Blackadders LLP

blackadders.co.uk

Partner and Head of Family Law.

Donna is a Partner in our Private Client team. She specialises in succession planning, asset protection, preparation of tax efficient wills, mitigation of inheritance tax, administration of estates, creation and management of trusts, elderly client law, including advice in relation to long-term care, incapacity issues, guardianships and powers of attorney. She enjoys presenting seminars for clients and fellow professionals and contributing to press and media coverage of legal issues.

Joint Managing Partner Emma joined Blackadders in 2013 to head up the Commercial Real Estate team after spending 13 years with Burness in Edinburgh. Dual qualified in Scots and English law, Emma is an experienced property practitioner with particular strengths in property finance, the acquisition and disposal of investment and development properties as well as landlord and tenant negotiations, particularly in the office, retail and leisure sectors.

Partner & Head of Dispute Resolution.

Partner in Blackadders Family Law team. His emphasis for many years has been family law, dealing with financial provision on divorce, and issues relating to children, including the area of adoption and permanency orders, as well as disputes relating to residence and contact. Gareth manages a large caseload, appearing frequently in the Sheriff courts in the North-East of Scotland. He is regularly appointed by Aberdeen Sheriff Court to prepare reports in unresolved child cases. His experience has led him to be involved in a number of high-value cases, including those relating to claims arising out of relationships of cohabitation. He has also been involved in arguing appeals to the Sheriff Principal in cases relating to children. He is also trained as a collaborative family lawyer, often dealing with cases on this basis. He is a member of the Family Law Association. He is also an ad-hoc tutor at Robert Gordon University for the Diploma in Legal Practice. Gareth is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in family law and child law.

John Plenderleath

Partner John specialises in commercial real estate and has over 20 years’ experience in all aspects of Scottish property work. He has wide experience in cross-border property and corporate deals, with particular expertise in property finance, investment purchases and sales, development and asset management work. John has an MBA from the University of Edinburgh Business School. Admitted in Scotland.

Johnston is a director and panel member of The Legal Defence Union, a member of the Law Society of Scotland’s Professional Practice and Client Protection Committees, a full member of STEP and a member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment. As Chief Executive of Blackadders Wealth Management LLP, with over £200 million of client funds under management he is one of only a small number of Scottish solicitors to have personal authorisation from the FCA. His experience in commercial law supports his interest in business succession planning, particularly in farming families. In addition to his wills trust and estates practice, Johnston has day to day financial responsibility for a Housing Association and a significant independent charity for disabled children.

Partner and Head of Corporate and Commercial along with Head of Blackadders Business Group .

Partner and Head of Private Client, Laura specialises in adults with incapacity, including powers of attorney, guardianship orders and financial management. Also experienced in dealing with wills, trusts, taxation, charities and executry estates. Instructed by local authorities to assist with their duty to make arrangement for financial intervention and guardianship orders. Referrals from social work departments and other firms of solicitors. Current directorships: Help For Kids.

Partner & Head of Commercial Real Estate

Partner and Joint Managing Partner in Blackadders’ dispute resolution unit dealing with all matters of a contentious nature with a particular emphasis on commercial disputes, property litigation, insolvency and debt recovery matters. As a dual qualified lawyer, Ryan is qualified to advise on the law of both Scotland and England and Wales.

Partner and Head of Employment Law

Stephen Connolly