We are significantly expanding our Family Law offering with the launch of a new specialist team in Edinburgh, strengthening our ability to support clients on complex, high-value and international family matters involving Scots law.
The new practice will be led by Rachael Kelsey, one of Scotland’s most highly regarded family lawyers, who joins us as a partner on 9 November 2026 alongside a wider team of family law specialists.
Rachael Kelsey will be joined by Senior Associate Nina Derrin, who is particularly known for her expertise and experience in child law matters and Trainee Solicitor Iona Barrie, alongside new hire Solicitor Annabel Blackwood. Executive Assistant Lorraine Murphy, who has worked with Rachael for nearly two decades, will also be joining to support the team.
The team will grow further in 2027, with John West joining as a Director in February.
The appointments establish a significant Scots family law capability within our firm, complementing our established practice in Bristol and London. The expanded team advise on complex financial and children-related matters, international cases involving jurisdictional issues, and sensitive matters requiring privacy and crisis-management support.
Rachael Kelsey is the only lawyer ranked as a ‘Star Individual’ in Scotland in the current Chambers guide where she is referred to as ‘the gold standard’. She is a recent winner of ‘Private Client Lawyer of the Year’ at the Legal 500 Scotland Awards. Rachael was President of the International Academy of Family Lawyers until 2025 and has built a substantial national and international reputation for her work on complex and novel family law issues. Appointed to the Scottish Civil Justice Council Family Law Committee in 2016 by the Lord President, Rachael is the only Scottish lawyer on the International Family Law Committee of the Royal Courts of Justice, which she was appointed to by The Hon. Mr Justice MacDonald in 2018.
John West previously trained and worked with Rachael Kelsey for nine years and has been recognised for his expertise in disputes with jurisdictional elements and high-value financial proceedings by Chambers Scotland and High Net Worth Guides.
Nina Derrin is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a Family Mediator and regularly appointed by the Scottish judiciary in the most complex cases to represent the interests of vulnerable adults and children in court proceedings.
