on tax planning for high net worth individuals and expatriates. Christine is a Chartered Tax adviser.

Christine specialises in personal and trust taxation including income, capital and estate planning and the interaction of these taxes both for lifetime and Will planning.

In the age of mobile employees her knowledge of expatriate tax is an added value service which the firm provides to their clients.

Areas of work

• Personal taxation
• Trust taxation
• Tax planning
• Expatriate tax
• Interaction of taxes
• Tax compliance

george.burns@murraybeith.co.uk

George is the firm's Finance Director. He is responsible for the entire finance function, which includes the Cash Room and Central Registry groups.

George is a qualified Chartered Accountant, and was formerly in public practice as an Accountant. He undertakes client work, advising on a range of finance related matters, including VAT and Accounts.