One of Scotland’s most experienced family law experts has joined Blackadders LLP as a Partner.

Shona Smith will be joining the firm’s team in Edinburgh later this month after having worked for Balfour+Manson LLP for more than 27 years, including 12 as head of their Family Law Team.

Shona brings extensive experience to Blackadders and has been accredited as a specialist in Family Law by the Law Society of Scotland since 1999. She has been accredited as a Family Law Mediator by the Law Society of Scotland since 2016 and qualified as a Family Law Arbitrator under the auspices of Family Law Arbitration Group Scotland (FLAGS)in 2010. Shona is also a trained collaborative law practitioner.

Shona said: “This an exciting time for Blackadders and I am delighted to have joined the team. There is real ambition in the firm and I am looking forward to playing my part in growing the team.”

As well as being ranked in the Chambers & Partners Legal Directory for 22 years, including in Band 1 for 11 years, Shona is also ranked as a leading individual in the field by the Legal 500. She has been a Committee Member of the Family & Child Law Sub-Committee of the Law Collaborative since 2001 was chair of the Family Law Association of Scotland between 1999 and 2001 and thereafter Treasurer of the Family Law Association of Scotland between 2001 and 2003.

Craig Samson, Head of the Family Law Team at Blackadders, said: “It is fantastic to have someone with the experience that Shona has joining our team. It’s great for the firm and for our young and upcoming lawyers to learn from her. It’s also good news for our clients who will have access to an incredible level of expertise and knowledge in what can be a particularly challenging area of private client law.”

Shona was a Board Member of the Child Law Centre from 1997 to 2000 and a founder member and committee member of the Scottish Collaborative Family Law Group (now Consensus) from 2004 to 2008. She was also a founding member and treasurer of FLAGS (Family Law Arbitration Group Scotland) from 2010 to 2016.

The Family Law Team at Blackadders deals in all aspects of family law, including expertise in financial matters following separation, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements and mediation in relation to both finances and care arrangements for children.