By Ian McConnell

SCOTTISH law firm Burness Paull yesterday declared that five new partner promotions show its “confidence in future growth after delivering a strong performance through 2020”.

Among those promoted are Catriona Macallan and Paul Scullion in corporate finance. Burness Paull said Ms Macallan, who is fluent in Mandarin, reinforced its investor and investee private equity expertise, while Mr Scullion had developed a “technology and life sciences-centred practice” in venture capital and mergers and acquisitions.

The firm said: “Both represent international investors and Catriona brings the added benefit of fluent Mandarin and a deep knowledge of East Asia – she leads the firm’s China desk.”

It added new partner Caroline Maciver increased the resources of its construction and projects practice “where she leads on large, complex disputes in the private and public sectors and adds momentum to the...renewables practice”.

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Burness Paull noted the “success story” of its private client proposition had now been acknowledged with the promotions of Claire MacPherson and Fiona Clarke to partner.

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Peter Lawson, who chairs Burness Paull, said: “The high ratio of female appointments is also gratifying. All the promotions have been made purely on merit but it underlines our commitment to a level playing field within the firm.”