Front row seated L-R: Fiona Piper, Stephen Connolly. Back row L-R: David White, Aimee Gibbons and Vicky Ward.
Leading independent Scottish law firm Thorntons has strengthened its growing Glasgow office with the appointment of corporate specialist Fiona Piper and employment law expert Stephen Connolly as Partners, marking the latest step in the firm's continued expansion in the city.
Thorntons' Glasgow office has doubled in size to 64 people in the last 12 months, reflecting increasing demand for the firm's services and its ongoing investment in talent, capability and regional growth.
The appointments add significant depth to the firm's corporate and employment law teams and further enhance the specialist support available to businesses in the city and across Scotland. They form part of a sustained period of growth for Thorntons as it continues to expand its footprint, strengthen key practice areas and support clients through every stage of their growth and development.
Fiona joins Thorntons as a Partner in the Corporate team, bringing more than 30 years of experience advising businesses on corporate and commercial matters. Dual-qualified in Scotland and England, she advises a diverse client base, including founders, investors, start-ups, scale-ups and established owner-managed businesses, providing strategic guidance across the full business lifecycle, from formation and growth through to investment, restructuring and exit. She works closely with clients to deliver commercially focused advice and achieve successful outcomes. Alongside her practice, she tutors on the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Glasgow, reflecting her commitment to supporting the next generation of legal professionals.
Stephen advises employers across the full spectrum of employment and HR matters. He regularly appears before Employment Tribunals on behalf of clients in contentious matters and provides strategic, practical advice on disciplinary and grievance procedures, performance management, unfair dismissal, discrimination claims, Working Time Regulations, TUPE, contractual disputes, data protection and business immigration matters. He is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association and previously served on the ELA Scotland Steering Committee.
The appointments further strengthen Thorntons' ability to provide comprehensive legal support to businesses as they grow, invest, recruit and navigate increasingly complex regulatory environments. Aimee Gibbons, Head of Location for Glasgow at Thorntons, said: "The growth of our Glasgow office over the last year has been remarkable and reflects both the strength of the market and the ambition we have for the city. Fiona and Stephen are outstanding lawyers with exceptional reputations in their respective fields.
"These appointments significantly enhance our offering and demonstrate our commitment to building a market-leading team in Glasgow. We are seeing increasing demand from businesses that want access to specialist expertise delivered through a full-service Scottish firm, and these appointments help us continue to meet that demand."
The arrivals form part of a wider period of strategic growth at Thorntons. Vicky Ward also joined the firm's Corporate team in Glasgow as an Associate earlier this year, bringing extensive experience advising on mergers and acquisitions, investment and finance transactions, management buyouts, employee share schemes, joint ventures, corporate restructures and commercial contracts.
The firm is also welcoming David White as Legal Director in its Glasgow office, marking a significant milestone in the continued evolution of its service offering in the city. As Thorntons’ first dedicated private client appointment in the city, David expands the range of specialist legal services available locally and strengthens the firm’s position as one of the few truly full-service independent law firms operating in the market.
David specialises in all aspects of private client law, advising individuals and families on succession planning, wills, trusts, inheritance tax and estate administration. He regularly supports executors on the full range of legal and tax matters arising during the administration of estates and is a qualified Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) and member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). He is a registered notary public and also tutors on the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Strathclyde.
Lesley Larg, Managing Partner of Thorntons, said: "These appointments represent another important milestone in Thorntons' growth journey, positioning us as one of the very few firms able to offer genuinely full-service legal advice to both businesses and private individuals from a Glasgow base. We continue to invest across the business as part of our long-term strategy to strengthen our capabilities in key practice areas and ensure we are well positioned to support clients wherever they are in Scotland. Our growth is being driven by sustained demand for our services and the strength of our people, culture and client relationships."
Thorntons now operates from 14 offices across 12 locations throughout Scotland and recorded 14% revenue growth in FY26, continuing a strong trajectory of expansion across the country. Later this year, the firm will further underline its commitment to growth and investment with a move into a new purpose-built waterfront headquarters in Dundee, creating a flagship base for the business as it continues to evolve and serve clients throughout Scotland and beyond.