BLM beefs up senior team with flurry of promotions and appointment

BLM, an insurance and risk law specialist, has announced 12 partner promotions and 33 associate promotions. The promotions are spread across all six of the firm’s business streams, with nine in claims solutions, 17 in large loss and technical, seven in speciality and financial lines, six in healthcare and commercial, five in the firm’s Scotland business stream and two in the firm’s Ireland business stream. In addition, the firm has bolstered its family law team with a new appointment.

Iain Buchanan, who has been with BLM – and its Scottish predecessor HBM Sayers – for 10 years has become a partner. Mr Buchanan, who is based in the Glasgow office, specialises in defending large loss and catastrophic injury claims for insurance customers.

Also in Glasgow, Victoria Anderson, Kelly Brotherhood and Zoe McDonnellhave become associates and Claire Raftery has stepped up to become an associate in Edinburgh.

Ms Anderson and Ms McDonnell work in BLM’s health and safety team defending companies and individuals facing criminal and regulatory prosecutions and providing representation at fatal accident inquiries.

Ms Anderson has been with the firm and its predecessor for nearly eight years. She trained and practiced in civil litigation before moving into the specialised team. Ms McDonnell joined BLM in 2014, bringing with her experience of working for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to 2007 and thereafter working in criminal defence work until joining BLM.

Ms Brotherhood, who has been with the firm and its predecessor for more than 14 years, works in the field of civil litigation, mainly defending personal injury claims. She has niche experience in cases where fraud is suspected, with specific interest and notable customer wins in road traffic cases involving no vehicle contact or low speed impact. She has also successfully defended several “phantom passenger” cases for insurer customers.

Ms Raftery, who is dual-qualified in both Scotland and England and Wales, joined the firm in 2014 and has since specialised in defending healthcare professionals in regulatory proceedings and clinical negligence claims.

BLM has also welcomed new solicitor, Claire Thomas to the family law team. Ms Thomas studied Scots law and English law and spent nearly five years as an advocate prior to joining BLM and has extensive experience of child and family law, including international child abductions, contentious child residence cases and cohabitation cases. She will work with family law partners Siobhan Kelly and Caroline Gillespie and their colleagues.

Mike Brown, senior partner at BLM, said: “This year’s promotions are an important way for us to reward the excellent talent we have at BLM and to recognise those who have made a difference to our business.

“Importantly, it is also about developing people with the right skills, in the right areas, as we collectively respond to the needs of our market. Our new partners and associates will of course play an instrumental role in helping us to shape the future BLM.”