Meet the team

Tom has been involved in family law matters at a high level for well over twenty years. He is a recognised expert in the field of divorce and separation. He is a trained mediator and, as a Solicitor advocate, he is able to conduct divorce and separation litigation cases in the Court of Session, the senior civil court in Scotland.

He regularly deals with negotiated cases, as courts are not always the best place to resolve family law issues.

Tom is a “Recommended Lawyer” in the Legal 500 where he is described as “hugely experienced” and in complex financial divorce and separation matters has “unparalleled attention to detail”.

Tom cares very much about legal education and how family law develops in the future. He is regularly invited to speak at professional conferences, sharing his experience and knowledge with other divorce and separation family lawyers.

Tom regularly contributes articles to the Journal of the Law Society of Scotland and the Family Law Association magazine. Recent publications have included the proposed reform of the law on cohabitants claims by the Scottish Law Commission and a joint article with a clinical psychologist on Advice to Separating Couples in the Face of COVID-19.

Roger has extensive experience in the field of family law built up over a career working at some of Scotland’s best known legal firms.

In addition to having a renowned track record in resolving complex and high value financial arrangements on divorce, Roger is a passionate advocate of sensible resolution of child contact and residence disputes.

While providing effective counsel, he is pragmatic and sensitive in dealing with the emotional and financial repercussions of separation and divorce.

Roger has been recognised in successive editions of the Legal 500 where clients have commented he is “efficient and highly effective” and praised his “excellent listening, negotiating and empathetic skills.”

As legal adviser to Scottish Adoption, Roger is one of a small number of solicitors in Scotland with expertise in acting exclusively for prospective adopters. He appears at courts throughout Scotland representing families in the adoption process and is recognised for having an “encyclopaedic knowledge of this field.”

Roger is a regular speaker on family law and adoption and edits the Family Law Association Bulletin.

Emma has experience in dealing with all matters of family law, including divorce, separation, cohabitation, kinship care and child contact cases. She is a Law Society of Scotland Accredited Trauma-Informed lawyer.

Emma has particular expertise in adoption and permanence cases. She has a keen interest in matters involving the welfare of children and child psychology. Understanding that these matters are sensitive in nature and can be highly emotional for all involved, Emma is here to guide you through each step of the legal process.

She is a valued member of the Adoption and Fostering Alliance Scotland and has experience in attending Children’s Hearings and is regularly praised for her ability to explain complex rules and procedures in a very simple and clear manner.

Emma was the instructing solicitor in the reported case of “CA v Children’s Reporter, Note by Summary Sheriff M.F.H Hodge”.

This case involved the successful Appeal against the decision of a Children’s Hearing and resulted in the prospective adopters‘ home address being protected from disclosure.

Emma is also a “Recommended Lawyer” in the Legal 500 where she is recognised as “well-regarded” for her “expertise in adoption law” with testimonials stating Emma is “very client-attractive” with “encyclopedic knowledge of this field”.

Iona completed her traineeship with WJM during which time she gained valuable experience in private client, property and litigation law. She joined the family law practice in August 2022.

Iona advises on a wide range of family law matters, including divorce, separation, cohabitation, kinship care and child contact cases. She draws on her litigation experience to advice clients on court procedure in a wide range of actions and has experience appearing in Sheriff Courts through Scotland. She also assists her colleagues in the team in instructing Counsel in complex and high value Court of Session cases.

In particular, she has developed significant experience in adoption law, advising prospective adopters throughout the process in both uncontested and contested cases.

Iona has a keen interest in immigration and cross-border issues relevant to family law.

Iona has also undertaken the Approved Domestic Abuse Training for Solicitors offered by the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre.