Law firm Burges Salmon hires ‘star’ partner to build new team in Edinburgh

Legal firm Burges Salmon is launching a specialist family law team in Edinburgh after hiring a “‘star” player as a new partner.

The move is aimed as strengthening the firm’s ability to support clients on complex, high-value and international family matters involving Scots law.

The new practice will be led by Rachael Kelsey, one of Scotland’s most highly regarded family lawyers, who joins the firm as a partner alongside a wider team of family law specialists.

Burges Salmon's Edinburgh office is based at Atria One, Morrison St.

She will be joined by senior associate Nina Derrin, who is particularly known for her expertise and experience in child law matters, and trainee solicitor Iona Barrie, alongside new hire solicitor Annabel Blackwood. Executive assistant Lorraine Murphy, who has worked with Kelsey for nearly two decades, will also be joining to support the team.

Burges Salmon, whose Edinburgh operation is based at Atria One on Morrison Street, said the team would grow further in the new year, with John West joining as a director in January.

The appointments establish a significant Scots family law capability within the firm, complementing its established practice in Bristol and London.

Kelsey is the only lawyer ranked as a “star individual” in Scotland in the current Chambers guide where she is referred to as “the gold standard”. She is a recent winner of Private Client Lawyer of the Year at the Legal 500 Scotland Awards.

Kelsey was president of the International Academy of Family Lawyers until 2025 and has built a substantial national and international reputation for her work on complex family law issues.

West previously trained and worked with Kelsey for nine years and has been recognised for his expertise in disputes with jurisdictional elements and high-value financial proceedings by Chambers Scotland and High Net Worth Guides.

Derrin, meanwhile, is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a family mediator and is regularly appointed by the Scottish judiciary in the most complex cases to represent the interests of vulnerable adults and children in court proceedings.

Want more stories like this? Subscribe to our weekly business newsletter here.

Sarah Hoskinson, head of family and divorce at Burges Salmon, said: “Rachael and the team bring deep Scots law experience across complex financial, children and international family matters, complementing our established practice in Bristol and London.

“It gives us genuine depth across both Scots and English family law and an outstanding platform from which to support clients with increasingly complex and cross-border needs.”

Kelsey said: “I am excited to be joining Burges Salmon and to have the opportunity to build a new Scottish family law team with such a talented team, and alongside Sarah and colleagues whose work I have known and respected for many years.

“The firm’s ambitions and values, prioritising integrity and understanding the highly personal approach that clients need and want when dealing with complex and sensitive family matters is a natural fit for us and our clients.”

Ross Fairley, senior partner at Burges Salmon, added: “Rachael’s appointment represents an important further investment in our capabilities in Scotland and in our wider family law and private wealth offering. She has built an outstanding national and international reputation for advising on some of the most complex family law matters.”