Scotland-based UK law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn has confirmed that Andy Hall will take over as Managing Partner from 1 May 2026, succeeding Andrew Blain.
Hall trained with the firm between 1993 and 1995 before specialising in real estate development, where he went on to build a broad and successful practice. He joined the partnership in 2003 and, since 2013, has led the firm’s Property and Infrastructure group, overseeing significant growth in its commercial property practice, which now serves a wide-ranging client base across the UK.
Reflecting on his new role, Hall paid tribute to Blain’s leadership, describing the firm’s trajectory under him as one of continued strength. He said he was honoured to take on the position, having joined the firm as a trainee back in 1993. While much has changed since then, he pointed to the firm’s core strengths — legal expertise, client focus, and a drive for innovation — as the foundation on which future success will be built. He also thanked Blain directly for his contribution to the firm during his tenure as Managing Partner.
Blain took up the Managing Partner role in May 2019. During his seven years in charge, the firm has recorded six consecutive years of revenue growth and a 57% rise in profits, while expanding to 91 partners. It has also cemented its standing as a market leader across Clean Energy, Real Estate and Infrastructure, Banking and Finance, Technology and Life Sciences, and Private Wealth.
Looking back on his tenure, Blain acknowledged the unexpected challenges of leading the firm through a global pandemic, alongside the opportunities that emerged during that period. He expressed confidence that Hall would bring the same vision and drive to the role that he has shown leading the Property and Infrastructure team since 2013, and said he looked forward to supporting Hall and the board going forward.
The firm’s most recent financial results showed a 10% increase in turnover and a 20% rise in net profits, reaching £36.1 million for the year ending 30 April 2025. Since then, the firm has welcomed three new Partners: Graham Young (Project Finance), Donald Smith (Corporate Finance), and Marcus Wright (English Real Estate).
