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News & Information
Property - recovery in 2012?
Solicitors, estate agents and surveyors were amongst the first to sense the recession. January 2008 brought a noticeable downturn, and in April the switch was turned off. This didn’t come through in government economic statistics until the summer, and that autumn came Lehman Brothers and the banking crisis.
In late 2011, the Eurozone crisis indicated Britain was headed for a double-dip recession, and all was doom and gloom. Curiously, in this practice, December 2011 and January 2012 were very busy, with new instructions across a wide range of work, including residential conveyancing. Early January is usually a quiet time for solicitors, but this year we had to hit the ground running. Now, national statistics are showing recovery in USA, and that Britain may have avoided the double-dip and modest growth continues. Confidence remains fragile, but it is building, and perhaps, at last, the pace of recovery might accelerate.
Certainly there are signs that the housing market is moving, albeit at low price levels, so let us hope that, at last, sustained recovery is on the way.
Partnership Changes
After a long period of stability, 2012 sees major changes in the Firm, caused by an unusual combination of circumstances.
Neil Fraser, who progressed with us over twelve years from Trainee Solicitor to Litigation Partner, left the Firm in February to return near to family in Aberdeen, and he goes with our thanks and best wishes.
David Darroch, who has been with us since 1995 and a partner since 1997, has had serious illness, and is unable to continue as a partner. He remains a Consultant; and intends to return to limited practice as and when he recovers sufficiently. Our best wishes for a full recovery.
Partly triggered by the additional pressures being place on the remaining partners, Fiona Carey, decided to pursue her career elsewhere.
Maud Lithgow has joined the Firm in February 2012 as a litigation solicitor. Maud had a considerable managerial career in commerce and industry in her native Sweden, including a long period with a major multi-national, but after settling in Scotland she studied law and qualified here. Her earlier management training and commercial experience, allied to her more recent training in Scots law, ensures that she is able to offer very sound, practical advice. With previous firms she has had a wide range of litigation experience, including family, insolvency, personal accident, and commercial actions.