Professional services firm Pinsent Masons has announced that Andrew Masraf will succeed Richard Foley as the firm’s Senior Partner on 1 October 2022.

During his 28 years at the firm Andrew has held a number of leadership roles including Global Head of Corporate and, more recently Global Head of the firm’s Transactional Services Group. As such, he has been instrumental in Pinsent Masons’ global expansion over the years.

Andrew is a passionate advocate of Pinsent Masons’ strategy as the firm seeks to re-orientate itself as a purpose-led, professional services firm that has law at its core.

Andrew is a private equity specialist with particular experience in advising management teams and has led on a number of major transactions within the infrastructure sector.

Andrew Masraf, Senior Partner elect, said: “Pinsent Masons is an entrepreneurial and energetic business that has made significant strides under Richard’s leadership.
“We have a mindset that consistently seeks to deliver new solutions and develop different ways of working as our clients and markets evolve. This, combined with the culture that we have cultivated as a purpose-led business, means

Pinsent Masons is an organisation that never stands still. I’m excited to be taking on the Senior Partner role and motivated about what we, as a business, can achieve together.”
In accordance with firm policy, Richard steps down following eight years in the role, having served the second of a maximum two terms.
Richard Foley, Senior Partner, added: “Re-orienting our strategy around our purpose has helped us to deliver the best for our clients and our people, and created a business that we are proud of and a business that positively impacts the communities we serve.

“We’ve come a long way in eight years, and I’m excited for what the future holds for Pinsent Masons. My sincere congratulations to Andrew, he will make an excellent senior partner and the firm simply couldn’t be in better hands.”
Pinsent Masons recently announced its FY22 highlights citing a range of achievements across client focus, people and development opportunities, ESG and commercial results – an approach the firm first adopted three years ago in order to report by reference to those areas of interest to clients and the talent market.

Highlights of the last 12 months included the launch of 11 new client solutions and products, supporting 125 clients with their responsible business and D&I strategies, and being one of the first law firms to have its science-based net-zero target verified. The firm also recently announced the opening of its seventh office in continental Europe in Luxembourg.

Reacting to the latest ONS figures on GDP for May 2022, David Bharier, Head of Research at the BCC, said:

“Today’s monthly GDP growth figure of 0.5% is welcome news but masks serious underlying issues of growing imbalances within the economy.

“The construction sector continued to show buoyancy with a seventh consecutive rise in monthly growth.

“The services sector grew by 0.4% but the main contributing factor, health and social work activities, was driven by a significant rise in GP appointments. Elsewhere, consumer-facing sectors continue a downward trend with a further 0.1% contraction.

“BCC’s research since the start of the Covid crisis has shown that most small businesses have reported no improvement to cash flow or investment. Uncontrolled inflation has now made it much more challenging to grow back out of the crisis.

“Worryingly, our most recent quarterly economic survey also showed that longer term business confidence measures have begun to fall. The present political instability will have only exacerbated uncertainty among small firms.

“Alongside this, the economy is still facing massive structural issues – including uncertainty about the UK’s relationship with the EU, continued Covid lockdowns in China, supply chain breakdowns, and rocketing energy costs.

“Cutting VAT on businesses energy bills to 5% would go some way to easing the squeeze on firms’ cashflow and give them some room for manoeuvre.”

Queen Margaret University’s graduation ceremony was brimming with creative talent and inspirational personalities this year as Scottish comedy actors, an actor and musician, and a world leading mountaineer were awarded honorary degrees on Tuesday 12th July.

Jane McCarry and Mark Cox, best known for playing the busybody, Isa Drennan, and the tight-fisted old miser, Tam Mullen, in the much loved Scottish TV comedy series ‘Still Game’ delighted the audience at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh when they were both granted the title Doctor of the University, Honoris Causa. Having been honoured for the memorable contribution they have made to the cultural life of Scotland, the duo went on to entertain the audience with their comedy banter, whilst regaling them with tales of their experiences on stage and screen, and their student days studying acting at Queen Margaret.

Actors Mark and Jane were joined by the multi-talented Paul Ewing, an actor, voice artist, presenter, producer, singer, songwriter, and music composer; and Mostafa Salameh, the first Arab to climb Mount Everest from its south side, and who is one of only ten people in the world to have completed the ‘Explorer’s Grand Slam’. Having all studied at Queen Margaret several years ago, Mark, Jane, Paul and Moustafa were delighted to celebrate their honorary degree awards and the success of new graduates, at what was Queen Margaret University’s first in-person graduation ceremony to be held since 2019, and in the year in which the institution celebrated 50 years of teaching drama and performing arts.

Playing two of Scotland’s most iconic characters in the BBC sitcom Still Game, which aired between 2002 and 2019 and was enjoyed by loyal fans for nine series and 62 episodes, Jane McCarry and Mark Cox were part of a multiple award-winning team. Still Game won awards from BAFTA Scotland, Scottish Comedy Awards, Rose d’Or and many more. Both Jane and Mark also played numerous roles in the Scottish sketch show ‘Chewin’ the Fat’ which ran between 1999 and 2005. Jane also had TV success in shows like ‘Rab C Nesbitt’, and as childminder Granny Murray in the BBC Two and Cbeebies hit programme ‘Me too!’. In addition, she trained as a drama teacher and inspired many school pupils to develop their creative performance talents. Mark has also had many parts in much loved TV programmes including Shetland’, ‘Rebus’, ‘Outlander’, and ‘Scots Squad’, and together with Jane they set up their own business hosting corporate events, which has seen them stage Burns Suppers as far afield as the British Embassy Garden in Abu Dhabi.

Paul Ewing had early success as a children’s presenter, working on over 250 children’s shows for the BBC in the late 1990’s and 2000’s. Currently living in Thailand, he now spends most of his time making music; song writing, singing and composing music for stage and screen including theatre productions, TV commercials, short films, and feature films. He was commissioned by the Royal Foundation in Thailand to compose the official birthday song for the late king’s 85th birthday – now added to Thailand’s official canon of royal songs, and was voted the Best Soul Funk Artist in the 2007 Indy Music Awards. As a producer, Paul has worked on UK West End and touring productions including the number one UK tour of ‘Dracula’, and ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ starring Jason Donavan. Other producing credits include the South-East Asia leg of the Grammy Award Winning ‘Joss Stone’s Total World Tour’. His success on stage includes performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Young Vic Theatre, and he was the first black actor to play Mozart in Peter Shaffer’s ‘Amadeus’ staged at the Derby Playhouse.

Born to refugee parents who met in a Palestinian refugee camp, Mostafa Salameh was brought up in Kuwait where he was made to feel like a second class citizen. After several years of hard toil living, working and learning in the UK with issues of immigration status hanging over his head, Mostafa transformed his life by gaining a degree in Hospitality and Tourism from Queen Margaret University, and dreaming big! Mostafa had a vision of standing on top of the world. He turned that dream into a reality when he became the first Arab to climb Mount Everest from the its south side, and one of only ten people in the world to have completed the ‘Explorer’s Grand Slam’. The Grand Slam challenge involved reaching the summits of the highest mountains of each of the seven continents – including Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro and Dinali in Alaska – as well as conquering the North and South Poles. After conquering Everest in 2008, Mostafa skied Greenland from south to north, becoming one of seven in the world to do so. Mostafa now mountaineers to support those in need. He leads guided climbs around the world and continues to raise millions for various charities, including over two million dollars for the King Hussein Cancer Center in Amman.

Sir Paul Grice, Principal of Queen Margaret University, said: “We are delighted that, today, our students have the opportunity to learn about the careers of actors and creatives, Jane McCarry, Mark Cox and Paul Ewing, and the adventurer, mountaineer and charity fundraiser, Mostafa Salameh. We are inspired by Jane, Mark and Paul’s outstanding creativity and their endless ability to engage and entertain. Mostafa’s passion for social justice, and his commitment to improving the lives of the disadvantaged, reflects QMU’s values. Mostafa dared to dream, and what followed was, and continues to be, extraordinary. We are truly honoured to have such exceptional individuals at graduation and we are delighted recognise their impressive achievements with honorary degrees.”

A week-long series of events delivering practical assistance and advice to help Scotland become a net zero nation will be officially opened on Monday 8 August 2022 by Patrick Harvie as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights will be the keynote speaker at the launch of the Green Home Festival, which has been organised by the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV).

The five-day event will see the delivery of 12 in-person and virtual presentations on green topics, targeting homeowners, professionals, housing associations and local authorities.

Mr Harvie said: “This inaugural Green Home Festival is greatly to be welcomed and its organisers, the members of the CICV, warmly congratulated on the initiative.

“The climate emergency is already upon us, and if we’re to stand a chance of preventing its worst consequences we need both government and industry to support a transformation of our homes and buildings. Many of the actions and new ideas needed are being advocated by the expert speakers and presenters over the week-long Green Home Festival programme.”

Live Green Home Festival sessions will take place at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) at 10 Charlotte Square in central Edinburgh. Each will offer demonstrations and hands-on guidance to help people reduce their carbon footprint and become more energy efficient.

With contributions from the likes of SEPA, Home Energy Scotland, Woolgar Hunter and Pike + Bambridge, the range of topics covered by the week of events will include:

• Retrofitting tenements
• Building sustainable neighbourhoods
• Using sustainable materials
• Protecting from flood risk
• Demystifying heat pumps
• An introduction to electric vehicles (EVs).

In addition, one session, Taking the Swedish View, will see a presentation by award-winning Swedish construction company, Botkyrkabyggen, who use solar panels, windmills, artificial intelligence and district heating to improve energy efficiency and promote fossil-free operations and environmental sustainability.

In another event, Living Safely in the Future, experts from Electrical Safety First will outline what householders can do to ensure their homes are protected properly when installing the innovation and technology that is already becoming a part of everyday life.

Members of the CICV are now aiming to build the week-long green jamboree into an annual event.

One of the organisers, Gordon Nelson, Scotland Director of the Federation of Master Builders, said: “This event will highlight the important role that construction will play for Scotland to achieve its net zero target in the years ahead, and also help householders understand the new technology and ways of doing things that will be involved.

“Delivered via collaboration across the Scottish construction industry through CICV, we are aiming to make this inaugural event an annual occasion that will help to build a long-term legacy and demonstrate our commitment to greener, low-carbon solutions.”

Full details, including how to book tickets for each event, are available on the Festival’s website at greenhomefestival.co.uk.

The festival is the latest in a string of practical and constructive initiatives launched by the CICV since its creation at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

Made up of 29 trade associations, professional services bodies and companies, it has maintained a steady supply of information and practical advice to the sector as well as carrying out surveys, producing animations and posters, hosting webinars and maintaining close dialogue with Scottish Government ministers.

Cytomos, an Edinburgh-based life science company, has secured funding to progress its novel cell analysis platform

Burges Salmon has advised Cytomos Limited on its £1.6 million funding from a trio of investors to progress the development and qualification of its novel cell analysis platform, Cytomos Dielectric Spectroscopy (CDS).

The fundraising was led by existing investor Archangels with participation from Scottish Enterprise and Old College Capital.

The funds will be used to help Cytomos enhance its technology which can be licensed for the benefit of diagnostics and cell therapy companies in the life sciences space. CDS is a full-stack, single-cell resolution analysis technology, spanning integrated sensors through to machine learning enhanced algorithms.

CDS has the potential to help companies react in real time, enabling prioritisation and ‘fail fast’ to minimise sunk costs, both in terms of time and operating expense as well as qualitative aspects. The technology aims to enable non-specialist users to perform quantitative and qualitative cytometry without requirement for typical cell labelling reagents, delivering results faster, simplifying the logistics of testing and reducing costs.

The Burges Salmon team advising on the deal was led by senior associate Katie Carter, alongside solicitor Victoria MacAulay and partner Danny Lee, all from the firm’s Corporate Finance team.

Nicola Broughton, non-executive director at Cytomos, comments: “Thanks to the team at Burges Salmon, Cytomos was able to navigate acquiring the growth capital required to advance the development of its novel process analytical technology platform to the next phase of prototype evaluation. This is an important milestone in the journey to deliver the company’s mission to enable the development and manufacture of life saving biologic therapies.”

Katie Carter adds: “This latest transaction for Cytomos is a significant and strategic move offering a clear path for expansion for Cytomos and its entire team. Scotland’s life sciences sector is globally renowned and it gave me great personal satisfaction to help achieve such a significant milestone.”

Hibernian FC is delighted to announce that Hibernian Women have officially moved under the Football Club’s ownership.

That means that Executive Chairman Ronald J Gordon has completed the acquisition of Hibernian Women, which sees the side join Hibernian FC’s Men’s Team, Development Squad, and Under-18s among the core sides withing the Club’s football operation.

The Club has also reaffirmed its commitment to the development and progression of Women’s football as Hibernian Women moves towards professional status.

Over the course of the summer, Manager Dean Gibson, alongside a number of Women’s Team players have put pen-to-paper on full-time professional contracts.

For the foreseeable future, there will also be a brand-new home for Hibernian Women as they move back to Edinburgh! More exciting news will follow on this shortly.

Hibernian FC Chief Executive Ben Kensell commented: “This is a really proud day for everyone involved with Hibernian FC. Embedding the Women’s Team within the Club has always been a key ambition of ours, so we’re delighted we’ve been able to reach that goal ahead of the 2022/23 season.

“We made huge strides last season by breaking the Scottish attendance for women’s football with over 5,500 spectators watching the Edinburgh Derby and it’s been clear to see the growth the game has made over the last few years. We have a clear vision for Hibernian Women, and we want to build on their success to inspire a generation of young female players.

“We are also proud to see Hibernian Women return to Edinburgh, this city should always be their home. We will fully support and invest in the Women’s football strategy, like we have done this season, with the ambition of eventually achieving European football and becoming a professional outfit.

“Hibernian FC is proud of being an inclusive club for all and I believe this shows real intent to put women’s football at the very heart of the Club.

“We would also like to thank Hibernian Community Foundation for all the work they’ve done over the years with the Women’s Team.”

The Club has also invested off the pitch with additional employees recruited in all areas of the business to support the growth of Hibernian Women.

The Hibernian Women’s Academy will still be incorporated into the charitable arm of the Football Club, Hibernian Community Foundation.

They aim to create the best footballing regional talent academy in Scotland, producing players of international standard by playing football the Hibernian Way, alongside creating a gateway for girls to have a lifelong place in the game.

Chief Executive of Hibernian Community Foundation, Lewis Melee, said: “The Hibernian Community Foundation has made a significant contribution to the growth and development of Hibernian Women’s Football Club throughout the years with this culminating in reaching UEFA Women’s Champions League knock out stages and winning domestic cups.

“The Foundation are delighted to support the move to Hibernian Football Club and look forward to watching the Club develop further. This move not only enables the move towards professionalism but also allows the Hibernian Community Foundation to place greater focus on the Hibernian Community Girls Academy and recreational activity which will remain under the Foundation’s guidance ahead of the games programme returning this summer.”

It was announced in May 2022 that Hibernian FC were one of 20 clubs to be inducted into the inaugural Scottish Women’s Premier League.

Gibson’s side will take on the likes of Celtic, Glasgow City, and Rangers in the SWPL 1, with the first match kicking off against Celtic on 7 August 2022, and the first home game against Hamilton here in Edinburgh the week after.

Season Tickets for Hibernian Women will be available moving forward costing £100, with match-by-match tickets costing £8.

The Scotsman Annual data conference with the DDI and The University of Edinburgh is back live from Edinburgh on 29 September 2022.

The conference will focus on the potential for data to encourage greater diversity, equality and inclusion. Our diverse range of speakers will reflect what data is already doing – and what more it can do – to deliver better social, economic and environmental outcomes for social, economic and environmental outcomes for everyone.

The event is built around four big themes, Data and…
● Equality
● Health
● Skills
● Social/financial inclusion

Key speakers include:
Renata Avila, CEO of the Open Knowledge Foundation
Dr Nakeema Stefflbauer, Founder and CEO of FrauenLoop
Francesca Lawson, Co-creator of @Paygapapp
Dame Julia Unwin , Chair, Smart Data Foundry

To book your free place and view the full agenda, please click here

STV’s streaming service, STV Player, has won a major national award for gripping drama series The Commons, which has become a huge hit on the platform since premiering in January this year.

The eight-part series, which stars Downton Abbey’s Joanne Froggatt, won Best Programme Acquisition at Tuesday’s Broadcast Digital Awards – one of the TV industry’s most prestigious awards ceremonies, which celebrates the most creative and innovative digital content from across the UK.

The Commons was praised by judges for being “female-centric, gripping and offering high production values” and for “helping STV move from just a Scottish catch-up service to a UK-wide digital destination”.

First screened on Australian streaming platform Stan, The Commons was brought to the UK by STV Player as part of its strategy to offer audiences more high-quality international drama series for free. The series is set in Australia in the not-so-distant future as the devastating impact of climate change is taking hold, and follows a neuropsychologist (Froggatt) who is desperate to become a mother at a time when bringing a child into the world is far more complicated than it used to be.

Originally launched as a catch-up platform in Scotland in 2009, STV Player was rolled out to the rest of the UK in 2020 as a standalone free streaming service, separate to the Scottish broadcast channel. It has also been shortlisted in the Best On Demand Service category at August’s Edinburgh TV Awards, alongside All4 and BBC iPlayer.

Richard Williams, MD of Digital at STV, said: “The Commons is a perfect example of the type of big-budget, high-quality, stop-you-in-your-tracks drama series that we’re focused on delivering to STV Player audiences across the UK.

“Streaming services acquire new shows on a daily basis, so to be awarded for delivering the Best Programme Acquisition of the year is a significant feat for us. This recognition from Broadcast, as well as the enthusiastic viewer response to The Commons, encourages us to continue our strategy of seeking out the very best international drama series and bringing them to the UK for our viewers to enjoy for free.”

The firm has interviewed participants on a wide range of questions around how Net Zero ambitions could be practically achieved, financed, and the opportunities and challenges facing rural land

Burges Salmon has released a new report in which various experts across the rural land use sector have been interviewed about the speed of change surrounding all things related to Net Zero and the concepts that fit under its umbrella, and what those involved in rural land use can do about it.

Rural land will play a key part in meeting the UK’s 2050 Net Zero target, and the impact of this is becoming increasingly visible. Many people involved in this sector are thinking hard about how it may affect them. Some are taking steps now, others are biding their time, but it is in the minds of most people. There is now widespread national acceptance that fundamental change is necessary to achieving this and wide interest surrounding the application of Net Zero targets to rural land use.

With the debate about how rural land will be affected by decarbonisation in this sector gaining momentum, Burges Salmon has interviewed a number of experts involved across a broad spectrum of rural land use – landowning, farming, food production, investment, a charity and academia. These include:

• Rebecca Hehir, Head of Communications, Yeo Valley Organic
• Paul Sedgwick, Managing Director of Windsor & Rural and Deputy Ranger of the Windsor Estate, The Crown Estate
• Rich Stockdale, Managing Director, Oxygen Conservation
• Georgina Thomas, ESG Associate, The Cibus Funds
• James Townshend, Executive Chairman, Velcourt
• Dr Andy Wilcox, Head of Agriculture and Environment Department, Harper Adams University

These interviewees answered a wide range of questions around the themes of how Net Zero ambitions could be practically achieved, how they might be financed and the sector-specific opportunities (and challenges) facing rural land. The report covers routes to Net Zero for individuals and organisations; thinking about Net Zero in the context of uncertainty and how the sector will move forward; the best positions to take in approaching opportunities and challenges; benefits to embracing a Net Zero approach despite the fact that these may not always be financial.

The interviewees’ responses show a diverse range of opinion and provide valuable insight. The report summarising these findings is designed to stimulate further thinking and discussion on the subject.

Burges Salmon partner and agricultural specialist Kevin Kennedy comments: “We hope that this report acts as a springboard to stimulate discussion and productive further thinking for anyone involved with rural land…”

“I remain inspired that the interviewees are upbeat about the overall potential for change and pragmatic about the need to encourage widespread adoption across the sector – this report will doubtlessly stimulate the discussion and forward-thinking on the subject.”

Paul Sedgwick, Managing Director of Windsor & Rural and Deputy Ranger of the Windsor Estate, The Crown Estate, comments: “I’ve been doing my job nearly 30 years and this is one of the most exciting and challenging times there has ever been for land ownership. I see a lot of opportunities coming for those that want to go out and grab them.”

Georgina Thomas, ESG associate at The Cibus Funds, comments: “There’s a sense of pride in creating a business that not only makes money, but also has beneficial environmental or social impact. I think there’s a lot of passion that comes out of people who’ve been able to support and build a company that grows things in a sustainable way.”

Burges Salmon advises on all legal matters arising from rural land and has an unrivalled breadth of expertise dealing with all aspects of rural land ownership and use, whether acting for institutions, estates, land-owning or tenant farmers, charities, contractors, investors or food producers. Our multi-sector teams deliver Net Zero legal solutions through market-leading expertise and experience in the key sectors that will need to come together to decarbonise including: transport, energy, land & food, and the built environment.

With in-depth knowledge of regulation across the four key sectors, we are able to facilitate cross-sector discussions and are uniquely positioned to advise on the policies, regulation, strategies and projects that will need to be developed and implemented by the private and public sectors.

Find the full report and more information here.

DM Hall Chartered Surveyors has announced a raft of promotions with two Director appointments and six raised to Associate status.

The two new Directors are Steven Dale and Greg Fisher. Steven joined DM Hall as a Graduate Surveyor in September 2013 after completing an MA (Hons) in Property at the University of Aberdeen in 2012. He became a qualified Chartered Surveyor in May 2016 and focuses on the valuation of residential properties in the North East of Scotland.

Greg, who is based in DM Hall’s Irvine office joined DM Hall in February 2015, after making a career change, and graduating from The University of Glasgow with an MSc in Real Estate. He is a qualified Chartered Surveyor working on all aspects of residential valuation, throughout Ayrshire and on Arran, acting for a wide breadth of clients.

DM Hall Managing Partner, John McHugh, said: “In Steven and Greg we have two exceptional young professionals who have demonstrated their expertise as Chartered Surveyors and will, I am certain, continue to make a tremendous contribution to the success of our firm over the coming years. On behalf of the Partners, I am delighted to congratulate them and welcome them to their new roles as Directors.”

The six new Associates are:

• Lesley Coghill, who provides residential surveying and valuation services in Caithness, North Sutherland and Orkney,
• Roger Davis, a residential surveyor based in DM Hall’s Aberdeen office,
• Jennifer Campbell, Head of Rural Agency based in Bridge of Allan,
• Calum Allmond, Head of Architectural Services based in Dunfermline,
• Kevin Masson, a residential surveyor based in DM Hall’s Irvine office,
• Duncan Clow, a farm and estate valuation specialist based in Bridge of Allan.

Mr McHugh added: “DM Hall has a well-deserved and longstanding reputation for recognising and valuing talent and with these six promotions to Associate status we are, I believe, sustaining that reputation, both in rewarding those who have achieved this career success and in signalling to others what can lie ahead to fulfil their own career aspirations “

“In Lesley, Roger, Jennifer, Calum, Kevin, and Duncan we have six talented people who will help sustain the backbone of DM Hall’s professional offering to our range of clients across the country.

“I warmly congratulate each of them on their promotion and trust that they will all continue to have satisfying, personally fulfilling and lengthy careers with DM Hall.”

With 24 offices and over 250 members of staff including 25 Partners, DM Hall this year celebrates 125 years since its foundation in 1897.