Levy and McRae mourns the passing of its former senior partner, Leonard George Murray, aged 90 years, on 22 December 2023.
Levy and McRae could not have been built to its present status without Mr Murray’s inspiration, wisdom, and participation. He was associated with Levy & McRae for over 40 years much of that time as senior partner. He was at the forefront of creating and developing the firm’s litigation practice in the 1970s and 80s. He was respected across the Scottish legal profession for his formidable intellect and eloquence and worldwide as a leading Burns scholar and after-dinner speaker.
He was extremely popular with his peers and those with whom he worked. We are indeed fortunate to have in our firm today members of staff who worked closely with Leonard Murray and remember him in his prime.
Bill Macreath, Chairman, said: “ I first met with Leonard Murray in the 1970s. He was already a towering figure in the profession and one of the leading court practitioners of his generation. I enjoyed a close professional and personal relationship with him over many years.”
David McKie, senior partner, said: ‘He was so kind to me from the moment he met me when I was a summer student at Levy & McRae. I watched in awe as he commanded a courtroom with his eloquence and persuasive skills. He was always on the end of the phone when I had a difficult legal call to make and his calm authority was a source of great reassurance to me.’
We offer our condolences to his family – his sons, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, of whom he was immensely proud.
We are very grateful to our clients at STV and to Bernard Ponsonby for allowing us to post this obituary:
Levy and McRae wish all of our clients, staff and everyone a magical Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year.
On Friday 8 December 2023, Evana Ferguson, Solicitor, from our Civil and Criminal Litigation team, judged the first round of the Alexander Stone Mooting Competition at the University of Dundee.
The Alexander Stone is one of Scotland’s oldest and most highly regarded mooting competitions. Two teams of students took on the role of litigators arguing points of law, simulating the experience of appearing in an appeal court.
The competition aims to help students advance their verbal and written communication skills in a legal setting.
Evana brought the experiences gained in her legal practice to the problem, which concerned the law of penalty clauses in contracts. She also talked to the students about her experience of mooting, which saw her speak in the UK Supreme Court and the International Court of Justice as a student. Evana’s moot in the UK Supreme Court was judged by Lord Hodge, who was at the forefront of a key decision on how and when car park operators can enforce charges against motorists (ParkingEye Limited v Beavis [2015] UKSC 67).
We were delighted to attend the inaugural The Legal 500 (Legalease) Scottish awards ceremony held in Edinburgh last night. It was an excellent evening made all the better by our Criminal Partner Neil Hay being awarded Crime Lawyer of the Year.
Neil brings excellence to the work that he does on behalf of our clients. This award rounds off a year where Neil has been ranked highly and commended in all the major legal sector directories for his area of work.
Levy & McRae’s recent recognition by prestigious legal directories such as The Legal 500 (Legalease), Chambers and Partners Directory, Spears 500 and The Times Best Law Firms is a testament to our unwavering dedication to legal excellence and our capability to handle the most complex legal challenges.
We bring discretion, confidentiality, and quality to all of our work, aiming consistently to protect and manage our clients’ interests and reputations. This meticulous attention to client service is why individuals and corporations seeking strategic legal advice and representation repeatedly choose Levy & McRae.
Our lawyers have been recognised in the fields of Defamation and Reputation Management (David McKie, Senior Partner), Crime, Fraud and Licensing ( Neil Hay, David McKie, Callum Anderson, Andrew Seggie), Product Liability (Graham Craik, Carol Boyd) and Medical Negligence: Pursuer (Elizabeth Rose). In addition, Elizabeth Rose was awarded Lawyer of the Year at the Scottish Legal Awards and the team of L&M Medilaw, a division of the firm, were recognised with the Excellence in Client Care award.
Levy & McRae’s prominence is further solidified by our robust independent referral practice and network. When other legal firms or individual lawyers seek independent legal advice, we are often the first point of reference – “the lawyer`s lawyers”.
This not only speaks volumes about Levy & McRae’s legal acumen but also highlights the deep trust and respect we command within the legal community. The firm’s referral cases are not just local but span across the UK and internationally, including those from magic circle firms.
David McKie, Senior Partner commented: “Our staff are the lifeblood of the business. I want to thank everyone for their efforts and commitment to the firm and for helping us achieve this recognition from our peers, and best outcomes at all times for our clients.”
At Levy and McRae we are often asked to provide insight and analysis for media outlets, including advising them on media law. Our Partner Callum Anderson was invited to contribute to a recent live discussion on Scotland Tonight to discuss issues arising from press allegations involving comedian Russell Brand.
Callum discussed matters such as privacy rights, pre-trial publicity and with the spotlight on the alleged victims in the Brand situation, Callum commented on the changing landscape of the legal system. Privacy rights have undergone significant shifts in the past decade. Today, they are considerably stronger, providing better protection to individuals.
The Russell Brand situation offers a valuable lesson on the importance of understanding the multifaceted nature of media law. At Levy and McRae we we navigate these legal intricacies daily, ensuring our clients are well-informed and protected.
You can view the Scotland Tonight appearance here: https://lnkd.in/e3UtmBbM
We are thrilled to share that L&M MediLaw, our dedicated medical negligence law practice, has been honoured with two prestigious accolades at the Scottish Legal Awards gala on September 29th.
At the event, L&M MediLaw was distinguished with the Excellence in Client Care award, a testament to our unwavering commitment to our clients. Adding to this accomplishment, the head of the division, Elizabeth Rose, was celebrated as the Lawyer of the Year.
David McKie, our Senior Partner, remarked: “It fills us with immense pride to see Elizabeth and her team’s dedication acknowledged. This recognition, especially in client care, encapsulates what Levy & McRae and L&M MediLaw stand for.”
Established in 2003, the Scottish Legal Awards seeks to highlight the pinnacle of Scottish law. An expert panel, with comprehensive industry knowledge, adjudicates the competition, ensuring the most notable accomplishments in Scottish law are celebrated.
Launched in early 2022, L&M MediLaw is steered by the exceptional Elizabeth Rose, accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a Specialist in medical negligence claims, who commented: “A heartfelt thank you to our committed team and to the clients, counsel, and peers for their unwavering support and testimonials. This Excellence in Client Care award truly mirrors the effort we invest daily in looking after our clients.”
Positioned in the heart of Glasgow within the Levy & McRae offices, L&M MediLaw boasts its unique brand and an accessible website: www.landmmedilaw.com. The site offers an insightful video tour of our office, illustrative infographics detailing the client journey, and videos explaining the roles of an Advocate and expert witnesses. Moreover, Elizabeth hosts a weekly Virtual Clinic, extending a friendly platform for potential clients to engage with us.
David McKie further commented “At Levy & McRae we always look to work with exceptional lawyers and people with vision. We were delighted to back the idea that Elizabeth brought to us and now to see such rapid success and recognition for the offering.”
Levy & McRae Solicitors is proud to announce nominations in multiple categories for the Legal 500 Scotland Awards 2023. The firm has earned nominations for Boutique Law Firm of the Year, and Criminal Law Firm of the Year, while individual team members have also been shortlisted as Finalists.
Levy & McRae celebrate the recognition of their individual team members:
“The Legal 500 recognition isn’t just a validation of the firm’s collective efforts, but also a spotlight on the exceptional talent we have within our team,” says David McKie, Senior Partner. “Andrew, Neil, and Elizabeth have displayed exemplary skills, dedication, and client focus, and we are thrilled to see their hard work being acknowledged at such a prestigious platform. We have always believed in setting the highest standards in legal practice, and these nominations affirm that we are on the right path. Our focus now is to continue this tradition of excellence and innovation, providing impeccable service to our clients.”
The Legal 500 Scotland Awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 23rd November in Edinburgh.
Full details here: The Legal 500 Scotland Awards 2023.
We recently had the privilege of hosting an in-house Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training day at the Edinburgh office of Levy & McRae. The event, which focused on ‘Business Skills,’ was structured to provide expert insight on key topics of relevance to the Levy & McRae lawyers who were in attendance.
The day commenced with an inspiring talk delivered by Chairman Bill Macreath, who focused on Client Skills. The topic allowed Mr Macreath to draw upon his decades of experience as a leading lawyer in Scotland and to touch upon the many ingredients required to build a successful legal career and practice. Mr. Macreath articulated nuanced strategies for effective client communication, relationship management, and problem resolution. His insights offered actionable guidelines to enhance the quality of client interactions.
Robert Dunlop of Levy and McRae then spoke on the topic of Financial Skills for Lawyers with a focus on time recording practicalities. The importance of accurately recording time spent on a case and providing clear narratives for clients to ensure an understanding of the work carried out on their behalf was emphasised.
The morning concluded with a practical workshop and talk by Ally Thomson of Hey Legal on the topic of Winning Business Online with a focus on brand building and practical ways lawyers can strategically establish a strong personal online presence to enhance their careers through cultivating new business and help the firm overall. Focus was given to the multiple types of content Levy and McRae is now creating including podcasts, videos, audiograms, blogs, presentations and more.
Thank you to our speakers for sharing their expertise and to all the attendees who participated so actively. Stay tuned for future CPD events that continue to broaden our understanding and sharpen our skills as legal professionals.
We are thrilled to announce Hannah Fairbrother as the latest addition to our Private Crime Team in Edinburgh.
A first-class graduate from Dundee University, Hannah joins us with an impressive academic background. Her two years of experience in criminal law as a trainee have given her a strong foundation in the field and a keen insight into the complexities of the legal system.
As a newly qualified solicitor, Hannah is looking forward to continuing honing her skills and knowledge at our firm. She is deeply committed to delivering valuable legal counsel to our clients, and we are confident that her fresh perspective will be an invaluable asset to our team.
From Neil Hay, Criminal Law Partner:
“We are delighted to have Hannah join our Private Crime Team. Her exemplary academic record and experience as a trainee make her a great fit for our team. We look forward to supporting her as she continues to grow and excel in her career.”
From Hannah:
“I am honoured to join the talented team at Levy and McRae. It’s a privilege to work alongside such skilled professionals, and I am eager to contribute my knowledge to help our clients navigate the intricacies of the Scottish criminal justice system.”
