Burness Paull, the Scotland-based independent law firm, has appointed Mark Ellis as its new managing partner, working alongside Peter Lawson who will continue as chair.

Ellis brings considerable management experience to the role, having led the firm’s corporate finance team over the last six years. He also previously sat as an elected member of the firm’s governance board.

Specialising in private equity transactions and mergers and acquisitions (M&A), Ellis trained with legacy firm Burness before spending five years in London with City firms Hogan Lovells and Travers Smith. He returned to the firm as a partner in 2008.

Assuming the role from today, Ellis will continue to build on the successful growth strategy led by Lawson—who has been re-elected for a third time as chair—and outgoing partner Tamar Tammes, which has seen both fee income and profit grow by more than 50% since 2018.

Total headcount now exceeds 700, including 90 partners, as the firm has invested in strengthening core practice areas and diversified into new ones—not least cybersecurity, life science, and rural business.

Speaking on the appointment, Lawon, chair at Burness Paull, commented: “The revolutionary potential of generative AI, market consolidation, greater competition from non-traditional players, and wider economic volatility mean it is a time of considerable change for the legal industry.

“We need to recognise the challenges but also be confident about the opportunities and inherent advantages we have as an independent, Scotland-based firm.

“Mark’s qualities and track record mean he is ideally suited to take on the role of managing partner and I look forward to working with him to deliver our ambitious growth strategy.”

Ellis himself added: “Independent law firms across the world continue to lead the market and my ambition is to ensure Burness Paull retains and enhances this standing.

“We have remarkable talent right across our firm and together we will continue to strengthen our offering and grow our business – building on our success to date.”

Recommended reading

• Burness Paull Recruits Additional Planning Partner
• Scots Law Firm Burness Paull Promotes Four to Partner
• Burness Paull Announces Promotion of Four New Partners

Burness Paull has also made two further senior appointments who will play a key role in supporting the firm’s management.

Lindsay Wallace, previously general counsel partner with responsibility for the firm’s governance and regulatory obligations, becomes head of sustainability.

In this newly-created role, she will lead the delivery of the firm’s wide-ranging ESG strategy as it progresses towards its responsible business and sustainability targets, including net zero emissions by 2050 and near-term targets based on the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).

Wallace will be succeeded as general counsel partner by Jill Moore. Moore has spent her entire career with Burness Paull, initially as a banking and finance lawyer before moving into the general counsel team where she spent six years as senior counsel for risk and data protection officer.