Kirk Dailly has been appointed as Head of the Business Services Group at Blackadders LLP.

As a partner at the firm and the existing head of Blackadders’ Corporate and Commercial team, Kirk has extensive experience in the sector. He takes over from Campbell Clark, who continues as a Partner and a senior member of the Blackadders’ Corporate and Commercial team.

Kirk, a key lawyer in the Legal 500, is Signet Accredited in Corporate Law and Certified by the Law Society of Scotland as a Specialist in Data Protection. His expertise is in tech, video games, healthcare and life sciences.

Blackadders’ Joint Managing Partner Emma Gray said: “We’re delighted that Kirk Dailly will take on this position. He will work with the Leadership Team in driving our strategic goals and the continuing transformation of the firm.

“Kirk has broad experience as Head of Corporate and Commercial and from his 18 years with Blackadders. There’s a wealth of talent within Blackadders and we’re genuinely excited about the plans for 2024.”

Initially, Kirk will focus on opportunities to expand Blackadders’ Business Services Group, recruiting for Corporate & Commercial colleagues and Partners to join in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The firm currently has 16 Partners in the Business Services Group.

Kirk said: “I’m very much looking forward to the opportunity of heading up our Business Services Group.

“We’ve fantastic, forward-thinking people in our teams – the Legal 500 noted that they are ‘energetic, interested, highly knowledgeable and dedicated’, and ‘genuinely passionate and interested in helping your business, which comes across in spades’.

“At the moment, we’re hiring for roles in the central belt and north-east to grow the team, adding to our existing services for business. We also have innovative offerings in the pipeline, including AI and data training which we’re starting shortly. There are a number of really interesting developments planned in the next few months and I’m excited to lead these.”

Recognised as one of Scotland’s leading lawyers in tech and video games, Kirk specialises in M&A, investment rounds, commercial contracts, IP and data privacy. His clients include start-ups, established SMEs, multinationals and some of the country’s leading entrepreneurs.

Kirk is passionate about the adoption of legal tech and other innovations to enhance client experience and service delivery.

The Corporate & Commercial Team at Blackadders operates across all of the firm’s offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen. With a working knowledge of the sectors essential to the UK economy, the Team specialises in supporting clients operating in Scotland and beyond. From Technology, Video Games and Life Sciences to Agriculture, Retail, Energy, Healthcare and Advanced Manufacturing, the Team supports businesses of all shapes and sizes, advising SMEs, multinationals, start-ups and entrepreneurs.

The Blackadders’ board has introduced a 5 by 25 Strategy to ensure the firm is as well placed as it can be to benefit from any sustained upturn in the economy. The five initiatives the firm is aiming to achieve by the end of the 2025/26 financial year are:

• Increase turnover to £25 million
• Achieve a profit margin of 35%
• Be regarded as an employer of choice in the industry
• Act as a destination lawyer for clients
• Secure Blackadders’ position as a top five Scottish law firm.